Adjunct Lecturer in UI-UX

The University of Florida Digital Worlds Institute (DW) in the College of the Arts (COTA) is seeking a qualified adjunct lecturer to teach DIG4970 Senior Project in Spring 2025. The ideal candidate should possess extensive knowledge in interaction design, including both user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, with a track record of teaching and mentorship experience. This course will be conducted in a hybrid format, combining both on-campus and online components. The on-campus section meets every Friday for a three-hour session, while the online section is entirely asynchronous, catering to 30-40 students in total.

The candidate will collaborate closely with senior project faculty to provide mentorship, assessment, instruction, and guidance. This role involves guiding senior students through the complete design process, including concept ideation, user research, wireframing, prototyping, and project finalization. The instructor will facilitate student presentations, provide constructive feedback, and ensure students are ready for the Digital Worlds Convergence event, where they will showcase their final projects. This role requires an estimated 8-12 hours per week and runs from January 2, 2025, to May 15, 2025. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with 2-3 years of industry experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic team and contribute significantly to the education and success of our students.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating foundational shifts in the arts and beyond. As business and academic professionals, artists, scholars, advisors, and teachers, we, the staff of the College, embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our colleagues, students, and faculty to respond to and shape that experience fearlessly through critical thinking, creativity, constructive questioning, and respectful dialogue. We seek a colleague who engages with openness and enthusiasm for the work and the mission of the college. We seek a colleague who co-creates a workplace that promotes pluralism, curiosity, viewpoint diversity, open discourse, and the well-being of all, while striving for professional and organizational improvement. We seek a colleague who identifies as a trusted steward of resources, balancing institutional requirements and the demand for innovative solutions.
The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty, seeking faculty of all races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Responsibilities:

• Teach the hybrid sections of DIG 4970 Senior Project, emphasizing UI/UX design methodologies and best practices.
• Mentor students through the end-to-end design process of creating portfolio-quality UI/UX projects, including Concept ideation, User research, Wireframing, Prototyping
• Provide expert feedback on student projects at different stages of development to enhance user-centered design skills.
• Guide students in creating polished portfolio artifacts that effectively demonstrate their expertise in UI/UX design.
• Facilitate peer reviews and class discussions to foster collaborative learning and constructive critique.
• Prepare students for the Digital Worlds Convergence event by refining their final presentations and helping them communicate the value of their UI/UX projects.
• Mentor students on individual senior project milestones to ensure successful completion.

$5,000

• Bachelor’s degree with 2-3 years of industry experience in Digital Arts, UI/UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in UI/UX design, user research, prototyping, and digital design practices.
• Proficiency with design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, and usability testing platforms.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with student mentorship.
• Excellent organizational skills to develop and deliver course content.

The successful candidate will bring to the position:

• Master's degree or higher, preferably in a related field such as Digital Arts, Design, or a relevant discipline
• Previous experience in higher education or a professional training environment preferred.
• Proficiency in using online learning management systems (LMS), multimedia software, and digital tools relevant to visual design and production.
• Extensive Industry experience to provide relevant and timely feedback to students.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and engagement.
• Flexibility in scheduling to accommodate student needs and maintain a regular online presence.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and provide timely feedback and support to students.

Application Deadline: To ensure consideration, all application documents must be submitted by November 21, 2024 at 11:55 pm.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time.

Online applications must include the following: (1) a cover letter; (2) a curriculum vitae or resume; and (3) portfolio. Teaching Philosophy Statement is optional. More information regarding application materials are listed below.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• Cover Letter: Write a personalized letter that highlights your qualifications, teaching experience, and interest in the position.
• Resume/CV: Provide a comprehensive summary of your educational background, professional experience, and relevant skills.
• Portfolio: Compile a portfolio showcasing your work in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.
• Teaching Philosophy (optional): Write a statement outlining your teaching philosophy, approach to online instruction, and commitment to student success and engagement.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call +1 (352) 392- 2477or the Florida Relay System at +1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

DIGITAL WORLDS INSTITUTE: Digital Worlds (DW) is a recognized leader in combining digital arts and design, communications and storytelling, computer science, and emerging technologies. The interdisciplinary field of digital arts and sciences is ideal for students whose intellectual and creative pursuits are not confined to traditional academic disciplines. Through project-based learning and collaboration with diverse interdisciplinary teams, DW prepares students for 21st-century careers in the creative and technology sectors.

THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS: The mission of the College of the Arts is to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. We achieve the university’s mission by training professionals and educating students as artists and scholars, while developing their capacities for critical study, creative practice, and provocation. The College offers baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Approximately 1,700 students are pursuing majors in degrees offered by the College of the Arts under the direction of 130 faculty members in its three accredited schools— the School of Art + Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre + Dance, and in the Center for Arts in Medicine, the Digital Worlds Institute, and the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. In addition, the college comprises the University Galleries, and the University level of the New World School of the Arts in Miami.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: The University of Florida is a comprehensive learning institution built on a land grant foundation, ranked one of the top five best public universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Report. We are The Gator Nation, a diverse community dedicated to excellence in education and research and shaping a better future for Florida, the nation, and the world. Our mission is to enable our students to lead and influence the next generation and beyond for economic, cultural, and societal benefit. UF is a graduate research institution with more than 50,000 students and membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. Gainesville, which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most livable cities, is located midway between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Together, the University and the community comprise the educational, medical and cultural center of North Central Florida, with outstanding resources such as the University of Florida Performing Arts (Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Squitieri Studio Theatre, the Baughman Center, University Auditorium), the Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the community, the Hippodrome State Theatre and Dance Alive National Ballet.