The Nierenberg Chair was established in 1983 through a generous gift from the late Mr. Theodore D. Nierenberg and his wife, Martha. The Chair is one of the most prestigious appointments within design education in the United States, awarded to an outstanding individual who has achieved national or international prominence in design or a design-related field. Originally applied to visiting faculty, the Chair has more recently been awarded to full-time faculty in the School of Design.

Mr. Nierenberg earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering management from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, now the College of Engineering, in 1944, and was one of the founders of Dansk International Designs. He was an emeritus life trustee of the university, and began a notable family legacy at Carnegie Mellon: his son, daughter, and granddaughter all went on to earn their own degrees here, studying architecture, chemistry and German, and mechanical engineering, respectively.

The goal in establishing the Nierenberg Chair was to enhance the vitality of the School of Design for students and faculty alike by encouraging dialogue on important issues in the field, exploration of contemporary forms of design practice, and research that affects future practice and understanding. Selected by committee, the chair is awarded to a faculty member on their rise to tenure, in recognition and support of their teaching and research contributions to the School and the field of design.