Assistant or Associate Professor in Product Design

Posted date:
21-Oct-09

The College of Design at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities invites applications and nominations for a tenure-track faculty position in product design and design thinking at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor. The successful candidate will take a leadership role in developing new courses in product design and design thinking as well as participate in planning for a new interdisciplinary product design program with a focus on human health and well-being.

The position will be based in the College of Design, a newly founded college that builds upon the University of Minnesotas strong tradition of excellence in design education and research. The College encompasses a broad spectrum of established design programs including graphic design, apparel design, interior design, architecture, landscape architecture, and metropolitan design, as well as programs in housing studies and retail merchandising. The College offers rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research and public engagement through its highly regarded research and outreach centers that include the Design Institute, the Goldstein Museum of Design, InformeDesign, the Human Dimensioning Laboratory, and the Center for Sustainable Building Research. In a university that hosts an unusually broad range of disciplines, faculty and students in the College of Design have developed collaborative connections with engineering, art, music, anthropology, bioethics, biological sciences, rhetoric, and business, as well as strong links with industry and with the regions vibrant arts and design community. By joining together a full range of design disciplines and forging connections within the University and beyond, the new College of Design promotes work that is interdisciplinary, sustainable, socially responsible, and civically engaged. More information about the College of Design may be found at www.design.umn.edu .

We seek a colleague in product design and design thinking who will focus on human health and well-being in its broadest sense and who will forge further connections with health-related initiatives across campus and with the well-established medical and health businesses in Minnesota. Minnesota is recognized as a center for innovation in health care and medical technologies with the University of Minnesota contributing as a rich resource for research and teaching. The College of Design has links with programs in the Academic Health Center (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Center for Spirituality and Healing), the Institute of Technology (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Digital Technology Center), and the Carlson School of Management.

The successful candidate will develop and teach courses in product design and design thinking in the College of Design; collaborate with faculty members across the university to create interdisciplinary courses; establish ties with local, national, and international businesses; create and grow a research program in the field of product design and design thinking; pursue external funding in support of her or his research agenda; and participate in faculty governance at the college and university levels. Candidates must have a clear vision, a commitment to interdisciplinary work, demonstrated or potential leadership skills and a global perspective. Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills are vital. 

The position is a 100%-time, nine-month, tenure-track appointment at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor, with the possibility of tenure at the Associate level. Faculty rank will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the candidate consistent with University of Minnesota policy. Tenure at the time of hire requires a record of excellence and productivity that merits tenure consistent with the College of Design and University of Minnesota policy. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The expected start date is August 30, 2010.

Essential Qualifications: 

- Commitment to disciplinary and interdisciplinary teaching.

- Commitment to research and creative production.

- Commitment to outreach and service.

- Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, and the ability to forge productive connections with business, related professions, and communities beyond the University.

- Experience in design or design thinking related to products and systems for human health and well-being.

- Ability to obtain external funding from industry or government sources. 

- Commitment to cultural diversity in teaching and research.

- Terminal degree in product design or a related field.

- In addition to the above essential qualifications, the rank of Associate Professor requires a significant record of distinction in scholarship or creative practice in the fields of product design and design thinking. 

Desired Qualifications:

- Record of achievement in teaching and research.

- Demonstrated teaching effectiveness at the undergraduate or graduate level.

- Experience in curricular development and programmatic innovation in undergraduate or graduate education.

- Record of achievement in the integration of design with business needs.

- Innovative approach to teaching and research.

Applications: Application procedure is online. Applicants should 1) complete an application online at: https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=83548 (Requisition #163496) and 2) submit the following materials: a cover letter; curriculum vitae; a statement of vision for research in product design or design thinking; a statement of vision for teaching in product design and design thinking; and contact information for five professional references. A brief (no more than 4 pages) portfolio of original design scholarly work or creative practice should be submitted as PDF attachments in the on-line employment system.  Review of applications will begin December 2009 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position may be addressed to the Search Committee Chairs: Professor William Durfee at wkdurfeeumn.edu or Professor Karen LaBat at klabatumn.edu .