Teaching Faculty in Human-Centered Design Fundamentals
University of Wisconsin Madison | |
$1 billion annually in research and discovery. Spanning the humanities, arts, social sciences, and STEM fields, this broad research enterprise is united by a common purpose: to better understand ourselves and the world around us.
| |
life insurance, paid time off
| |
United States, Wisconsin, Madison | |
Oct 01, 2026 | |
|
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.
Job Category:Academic Staff
Employment Type:Regular
Job Profile:Teaching Faculty I
Job Summary:
The Design Studies Department in the School of Human Ecology (SoHE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for an open-rank, renewable, non-tenure-track Teaching Faculty position. Rank will be commensurate with the successful candidate's professional and teaching experience. More information about Teaching Faculty rank (I, II, or III) is available here: https://kb.wisc.edu/sohe/130059 Reporting to the Chair of Design Studies, the Teaching Faculty member will have instructional (80%) and programmatic (20%) responsibilities. The position carries no research expectations and typically involves teaching four courses per semester (12 credits per semester; 24 credits annually). The successful candidate will teach foundational 2D design courses and contribute to the broad human-centered design curriculum. Depending on the candidate's professional expertise, these courses may include design thinking fundamentals as well as more advanced offerings drawing from professional practices such as service design, experience design, exhibition and museum design, brand experience design, environmental graphic and wayfinding design, strategic design, systems-oriented design, or related forms of human-centered design practice. Responsibilities include developing and teaching undergraduate courses; preparing syllabi, learning objectives, and instructional materials; creating and assessing student assignments and projects; maintaining office hours; and supporting student learning and success. The successful candidate will bring both university-level teaching and professional design experience to inform applied design education. The successful candidates will be expected to maintain and continuously improve teaching effectiveness and remain flexible in meeting evolving departmental and program needs. Additional summer teaching opportunities, with separate compensation, may be available. Key Job Responsibilities:
Design career development initiatives to help students with internships and career readiness Develop relationships with community and industry partners to build a network of employers and other stakeholders to facilitate career opportunities for students and build the reputation of the program
Department: Design Studies Department Compensation: Negotiable, 9-month This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review thesummary of benefitsfor more information. Required Qualifications: The Teaching Faculty rank (I, II, or III) will be commensurate with professional and teaching experience. Qualified candidates will demonstrate the following skills and abilities:
Education: A master's degree in design or a closely related field is required. Relevant fields may include graphic or communication design, service design, interaction or experience design, architecture, or art. How to Apply: Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Workday has one upload area, but you can upload multiple documents to your application. We will not consider incomplete application packages that do not include the two documents requested above. Contact Information: Dana Clay, dclay3@wisc.edu Additional Information: DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN STUDIES: Design Studies focuses on the production, process, and impact of design. Through scholarship, analysis, curriculum, and outreach, we advocate design as an encompassing discipline central to every aspect of life. We emphasize and promote a multi-disciplinary, global approach to design, and we value connections with other campus, community, and professional programs, both nationally and internationally. We are a vibrant community that approaches design through a broad range of disciplinary and practice-based approaches and supports undergraduate (Textile and Fashion Design; Interior Architecture; Design, Innovation, and Society) and graduate programs (MFA, PhD, and Master of Design + Innovation). Department of Design Studies SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY: The mission of the School of Human Ecology is to understand the complex relationships and interdependence among individuals, groups, and families, and to focus on quality-of-life issues through research, creative innovation, education, and outreach. The School has four academic departments (Civil Society and Community Studies, Consumer Science, Design Studies, and Human Development & Family Studies) with a collective enrollment of 2,175 undergraduate students and 100+ graduate students. SoHE centers include the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, the Kohl's Center for Retailing, and the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies. https://humanecology.wisc.edu/ UW-MADISON: UW-Madison is a land-grant institution enrolling approximately 50,000 students. Located in Madison, Wisconsin (population 285,000), the state capital combines the cultural amenities of a larger urban area with the accessibility and character of a smaller city. At the heart of UW-Madison's mission is the Wisconsin Idea: the century-old principle that the university's work should improve lives beyond the boundaries of campus. This guiding philosophy shapes its teaching, research, and outreach. UW-Madison is one of the nation's 10 largest research institutions, investing more than $1 billion annually in research and discovery. Spanning the humanities, arts, social sciences, and STEM fields, this broad research enterprise is united by a common purpose: to better understand ourselves and the world around us. https://www.wisc.edu/ Institutional Statement on Diversity:Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. | |
$1 billion annually in research and discovery. Spanning the humanities, arts, social sciences, and STEM fields, this broad research enterprise is united by a common purpose: to better understand ourselves and the world around us.
life insurance, paid time off
Oct 01, 2026