Assistant Professor, Interior Design Program

Detailed Job Description

The School of Design in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology invites applicants to apply for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position to teach in the Interior Design program. RIT Interior Design, an expanding program, is a student-centered academic environment where burgeoning designers cultivate their unique points of view under professional faculty tutelage. Our mission is to mentor students, so they enter the field prepared to contribute to the profession with a deep-rooted understanding of the needs of society, culture and the environment. Our interior design program is highly sought-after and known for engaging students in real world projects both locally and internationally. By maximizing an array of academic and professional opportunities, our graduates are reshaping how we live in the world.

RIT's CIDA-accredited interior design program challenges students to be creative thinkers capable of responding thoughtfully to the challenges facing humanity, the environment, and emerging global conditions. Our B.F.A. degree is a multi-faceted program of study offering a comprehensive exploration of the commercial architectural interior. The curriculum synthesizes theoretical constructs with technical requirements and design processes to create inspiring, purposeful interior environments for a range of users and project typologies. Students build upon knowledge and experience from their formal instruction, internships and program mentoring experiences to cultivate professional skills. The high retention and employment rates for B.F.A. graduates are reflective of the overall quality of our program.

We invite applications from accomplished interior design or interior architecture faculty and ancillary design professionals with higher education teaching experience and significant professional expertise. The program is seeking a dynamic, creative team member who is actively engaged in the industry and committed to serving as an advocate for the program, and its students, within the professional community.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the capacity to teach comprehensively across the Interior Design curriculum and exhibit leadership and strategic vision in advancing the program. Ideal attributes for application include a robust professional and student portfolio illustrating diverse skills and a range of expertise for the discipline. Areas of consideration include but are not limited to history and theory; design process and methods; space planning for a variety of commercial design typologies (healthcare, multipurpose, event and exhibition, office, retail, hospitality); accessibility and human factors; sustainable design thinking; universal design; building systems and materiality; color and light; FF&E specifications, code compliance, and construction documentation. The body of work submitted for consideration must demonstrate knowledge and use of current and emerging software relevant to the field. We are seeking a professional with strong experience integrating technologies such as BIM, generative design, animation, and AI into curricula.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, the candidate will engage in research and creative scholarship, contribute to curriculum development, advise students, and provide service to the university, college, department, and profession.

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 Interior Design (MFA), Interior Architecture (MS, MIA), Environmental Design (MS), Master of Architecture (M.Arch), or related advanced degree with relevant professional experience will be considered.
• NCIDQ Certificate Holder and/or passed the Architect Registration Examination.
• Other professional certifications relevant to the design profession (e.g., WELL, EDAC, LEED, etc.) are considered strengths but are not required.
• Minimum three years of full-time professional experience in interior design, architecture, facilities and construction management or a related field of study.
• Minimum two years or equivalent teaching experience in interior design or a related field at the associate and/or baccalaureate level beyond a teaching assistantship.
• Professional experience designing spaces with interior architectural systems, applicable codes, furniture, finishes and fixtures.
• Architectural drawing, visualization and computer proficiency in applied design process and practice with demonstrated experience integrating technologies such as BIM, generative design, animation, and AI into curricula.
• Demonstrated knowledge in three or more of the following areas: design history, critical theory, design production and methodology, systems thinking, building code and regulations, contract documentation, FF&E packaging and specification writing, business practices, visual representation, commercial interior design, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, retail establishments, exhibition and theater, and office design.
• Established or burgeoning research scholarship agenda.
• Model professionalism and demonstrate effective communication skills.