Description

Detailed Job Description

The School of Design in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology invites individuals to apply for a non-tenure track Lecturer position to teach in the Industrial Design (ID) program. The Industrial Design program focuses on developing strong conceptual and formal design skills by engaging students in the theory, process, and practice of design throughout the undergraduate and graduate curricula. The Industrial Design program is consistently ranked amongst the top programs in the nation for undergraduate and graduate study.

We invite applications from accomplished designers and educators with significant teaching and professional expertise. The successful candidate will demonstrate the capacity to teach comprehensively across the Industrial Design curriculum and exhibit leadership and strategic vision in advancing the program. A strong emphasis will be placed on candidates with a proven ability to integrate emerging technologies and methodologies into the curriculum. Key responsibilities include teaching graduate and/or undergraduate studio and lecture courses, teaching a full load of four courses per term, and actively participating in innovative teaching and curriculum development. The candidate will also be expected to provide service to the program and school, engage in career advising and student mentorship, and participate in professional organizations and events important to the field of industrial design.

We are seeking an individual who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student-centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT's core values and honor code.

To attract and retain an excellent and innovative faculty, RIT offers a number of programs and professional development opportunities to help faculty succeed from our onboarding and orientation on through to the tenure and promotion process.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• A terminal degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Interaction Design (MFA, MID, PhD) or a related field of study.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience or extensive consulting in a relevant field.
• Three years or equivalent experience teaching both lecture and/or studio courses in a relevant field at the university level.
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in one or more of the following: product design, user experience and interaction design, automotive design, service design, design and sustainability, materials design, design drawing, design and technology, emerging industrial design practices, design theory, design history, design methodology.
• Demonstrated technical skills such as visualization, communication, modeling, AI tools, and prototyping common in design practice in both professional and student work.

Department/College Description

The internationally renowned School of Design (SOD) offers five undergraduate programs in 3D Digital Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and New Media Design, as well as two graduate programs in Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design. SOD also includes the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, with its vast archive of relevant design artifacts and their process. SOD is a creative community where students discover their unique talents and expressive potential, all while developing the skills needed to fulfill any creative or technical role in the expansive fields of design. The School of Design has the largest number of students, representing nearly half of the College's total enrollment. SOD alumni and faculty are nationally and internationally recognized, and include National Design Award recipients, design leaders at global companies and organizations, and thought leaders who shape the field of design and the future of society and the planet. To learn more, go to rit.edu/artdesign/school-design.

RIT's College of Art and Design is a professional art and design school at the forefront of technology, art, and design. Spanning more than 230,000 square feet, our facilities feature state-of-the-art studios and labs that foster a collaborative, hands-on learning environment.

We are a dynamic community of artists, designers, and creative technologists. The College includes nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 140 full-time faculty, 60 creative staff, and numerous part-time faculty-all contributing to our collaborative ecosystem.

Our five schools-Art, American Crafts, Design, Film and Animation, and Photographic Arts and Sciences-offer a diverse range of BFA, BS, and MFA programs.

As part of a top national technical university, our students benefit from unique opportunities to collaborate across disciplines in science, engineering, liberal arts, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, as well as through RIT's global campuses. Learn more at rit.edu/artdesign.

How To Apply

Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty; search openings, then Keyword Search 9932BR. Please submit your application, curriculum vitae, cover letter addressing the listed qualifications, and upload the following attachments:

• A brief teaching philosophy
• List of References including the names, addresses and phone numbers for three references.
• Course syllabi with at least three assignments.
• 15-20 page PDF or a link to a website presenting examples of professional work. (max 3MB)
• 15-20 page PDF or a link to a website presenting examples of students' work, including examples that demonstrate process. (max 3MB)

You may contact the search committee with questions on the position at:
Melissa Dawson, Undergraduate Co-Director, Industrial Design
School of Design, College of Art and Design
Email: mdmfaa@rit.edu. Phone: 585-475-5647

To receive full consideration, all application materials should be received by January 5, 2026. The position will remain open until an acceptable candidate is found.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.