Adjunct Faculty – User Research Instructor (Evergreen) - DigiPen Institute of Technology

Located in Redmond, Washington, DigiPen Institute of Technology is a small college that offers undergraduate degree programs in Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Audio and Music, Computer Engineering, and Digital Art and Animation, as well as Master’s degree programs in Computer Science and Digital Art. DigiPen Institute of Technology has been ranked one of the top 5 game design schools in the country by the Princeton Review for more than a decade.

To learn more, visit: https://www.digipen.edu/ .

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Position: Adjunct Faculty – Department of Design

Reports to: Design Department Chair

The Department of Design at DigiPen Institute of Technology invites applicants for potential future positions of Adjunct Faculty – User Research Instructor to help teach the next generation of designers. Join the pool of vetted faculty adjuncts for future adjunct instructor positions. Help students develop the necessary skills to succeed in the field of user research for games.

The Department of Design faculty who teach these topics are themselves subject matter experts who bring decades of first-hand industry experience from the world of mobile games, PC/console games, tabletop games, user research, and more. They help students learn design thinking and how to solve problems from the vantage of the end user, creating more seamless and engaging experiences in the process.

Design courses at DigiPen cover a multitude of sub-disciplines within the broader practice of professional game design and development. Most of these courses fall into one of six design specialization tracks — systems design, level design, user experience design, narrative design, technical design, and user research.

After completing the application process, you may be invited to participate in the interview process. If accepted, you will be added to our pool of pre-approved adjuncts. The Department of Design hires adjunct faculty from the pool of pre-approved adjuncts each semester on an as-needed basis.

This is an ongoing posting. For more information about DigiPen’s offerings, visit:

Current Courses | DigiPen

Essential Functions/Duties

• Teach introductory and upper-division courses in User Research in accordance with departmental policies and assigned class schedules (evening classes available)
  • Focus on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through observation, task analysis, and other feedback methodologies. DigiPen projects tend to be game-focused, but UR experience in any field or medium is valuable.
• Demonstrate design and analysis techniques
• Grade, critique, and input assignment feedback on a weekly basis to the learning management system (Moodle)
• Organize class activities, demos, and assignments
• Relate assignments and tests to learning outcomes
• Manage Student Teaching Assistants, if required; supervising their punches and reviewing their weekly hours
• Provide input, create, and improve course materials
• Offer weekly office hours
• In-person teaching, with online classes when necessary, in Redmond, WA

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field or equivalent.
• 5+ years of professional design experience (for example, 2+ shipped titles, published works, published research projects, or other body of work)
• Lecture experience, including professional talks or panels at conventions or events.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrate evidence of teaching experience that supports a diverse student body and individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences
• Ability to accommodate different learning styles and special needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Design, Psychology, Communications, Interactive Media, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience, including design lead positions, with the ability to apply the skills of the area of specialization.
• Shipped titles on different platforms and media
• Instructor experience in a college setting, or other teaching experience.

Salary Range:

$5,184 – $8,709 per term, depending on credit hours, class size, and faculty rank

Not benefits eligible.

Application Procedure:

Applications should include, or you will be asked to provide, the following:

• Cover letter of interest, including a link to your digital portfolio, if applicable
• Current curriculum vitae / résumé
• Academic Transcripts of most recently attended educational institutions
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Statement of experience and views in reference to inclusivity and diversity

Upon accepting an offer of employment with us, the candidate will receive an invitation for a required background check, employment verification, and 5-panel drug screen as a part of the hiring process.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Complete application files will be accepted on a continuous basis and remain active for one year. While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Additional Notes:

• All Adjunct positions are part-time, temporary assignments (for no more than one semester at a time), dependent upon student enrollment and instructional needs, and subject to budget consideration and approval. DigiPen Institute of Technology reserves the right to extend application deadlines and/or not to offer advertised positions.
• We recommend you answer “Yes” to the preliminary application question, “Would you like to be considered for other positions now or in the future?”, to facilitate moving you into a specific requisition in the future. Thank you!

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and academic freedom are priorities of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as DigiPen endorses the goals of affirmative action and equal opportunity employment. The Institute's intent is to hire the most qualified individuals for faculty and staff, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, nationality, culture, religion, and physical abilities. We are committed to broadening our candidate pool to include more diverse individuals and ensuring fairness in hiring by avoiding bias and determining criteria to judge all candidates prior to posting each new position.