Assistant Professor of Evolving Design Practices NL, CD

Job Title

Assistant Professor focusing on design processes, methods, and practices in relation to emerging technologies (e.g., AI)

The candidate will contribute to research and education on design processes, methods, and practices and how they evolve in relation to emerging technologies such as AI. Their work will investigate how designers generate, develop, and evaluate ideas and how these processes are reshaped by the uncertainty and complexity created by emerging technologies. The position provides space for the candidate to articulate and advance their research along these lines.

The role is embedded in an interdisciplinary environment within the Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) faculty and across TU Delft. The candidate will collaborate with designers, engineers, economists, and social scientists, as well as external partners in industry, government, and civil society to develop perspectives on design processes, methods, and practices. Their research may engage with broader themes such as design cognition, creativity, design strategy, service design, and other related domains, contributing both to academic debate and societal relevance and to the future of design practices.

In education, the candidate will contribute to Bachelor and Master programmes in IDE, particularly in courses related to design processes and practices, design methodologies, creativity, strategic design and service design. They will supervise BSc and MSc projects and actively contribute to the development of designers as strategic, reflective, and creative actors capable of engaging with socio‑technical challenges.

The ideal candidate should have:

• A PhD in a design‑related field. Candidates with backgrounds in engineering, psychology, human‑computer interaction, or social sciences may be considered if their work demonstrates engagement with design research, design practice, and design education.
• A strong research profile in design processes, design methods and methodology, and AI in design. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is an asset: creativity, design cognition, strategic design, or service design. The profile should be evidenced by publications in relevant peer‑reviewed journals and conferences in design research.
• Ability to work across disciplinary boundaries and academic communities.
• Ability and willingness to engage with a variety of stakeholders, experts and non‑experts by translating research insights into actionable frameworks, strategies, or interventions for industry and societal partners.
• Ability to contribute to international design research communities and related scholarly networks.
• Teaching experience in higher education, particularly in project‑based courses (e.g., design studios), and in areas such as design processes, design methods, design strategy, and/or service design. A university teaching qualification is an asset.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Proficiency in Dutch is considered an asset. If Dutch is not spoken, willingness to learn the language is required.
• Interests in contributing to research acquisition, program development, and academic service within the department. Experience in grant writing and grant acquisition is highly valued.

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8–1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, the candidate is expected to progress towards an Associate Professor within a maximum of eight years. Participation in the Academic Career Track Development programme, including development in Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation, is required. A temporary contract will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12–18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in the candidate’s development potential and fit in the organisation.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. A customizable compensation package, health insurance discounts, and a monthly work costs contribution are offered. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and partial work from home is possible.