Head of Industrial Design Program, Associate or Full Professor

Job description

The School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences at
the University of South Carolina invites applications for a full-time, nine-month tenured faculty
position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in Industrial Design, to begin August 16, 2027.
The selected candidate will also serve as the inaugural Head of the new Industrial Design Program.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The University of South Carolina’s Industrial Design degree (B.S.I.D.) is set to launch in Fall 2027
and was designed at the university president’s initiative to be a sibling program to the Industrial
Engineering degree in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing in response to the
growth of several industrial and manufacturing sectors in the state. The program curriculum is in place and SVAD will soon occupy a nearly 3900 sq ft makerspace with three faculty offices, directly next door to the main SVAD building. The college will outfit the space with industrial design and digital fabrication equipment. The nearby wood and metal shops and ceramics studio will complement the resources in the makerspace. This tenured position is part of a cluster of presidential hiring in both colleges for Industrial Engineering (INDE) and Industrial Design (IDEA). This position is the lead faculty person in a group of three in Industrial Design. Two Assistant Professor positions in Industrial Design are being listed simultaneously, also to begin in August 2027.

The tenured faculty member will be the inaugural Head of the Industrial Design Program. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable research expertise in the form of publications and/or an extensive design portfolio. The Head of the IDEA Program will lead the launch of the new degree, including the direction of two Assistant Professors (to be hired simultaneously); administrative oversight of an approx. 3900 sq ft makerspace and its contents; strategic planning for major recruitment and program growth; forming and cultivating industry relations in South Carolina; and collaborating with colleagues in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC). The Head of the Industrial Design Program will report directly to the Director of SVAD and the Area Coordinator of Studio Art & Design.

In addition to teaching, the tenured faculty member will maintain an active research agenda (including creative production), mentor students and colleagues, and undertake institutional and professional service.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Industrial Design (MID), Master of Design (MDes), or equivalent, or Master of Fine
Arts (MFA) in related discipline, or PhD in Industrial Design or closely related field.

Demonstrable record of scholarship (including creative production) of national or
international significance, grant and/or industry funding, and teaching and service
appropriate to the rank of tenured Associate or Full Professor.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ART AND DESIGN

The School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) is a NASAD accredited department within the
McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. SVAD is comprised of four program areas: Studio Art &
Design; Film & Media; Art History; and Art Education. We offer BA, BFA, MA, MAT, and MFA
degrees across these areas. Studio Art & Design’s undergraduate program offers BFA
concentrations in Sculpture, Ceramics, Graphic Design & Illustration, Painting, Drawing,
Printmaking, and Photography. Film & Media offers coursework in 2D and 3D Animation,
Filmmaking, and Video Game Design that will be relevant to Industrial Design. Industrial Design will be integrated into Studio Art & Design as a B.S.I.D. degree, which is conceived as a parallel to the newly launched Industrial Engineering program in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and
Computing. The new program in Industrial Design will reinforce the importance and relevance of
Design within SVAD as well as across the larger university in its collaboration with MCEC.

For more information, please visit:
School of Visual Art and Design - School of Visual Art and Design | University of South Carolina
https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/visual_art_and_design/.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences is the intellectual, artistic, scientific and instructional heart of the University of South Carolina. We educate most of the university’s students, both in the Carolina Core curriculum as well as in our more than 100 academic programs. Our research improves health, wellbeing, education and the environment in South Carolina while also enhancing our cultural heritage.

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the
lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service – helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

HOW TO APPLY

All applicants must apply online through USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Submit your application using the following link: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/212447. A complete application includes: (1) a cover letter describing the candidate’s research and teaching interests; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names and email addresses of three professional references.

Letters of reference will be requested from referees for those applicants advancing to the
interview stage. Review of applications will begin October 15, 2026, and will continue until the
position is filled. Inquiries about this position may be directed to the search committee co-chairs: Meena Khalili at [email protected] and Laura Kissel at [email protected].

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.