"Teaching Specialist or Lecturer - UMN College of Design"

Position Description:

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 

About the College of Design

As one of the most comprehensive design colleges in the country, the College of Design’s vision is to be the recognized leader in advancing transformative thinking and practice, and reinventing our disciplines and professions for a new century.

In order to prepare our students to confront the real challenges of our time, every College of Design graduate from the University of Minnesota will:

• Be able to apply design thinking as a way to address issues big and small, confronting the local and world community
• Understand and be prepared for the social, environmental, and economic ramifications of each problem they address and every decision they make in their work
• Not only be able to conceive unique ideas, but also be capable of implementing those ideas through actionable plans, projects, or strategies.

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)

How to Apply

• To apply for the UX position, please submit your application through this link: http://jobsearch.cla.umn.edu/371785
• To apply for the PDes position, please submit your application through this link: http://jobsearch.cla.umn.edu/371787

Timeline:

Review of applications will begin on February 12, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.