Teaching Specialist or Lecturer - UMN College of Design

The Department of Design Innovation at the University of Minnesota– Twin Cities seeks to fill multiple instructional roles in UX and Product/Industrial Design. Selected individuals will be asked to teach courses at the undergraduate level. Both positions will be at the rank of Teaching Specialist or Lecturer, depending on qualifications. The successful candidate must bring strong teaching experience and/or professional practice, along with a passion for developing the core skills essential to product design in order to prepare students for real-world professional practice.

APPOINTMENT DETAILS

• 100%-time, 9-month, continuous, academic professional (P&A) appointment beginning August 28, 2023
• Rank of Teaching Specialist or Lecturer (depending on qualifications)
• Excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision
• Competitive retirement options
• Professional development allowance.
• For a full list of benefits, please visit https://humanresources.umn.edu/benefits
  
  

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses related to UX, or Product/Industrial Design.
• Supervise student teaching assistants if applicable.
• Mentor undergraduate students.
• Attend and contribute to class critiques and program events.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the curriculum.
• Participate in school, department, and collegiate meetings and committees.
• Contribute to and support the mission of the land grant institution.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• For Teaching Specialist: Undergraduate degree in experience design, graphic design, industrial design, product design, computer science, or a related field
• For Lecturer: Graduate Degree in industrial/product design, experience design, or a related field.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills,
• Experience teaching or mentoring students in academic or professional settings,
• Proven capacity for empathy, patience, and support in guiding beginning designers or design students through foundational learning experiences
• Evidence of strong collaborative and interpersonal skills. Evidence of strong presentation skills. Professional experience working in the UX or Industrial/Product Design Field
  
  

Preferred Qualifications (not Required)

• Technologically innovative approach to teaching
• Proficiency in coding and programming languages
• Experience working with AI software
• Experience in program and/or curricular development
• Experience working collaboratively with academic departments and/or in the community
• Evidence of diversity and inclusion in teaching and/or scholarship or creative production
• Experience in teaching smaller studios and larger lectures.
• Physical Model Making
• Portfolio Development & Communication
  
  

Application Materials

• Applicants should submit the following:
• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  
  

If selected to move forward in the interview process, the following items will be requested:

• Teaching Statement (1–2 pages)
• Personal Work / Design Portfolio (digital portfolio or website link)
• Teaching Portfolio (if available, including relevant student work)