Graduate Studies Adjunct Faculty – UX Design

STATUS: Part-Time
DIVISION: Graduate Studies
REPORTS TO: Dean of Graduate Studies & Research
SUPERVISES: N/A
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

CCS Detroit is seeking Adjunct Faculty members to join our teaching team on the MA and MFA UX Design programs. Preparation and planning will start in January for teaching in Fall 2022.

THE PROGRAMS:

Graduates of the User Experience (UX) Design programs will expand future possibilities in people’s daily lives through products, environments, systems and services that are enhanced by technologically mediated human interactions.

The programs are situated at the intersection of technology and creative practice. Here, students learn how to design technologically mediated systems and experiences, and human interactions with objects, spaces, and interfaces. Through in-depth user research, iterative prototyping, and usability testing, students will explore experiences amidst new and emerging technologies in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), robotics, smart mobility, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The program is grounded in creativity, speculative thinking, and experimental practices in response to rich socio- and techno-cultural themes. With access to CCS’s world-class studios and resources, students further their own skills and knowledge through hands-on learning. Critical inquiry and design provocations sharpen insights as students become adept with models of interaction, experience, and communication.

UX Design is currently a STEM-designated program. International students completing this program qualify to apply for the STEM OPT (optional practical training) extension.

CCS offers an established 60 credit terminal MFA degree and a new 30 credit initial MA degree. Students may take either program in full- or part-time mode.

THE ROLE

Graduate Studies at CCS is seeking accomplished professional design and technology practitioners and academics to join our established program teaching team. Candidates will have proven experience and knowledge in UX Design, including: 

• User-centered research
• Human factors 
• User-testing
• UX Prototyping
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Extended Reality (XR)
• Smart mobility/transportation
• IoT
• Robotics
• Design thinking and thought leadership
• Written Thesis supervision

Under the direction of the Graduate Dean, Adjunct Faculty (Instructors) will teach courses which will involve the following essential accountabilities: 

• Preparation of teaching materials; 
• Teaching through lectures, studio instruction, seminars and/or off-campus visits

• Use of the College’s learning management system (Canvas) 

• Teaching online (synchronously and asynchronously)
• Overseeing live and sponsored projects
• Assessment and feedback

Adjunct Faculty need to be available for teaching in the evenings, and will also be expected to attend occasional meetings and personal professional development (pedagogy) sessions. Much of our teaching is in person on campus, although some classes may be online.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Extensive professional experience in industry and/or academic research
• A terminal degree (PhD or Masters) is preferred
• An initial Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree will be considered for candidates with significant relevant professional experience
• Teaching experience at the college- or graduate-level is not essential, but preferred
• Excellent and delightful interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team leader and colleague in accordance with CCS’s values

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are Core Institutional Values.

As a leading college of art and design, we recognize the value diversity brings to making, designing, creating, and expanding spaces for social discourse. 

The College for Creative Studies represents a diverse community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities, and worldviews that recognize differences of culture and circumstance. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are interlaced into our Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.

We are especially interested in candidates who have demonstrated commitment to excellence by providing leadership in teaching, scholarship, research or service toward building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and intersectional individuals are encouraged to apply. 

The College for Creative Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.  We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.  Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

 

ABOUT CCS

College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit institution; it is one of the leading art and design colleges in the world. CCS is ranked by LinkedIn as a top three design school in the US and the best in the Midwest, based on alumni success. CCS has state-of-the-art facilities to support the complete range of creative production, from traditional art forms such as painting, glassblowing, foundry, and printmaking, to the most contemporary systems, including the latest digital imaging technology and extensive rapid prototyping output tools. The College currently enrolls more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 13 majors:  Advertising Design, Art Education, Art Practice, Communication Design, Craft and Material Studies, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Accessories Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design, and Transportation Design. It also offers a Master’s degrees in four majors: Color and Materials Design, Interaction Design, Systems Design Thinking, and Transportation Design. The college also offers masters degrees in six areas: Art Education, Color and Materials Design, Design for Climate Action, Motion Design, Transportation Design and UX Design. 

For an informal conversation, contact Dr. Ian Lambert, Dean of Graduate Studies – ilambert@collegeforcreativestudies.edu.

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The search will continue until suitable candidates are hired.

A cover letter, resume/CV, and URL portfolio or samples of professional project work should be sent to hr@collegeforcreativestudies.edu with “MA and MFA Design for UX Design” in the subject line. Official transcripts/certificates for degrees and professional references are required as a condition of hire.

Department Website:    https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/academics/graduate-programs/

CCS website:     https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/

The College for Creative Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. 3/12/19