Industrial Design

Teaching Assistant Professor in Illustration and/or Computer Animation School of Art & Design, Studio Art Program University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Teaching Assistant Professor position in Illustration and/or Computer Animation within the Studio Art Program. We seek two dynamic artist-educators whose practices engage traditional and digital media in the service of storytelling, expression, and creative communication. This unified search reflects our program’s commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary learning while also maintaining disciplinary clarity. Candidates may apply for either the Illustration or the Computer Animation position, or both, depending on their area(s) of expertise. This search supports growing curricular demand and student interest in both illustration and animation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The successful candidate(s) will contribute to our vibrant studio community and help shape future curricula that advance critical, inclusive, and cross-disciplinary creative practices. About the School of Art & Design Located within the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the School of Art & Design is home to a diverse and vibrant community of artists, designers, and scholars. We support interdisciplinary and socially engaged creative practices and offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Our Studio Art program emphasizes both technical excellence and conceptual rigor, encouraging students to explore the intersections of art, technology, and culture. For more about our programs and values, visit art.illinois.edu. Application Guidance To ensure clarity in review and evaluation, applicants must indicate in their cover letter whether they are applying for:

• The Illustration position, • The Computer Animation position, or • Both positions.

Applicants should tailor materials accordingly, highlighting their qualifications for the relevant role(s). Position 1: Teaching Assistant Professor in Illustration We seek an accomplished illustrator whose dynamic, versatile practice engages both traditional and digital media. The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in several of the following areas:

• Foundational drawing (gesture, perspective, and anatomy) • Collage and mixed media • Digital painting and coloring (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate) • Serialized storytelling and storyboarding • Visual development for games/media • Traditional media, including ink, watercolor, and gouache • Freelance or commission-based illustration practices

The successful candidate will develop curricula for both the Master's program in Game Studies and Design and the undergraduate minor (offered in person and online) through collaborative efforts between the School of Information Sciences and the School of Art & Design. They will also work across disciplines, particularly with colleagues in the College of Fine & Applied Arts and Information Sciences, on initiatives related to visual storytelling and game development.   Position 2: Teaching Assistant Professor in Computer Animation We seek a digital or computational artist with a robust practice in animation, game development, and narrative media. Ideal candidates will demonstrate expertise in at least two of the following areas, with openness to a broad, interdisciplinary approach:

• 2D and 3D animation workflows • Digital painting and texturing • 3D modeling, rendering, and rigging • Storyboarding and narrative design • Game engine integration (Unity, Unreal) • Freelance or commission-based media production

The successful candidate will develop curricula for both the Master's program in Game Studies and Design and the undergraduate minor (offered in person and online) through collaborative efforts between the School of Information Sciences and the School of Art & Design. This includes shaping an inclusive, forward-looking animation curriculum that integrates technical fluency, cultural critique, and media experimentation. They will also collaborate across disciplines, particularly with colleagues in the College of Fine & Applied Arts and the School of Information Sciences, on initiatives related to visual storytelling and game development. Courses May Include The following are representative courses taught within the Illustration and New Media concentrations. Exact course assignments will be based on expertise and program needs:

• Beginning Illustration
• Composition and Storytelling
• Digital Coloring
• Advanced Illustration
• Observational Drawing
• Visualization Drawing
• Expressive Drawing
• Life Drawing
• Beginning & Intermediate Painting
• Image Practice
• Time Arts I
• The Art of 3D Imaging
• Interaction I
• Graduate Studio (Online, MS in Game Development)

  Minimum Qualifications (Both Positions)

• Terminal or advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., studio art, illustration, animation, game development, computational media) • Professional experience in relevant creative industry sectors • Demonstrated experience teaching or mentoring in both academic and/or professional settings • Technical fluency with industry-standard software and digital workflows • Engagement with contemporary critical discourse in media, culture, and storytelling

We welcome applicants whose research and creative practices expand or challenge dominant narratives in the fields of illustration and animation. This may include, but is not limited to, work that engages with underrepresented histories, global perspectives, emergent media, or innovative modes of storytelling and image-making. We are particularly interested in candidates whose teaching and practice demonstrate sensitivity to a wide range of cultural frameworks, lived experiences, and ways of knowing. Appointment Information This is a 100% full-time Teaching Assistant Professor position, appointed on a nine-month basis. The expected start date is August 2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $62,500–$70,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. Application Procedures & Deadline Information Applications must be received by 11:59 pm (Central Time) on December 1, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Required materials:

• Cover letter (indicating Illustration, Computer Animation, or both) • Curriculum vitae • Teaching statement • Portfolio of creative work (PDF or link to online portfolio) • Samples of student work (if available) • Names and contact information for three references

For further information about this specific position, please contact Bobbie Clegg at bjclegg@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137. The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits. The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Assistant/Associate Professor in User Experience and User Interface Design (Tenure-Track)

School of Art & Design

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The School of Art & Design, housed within the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, invites applications for two full-time tenure-track faculty positions in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026. These positions will play a central role in the development and instruction of the BS in Computer Science + Design degree, a collaborative program that bridges design and technology. Faculty will contribute to three programs including Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Studio Art to foster interdisciplinary teaching and research. We seek a candidate with a terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or equivalent) in a field engaging art, design, and computation. The ideal candidate will be both a practicing artist/critical designer—with a strong record of public engagement through exhibitions, installations, and/or performances—and a researcher whose writing and publishing investigate the social, cultural, and aesthetic dimensions of computation. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in computational media and contribute through creative interventions in areas such as but not limited to: • Artificial Intelligence as medium and cultural system • Platform culture, computational logics, and interface aesthetics • Digital rights, privacy, and ethics of computation • Race, gender, and technology • Algorithmic bias, equity, and social justice • Design for Accessibility • Bio-art, Art–science, Data Visualization, and emerging crossover disciplines, including Behavioral Sciences • Code as art We are looking for an artist-designer-researcher whose creative practice and critical inquiry together advance new ways of engaging with computation, interface, and interaction in their wider cultural, social, and political dimensions. Context: The School of Art & Design The School of Art and Design supports interdisciplinary and socially engaged creative practices and offers a range of programs, including undergraduate and/or graduate degrees and concentrations in Art Education, Art History, Fashion, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Design for Responsible Innovation, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Studio Art. Our School emphasizes both technical excellence and conceptual rigor, encouraging students to challenge themselves and use their creative skills in building a better, more just and sustainable world. In all areas, student and faculty work is supported by state-of-the-art labs for traditional and contemporary media, including spaces for digital imaging and printing, audio-visual production, rapid two- and three-dimensional prototyping, and darkroom photography. Facilities for bookbinding, letterpress, printmaking, and fashion design are also available. Teaching Responsibilities: The teaching load includes two courses per semester. The successful candidate will teach courses that position computation as an artistic and critical design medium, ranging from introductory coding for creative practice to advanced, research-driven practice and method-based seminars. Areas of teaching could include (but are not limited to): computational art, critical interface design, interactive art, data art, information art, net art, and related emerging practices. The candidate will contribute to both undergraduate and graduate curricula, mentor students across disciplines, and help shape the evolving identity of computational art and critical design within the School of Art and Design. Minimum Qualifications • Terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. • Evidence of an active creative practice with a strong record of public engagement through exhibition, installation, and/or performance. • Evidence of critical research through writing, publishing, or equivalent scholarly contributions that engage computational media, design, and the arts. • Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development at both undergraduate and graduate levels. • Commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment and contributing to the diversity of the School and University. Preferred Qualifications: • PhD in relevant discipline. • Familiarity with and a critical perspective on historical approaches to experience design. • Practice, teaching, and/or research that connect to one or more of the following areas of design: Gender and Design, Equity and Design, Indigenous Design  Knowledges, and Design Futures. • Familiarity with liberatory pedagogical approaches. • A critical perspective on social biases embedded in technological systems. • Experience teaching in a program that integrates Design, Technology, and Science. Application Materials: • A cover letter addressing qualifications and research/creative practice. • Curriculum vitae. • Portfolio of scholarly and creative work. • Research Statement. • A teaching portfolio, including a teaching statement, one or two sample syllabi, and (if possible) student work. • Names and contact information for three references.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Assistant/Associate Professor position, appointed on a nine-month basis. The expected start date is August 2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $75,000 to $80,000 at the Assistant Professor level and $88,000 to $95,000 at the Associate Professor level, for a nine-month service basis. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 8, 2025. Interviews may begin prior to the initial closing date; however, the review of applications will continue until suitable candidates are identified. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Bobbie Clegg at bjclegg@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.  

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

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The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Savio M. Mukachirayil is a designer, artist, and educator focused on the advancement of integral human development and global stewardship through creative inquiry. He holds dual Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, and a Bachelor’s from Loughborough University. His multidisciplinary experience spans industry, consultancy, and academia across London, Essen, Dubai, Chennai, Seoul, Singapore, and Illinois—bringing a unique global perspective on design. Savio is the founder of The Design/Contemplate Lab, an initiative at the intersection of design and philosophy. The lab reflects on emerging scientific and technological paradigms, recalibrating design methods to ensure that the means align ethically with good ends. Its mission is to foster responsibility and intentionality in creative practice. Current research explores topics such as, the nature of creativity in artificial intelligence, the perception of form through semantic concepts, and, the use of bio-based polymers to reduce waste —which has intersected into his classroom. In his teaching, he emphasizes experiential learning and cultivates a holistic studio environment where students grow through hands-on practice and philosophical reflection.

Christine Marcelino is an industrial designer, design researcher, and educator passionate about shaping the future of design through innovation, emerging technology, and more-than-human methodologies. With nearly two decades of interdisciplinary design experience in the San Francisco Bay Area across multiple industries—including home furnishings, outdoor gear, healthcare, and personal electronics—she has developed groundbreaking products that blend human-centered design with technological and material innovation. Christine has led design and innovation initiatives for industry leaders such as OXO, TRX, and Camelbak, as well as shaped foundational concepts for startups like Lovevery, Alite Designs, and Willow Breast Pump under Exploramed Incubator. Her career has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what design can achieve, integrating research-driven approaches to create meaningful, impactful products. After 20 years in the industry, Christine returned to academia to explore new paradigms in design through research, earning a Master’s in Design in Emerging Technology from UC Berkeley. Her focus is on design research for regenerative futures with emerging technology. Currently she is working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, creativity support tools, and tacit knowledge in craft. She envisions a future where technology enhances human creativity rather than replacing it.

The School of Art and Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition will show the work of nearly 100 students in all disciplines of the school — art education, art history, graphic design, industrial design and studio art, which includes fashion, new media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The exhibition opens May 10, with a reception at 4 p.m., and runs through May 17. To read more about our artists read the article in the Illinois News Bureau: Seniors in art and design to show their work at Krannert Art Museum.  

Samantha Jenae Jones, a graduate student in Design for Responsible Innovation, is part of the 2024–25 "Collisions Across Color Lines" Interseminars project funded by the Mellon Foundation, and was recently interviewed by the Humanities Research Institute (HRI).

Alum Douglas Busch (BFA, Graphic Design, '74)  is celebrated for shooting large-format photographs that capture reality more accurately than you can actually see it. He's created and designed cameras and buildings. Read below to learn about Busch's photography and creative process, involvement with friends and colleagues, childhood and history, and portfolio. Read more in the Illinois Alumni Magazine

Deana McDonagh, Professor of Industrial Design and Director of the (dis)Ability Design Studio  at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, led a seminar about empathic modeling and pedagogy of discomfort at the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning in December 2024.

The inaugural Krannert Award Dinner and Ceremony on November 15th at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts showcased a stunning award trophy designed by Krystal Zeng, a talented former senior in Industrial Design. This remarkable piece represents the culmination of creativity, dedication, and collaboration within the university community. The project originated from a competition launched and managed by Professor Suresh Sethi. Krystal Zeng's submission stood out for its elegance, thoughtfulness, and ability to embody the spirit of the Krannert Award. As her mentor, Professor Sethi guided her throughout the design process, witnessing her concept evolve from a classroom idea into the remarkable trophy that graced every table at the ceremony. The realization of Krystal Zeng's design was a profoundly rewarding moment for all involved. The trophy symbolizes more than just recognition; it serves as a testament to the power of design, the importance of mentorship, and the incredible talent within the student body. Krystal Zeng's outstanding achievement is a source of inspiration for students to pursue their creative visions with confidence and determination. A video showcasing the award may be viewed here.

Dr. Lynne Dearborn, a prominent member of the School of Architecture and Associate Director of Design in the School of Art and Design, was featured as an expert in USA Today’s 2024 Homefront Report, titled "What Cities Are Best for the Middle Class?" In the article, Dr. Dearborn highlighted the unique challenges faced by middle-class families in urban areas, noting that while cities often promise access to diverse schools, transportation, daycare, and medical services, these benefits can be overshadowed by societal preferences for single-family homes. She explained, “One major challenge facing middle-class families is that often the physical configuration of available housing options with the right related benefits do not fit that image of the single-family home or, if they do, they are not in the right price range.” Her insights reflect the School of Architecture’s dedication to exploring solutions for equitable and sustainable living environments.

Industrial Design students Shuoning (Stone) Shi and Yuheng (Leo) Wang (with Hui Liu, Guwei Chen, and Wanting Bi) received Gold Winner awards for COFE Mixed Reality Helmet and Magnetic Rowing Machine at the 2024 Muse Design Awards. Stone and Leo were also named Gold Winners for Naginata: The Intelligent Home Grooming Solution. Stone received a Silver Winner for Aquilainsight. Congratulations Stone and Leo!  

Kim Vandenbroucke (BFA 2002 Industrial Design) was nominated for the third year in a row for the Toy and Game Innovator of the Year TAGIE Award! This year’s nomination is for Scrabble Together, a project with the games team at Mattel. The goal was to make Scrabble more family-friendly and accessible. “I hope this cooperative version encourages more people who may have been hesitant to dive into the classic word game to enjoy it with their family and friends. A huge high five to both the Mattel Games and IR teams for their incredible work, and to all the other inventors and designers up for this award—I'm lucky to know so many talented people!” Don't forget to vote: https://lnkd.in/g9zwUqfx    

Kuangming Qin (MFA 2024 Industrial Design) received a 2024 merit award from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). CONGRATULATIONS!

Giant Congratulations Ali Ibanez, Graphic Design (2024) for competing in the Paris Paralympics on the women’s basketball team. Go Ali! Also congratulations as well to Phillip Croft, Industrial Design (2025) and Isaiah Rigo, Industrial Design (2024) for making it to the paralympic trials for Track and Field.

This summer, Mania Taher received the 2024 Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship, awarded jointly by the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS-U.S. National Park  Service). This fellowship award enabled her to complete a survey and report documenting  the physical and social histories of the Dearborn Mosque building and community in Dearborn (est. 1938), Wayne County, MI. This building, only the second mosque built in the United States, serves as a case study of early American mosque architecture. The Dearborn Mosque engages significantly with resettlement histories of the 20th-Century Arab immigrants of Dearborn and Detroit who were predominantly industrial workers at the Ford automotive company.