Human-Centered Transition Design

Will you help design transitions toward more sustainable and equitable futures? Join us in pioneering Human-Centered Transition Design as a transformative approach to address today’s complex challenge.

Job description

The department Human-Centered Design (HCD) within the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) is recruiting an Academic Career Track (ACT) faculty member with expertise in Human-Centered Transition Design.

Transition Design is a transdisciplinary approach that intentionally shifts the trajectories of communities, organizations and systems toward more sustainable, equitable and desirable futures. Rather than focusing on individual products or services, it addresses complex, interconnected challenges of our time, such as climate change, social inequalities, biodiversity loss, and technological disruption through systems-level interventions.

While societies are always in transition through countless individual and institutional decisions, these changes often lack coordination towards shared goals. Transition Design calls for deliberate, design-led interventions that help coordinate and redirect these ongoing changes toward collectively preferred futures. It integrates knowledge from diverse disciplines including systems thinking, futures studies, complexity science, and social innovation to develop tools and methodologies that catalyse transformation from the local to the global scale.

The ACT position brings a new impulse to this rapidly evolving domain by contributing Human-Centered Design perspectives and methodologies. We are looking for a colleague who can bridge the systemic scope of Transition Design with people-centered principles and HCD methods and tools, ensuring that interventions are rooted in a deep understanding of human goals, needs, and capabilities. Embodied, participatory, and co-creative approaches that emphasize designing for and with people and communities are therefore essential.

In this role you will provide leadership in three domains: (1) integrate Human-Centered Design knowledge and methods into Transition Design education in the IDE curriculum, (2) conduct rigorous research that critically reflects on and expands the role of design, particularly human-centered design knowledge, in shaping societal transitions, and (3) acting as ambassador for human-centered approaches to Transition Design, involving colleagues and external partners in innovative practices that center people and communities.

Job requirements

You are an academically trained design researcher with a solid grounding in Human Centered Design and are passionate about making change at different scales and timeframes.

Required qualifications:

• You have a PhD in design, transition or complexity studies, systems thinking, or a closely related field, complemented by a BSc/MSc that demonstrates strong design affinity.
• A research record demonstrating understanding of transformation processes and how design can catalyse systemic change, evidenced by peer reviewed publications or equivalent practice-based outputs.
• Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and with societal partners, and to contribute to externally funded research projects.
• Hands-on experience with participatory design methods, co-creation processes, community engagement, or living-lab practice.

Preferred additions (not required):

• Proficiency in methods such as systems mapping, scenario development, transition management, or futures studies.
• Demonstrated impact through real world projects targeting sustainability transitions or social innovation.
• Teaching experience in design education, including supervision of BSc and/or MSc students, with a commitment to a student-centred pedagogy.
• Active international network in Transition Design, sustainability transitions, or neighbouring fields.
• Proficiency in Dutch language, which would facilitate collaboration with local stakeholders and integration within the Dutch research and practice community.

Personal qualities:

• You think in systems while staying focused on individual experiences and recognise patterns across scales and timeframes.
• Inspire and empower students and partners through thoughtful facilitation.
• Work constructively in multidisciplinary teams and value open collaboration.
• Thrive in the ambiguity and complexity that characterise complex societal challenges.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering
Matching the evolution of people with the speed of the revolution of technology. This is the focus of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). Delft designers act as a bridge between advances in technology and the needs of people, organisations and society to create products, services and systems with purpose.
IDE is a leader in design research across the application areas of mobility, sustainability and health, as well as its development of design tools and methods. A 350-strong research team and over 2,000 students work together in our inspiring hall, labs and studios.
In close cooperation with industry, the public sector and NGOs we rehearse possible futures in research and education to design for a complex future.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering.

Conditions of employment 

This position is offered as an Academic Career Track position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE). During the Academic Career Track, we expect you to grow towards an Associate Professor position within a maximum of eight years, for which a position will be available. With other Academic Career Track colleagues, you will participate in the Academic Career Track Development programme, where you are offered ample opportunities to develop yourself in the areas of Education, Research, Societal Impact & Innovation, and Leadership & Organisation. You will regularly discuss your development and results with senior staff based on a personalized development plan and performance criteria agreed upon at the start of your Academic Career Track. You will start with a temporary contract that will be converted to a permanent contract no later than 12 -18 months after a positive evaluation, based on continuous confidence in your development potential and fit in the organisation. 
 
Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. We expect you to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years if you have less than five years of teaching experience. This is provided by the TU Delft UTQ programme as part of the Academic Career Track Development programme. 
 
TU Delft sets high standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency. If you do not speak Dutch, we offer courses to learn the Dutch language within three years. 
 
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged and you can work partly from home. 

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, provides information and personal one-on-one guidance to help you prepare your relocation, and to find housing and schools for children (if applicable). In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. . 

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof. dr. Peter Vink, department Head, P.Vink@tudelft.nl

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 September 2025 via the application button and upload a motivation letter, a detailed CV and an original research statement that presents their research aspirations and explains how these connect to the described position (max. 2 A4).

You can address your application to Peter Vink, department Head.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.