Assistant or Associate Professor of Instruction in Visual Design with a UX/UI Focus, Non-Tenure Track

About the role

Full-time, non-tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Instruction in Visual Design with a UX/UI Focus at the Design & Illustration Department, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University. Two-year appointment with possibility of renewal. Anticipated start: Fall 2027. Location: Philadelphia, PA.

The department seeks a dynamic designer and educator with expertise in user experience and interface design grounded in strong visual design foundations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proficiency across the UX process—research, prototyping, and design implementation—paired with excellence in visual communication, typography, and motion. They will play a key role in shaping the curriculum for Tyler's new BFA in User Experience and User Interface Design and the Minor in UX/UI Design, preparing students for the evolving future of design that bridges creativity, technology, and user-centered thinking. A commitment to inclusive education and the mission of academic excellence and societal impact is expected.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses across the department's programs, including Graphic and Interactive Design, User Experience and User Interface Design, and Illustration and Emerging Media.
• Develop and maintain curriculum for the new BFA in User Experience and User Interface Design and the UX/UI Design Minor, ensuring courses remain current and aligned with evolving practices in UX/UI, product design, and accessibility.
• Collaborate with faculty to strengthen shared coursework in visual design, typography, motion design, and UX/UI design.
• Stay current with industry developments and emerging tools to ensure coursework reflects contemporary design practice and professional standards.
• Mentor and advise students from different backgrounds.
• Contribute to departmental, college, and university service.

Requirements

• A terminal degree (MFA or equivalent) in design or a related field, or significant professional experience in UX/UI or product design.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UX/UI, interaction, or product design.
• Proficiency across the UX process, including user research, concept development, prototyping, testing, and post-launch iteration.
• Experience working directly with developers, product teams, or clients to bring digital products to life.
• Strong foundation in visual design, including typography, layout, motion, and visual hierarchy, with the ability to apply these principles across both digital and traditional media.
• Expertise in accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.
• Experience using industry-standard tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite to create user-centered, visually engaging interfaces.
• Ability to teach and develop courses that connect visual design with UX/UI and product design principles, as well as general design and motion design courses.
• Demonstrated commitment to staying current with evolving industry practices, tools, and technologies.
• Commitment to creating inclusive, accessible environments for all students.

Preferred Qualifications

• University-level teaching experience.
• Evidence of collaborative and interdisciplinary work.

About the Department

The Design and Illustration Department at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University is home to undergraduate programs in Graphic & Interactive Design, User Experience and User Interface Design, and Illustration & Emerging Media, along with new minors that broaden design education across the university. The department also offers a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic and Interactive Design, where graduate students contribute to the department's research, teaching, and creative community. The department is in the midst of a major curricular transformation, building on its legacy of strong visual foundations with an increased focus on entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and emerging technologies in design education. Programs prepare students to balance core skills in typography, branding, motion, interaction, and image-making with the ability to adapt to new platforms and evolving professional practices. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, individualized mentorship, and opportunities to connect with Philadelphia's vibrant arts and design community.

About the Tyler School of Art and Architecture

The Design and Illustration Department is part of the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, which includes 22 program areas in art, design, art history, art education, art therapy, and architecture. This breadth provides rich opportunities for cross-disciplinary dialogue and innovation to enhance the department's core identity within design and illustration. Tyler prepares students to make valuable contributions in a range of fields through the strength of their creative and technical skills, their ability to visualize solutions, and their personal vision informed by social and civic responsibility.

About Temple University

Temple University, founded in 1884, is a Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) institution and one of the nation's largest urban public research universities. Located in North Philadelphia, just 1.5 miles from Center City, Temple enrolls more than 30,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Faculty and students benefit from the university's dynamic urban setting, vibrant campus life, global campuses in Rome, Tokyo, and Kyoto, and opportunities for partnerships that make meaningful impact locally and globally. The university is committed to fostering a welcoming environment for students, faculty, and staff, believing that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and ideas enriches the learning environment and strengthens the academic community.