["Teaching Designer - Youth-Led Urban Design","Teaching Designer - Youth-Led Urban Design"]

Territory NFP is an innovative place-based urban design studio where young people are building better futures for themselves and their communities through the hands on practice of design. Join Territory's creative program team as a Teaching Designer to facilitate our youth led advanced design studio. You will be sharing expertise, modeling the design process, and working in collaboration with youth ages 16-19 to create inspiring public spaces in the Austin community on the west side of Chicago.

What you will do

• Co-create and deliver curriculum centered on youth-led urban design, incorporating Territory's core values of youth agency, community partnerships, design equity, adventurousness, and positive tangible impact.
• Collaborate with knowledge partners as co-teachers in the studio and in the community
• Facilitate hands-on workshops including site analysis, precedent investigation, drawing skills, prototyping, and modular fabrication
• Support youth in articulating design ideas, creating visual presentations, and producing design artifacts
• Collaborate closely with the design studio staff and project consultants to align youth design outputs with feasibility and construction requirements
• Develop clear lesson plans and session goals; provide documentation of student learning, design process, and outcomes
• Foster an inclusive, creative, and youth-centered studio culture

What we are looking for

• At least one year of experience teaching design, architecture, landscape architecture, visual arts, community planning, or related disciplines
• Facilitation skills with youth ages 14-24 demonstrating a commitment to supporting youth voice and agency
• Experience with community-based or participatory design practices
• Portfolio demonstrating both creative practice and youth-engagement experience
• Ability to translate complex design ideas into accessible, hands-on activities
• Territory is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Austin (Westside) Chicago residents are encouraged to apply.

Why This Role

As a Teaching Designer at Territory, the stakes are real — the design teams are envisioning and building real projects; the context is real — you are working with youth, neighbors and partners who are invested in the work; and the long term impact is real — your investment opens the door for the next generation to lead.

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• TimelineSubmission deadline: Rolling until filled
• Site visits and interviews: July and August 2026
• Contract Start: August 31, 2026
• Studio Program Session: September-December 2026. Option for contract extension

Background checks required. This position is funded by a grant from the State of Illinois. Contract will depend on confirmation of qualifications.