Assistant Professor of Systems Design at InsideHigherEd

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Job Title:Assistant Professor of Systems Design

Department:Arts and Sciences | Design

The Department of Design at The Ohio State University invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor of Systems Design, to start August 15, 2026. The successful applicant will possess the promise of or expertise in the theory and principles of Design practices as they apply to the research and development of products, services, experiences, and networks that anticipate and envision future needs. This faculty member will teach in the Industrial Design major area and support other areas in Design.

We seek a colleague whose research centers design and complexity (e.g., community-engaged design, discursive design, transitional design, systemic design) with an interest in emerging technologies and technological innovation (e.g., generative AI systems, hybrid AI-human processes, critical approaches / ethics in technology) as they apply to design. Applicants should demonstrate a growing record of scholarship, or promise thereof, and be able to establish/continue a successful research program and integrate their research into teaching and learning opportunities for their students. A promise of the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, industry, professional communities, and other community groups is desired.

The Department of Design consists of Experiential Media Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design and Visual Communication Design, and presents many opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration at both the faculty and student levels. The successful appointee might contribute to community-engaged research and creative activity associated with Ohio State’s Social Innovation and Sustainability Lab (DESIS Lab), Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) and/or other OSU Centers and Institutes.

Performance Objectives

• Teach studios, lectures, and seminars at the undergraduate and graduate levels and will contribute to the department’s long-standing commitment to cultivating inclusive excellence in the design professions.
• Develop and sustain a nationally recognized research program in systems design, with a focus on complexity, emerging technologies, and ethics-oriented design practices.
• Publish scholarly work in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and/or design venues relevant to systems design, industrial design, and interdisciplinary design research.
• Teach undergraduate (BSD) and graduate courses (MFA) in industrial design and systems design, including studios, seminars, and lectures, with a commitment to inclusive, student-centered pedagogy.
• Mentor and advise students across undergraduate and graduate levels, supporting their academic, professional, and creative development.
• Contribute to curriculum development that reflects contemporary and future-oriented design practices, including integration of emerging technologies and ethical frameworks.
• Engage in collaborative and transdisciplinary research with faculty across the Department of Design and other units at Ohio State
• Participate in service activities to the department and professional design communities, including committee work, outreach, and public engagement.
• Foster community-engaged design practices that connect academic research with societal needs.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:Terminal degree – MFA, MDes, DDes or PhD preferred, ABDs welcome to apply – in Systems Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, or a related field. *Terminal degree in hand by August 15, 2026.

• Demonstrated potential for or established record of scholarly research and creative inquiry in systems design or related areas.
• Commitment to wide-ranging pedagogical practices and student-centered learning.

Desired:

• Evidence of effective teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Research expertise in complexity-centered design practices (e.g., systemic design, transitional design, discursive design, community-engaged design).
• Preference will be given to candidates whose work exhibits transdisciplinarity, collaboration, external engagement, and ethics-oriented areas of practice.
• Engagement with emerging technologies and innovation in design (e.g., generative AI, hybrid human-AI systems, ethics in technology).
• Experience securing or contributing to externally funded research or creative projects.
• A portfolio demonstrating excellence in teaching, research, and/or student mentorship.
• Experience working across disciplines and with external partners, including industry, community organizations, or research institutes.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday [https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Assistant-Professor-of-Systems-Design_R137371-1]. Application period closes November 17, 2025.

A competitive application consists of the following required elements:

• Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1-2 page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background and why you are interested in this opportunity.
• Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications. Please include three names and contact information for three references.
• Attachment 3: A Research Statement and Portfolio summarizing your past and current creative work/research accomplishments, and proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member.
• Attachment 4: Teaching Statement: A statement of your pedagogical approach(es), experience and philosophy regarding your teaching, learning, and mentoring.
• Attachment 5: Portfolio of professional and/or student work (PDF or link to website).

Please note: We do not accept letters of reference at the time of application. Instead, please include names and contact information for three references in Attachment 2: CV. Candidates selected to move forward in the process will be asked to provide three letters of reference.

Additional Information:

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.

Department Information

The Department of Design offers collaborative learning opportunities in four undergraduate majors (Experiential Media Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Visual Communication Design) and two master’s degree tracks (Digital Animation and Interactive Media and Design Research and Development). The successful applicant can anticipate an opportunity to teach in more than one program. The ability to teach from a student-centered perspective at the undergraduate and graduate levels and support the department’s long-standing commitment to increasing the diversity of the design professions is expected.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available. More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Location:Hopkins Hall (0149)

Position Type:Regular

Scheduled Hours:40

Shift:Varying Shifts

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.