Assistant/Associate Professor in User Experience and User Interface Design (Tenu

Assistant/Associate Professor in User Experience and User Interface Design (Tenure-Track)

School of Art & Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for two full‑time tenure‑track faculty positions in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026.

These positions will play a central role in the development and instruction of the BS in Computer Science + Design degree, a collaborative program that bridges design and technology. Faculty will contribute to three programs including Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Studio Art to foster interdisciplinary teaching and research.

Context

The School of Art and Design supports interdisciplinary and socially engaged creative practices and offers a range of programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art Education, Art History, Fashion, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Design for Responsible Innovation, New Media, and Studio Art. Our School emphasizes both technical excellence and conceptual rigor, encouraging students to challenge themselves and use their creative skills in building a better, more just and sustainable world.

Teaching Responsibilities

The teaching load includes two courses per semester. Successful candidates will teach courses that position computation as an artistic and critical design medium, ranging from introductory coding for creative practice to advanced, research‑driven practice and method‑based seminars.

Areas of teaching could include (but are not limited to): computational art, critical interface design, interactive art, data art, information art, net art, and related emerging practices. Candidates will contribute to both undergraduate and graduate curricula, mentor students across disciplines, and help shape the evolving identity of computational art and critical design within the School.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree (MFA, Ph.D., or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Evidence of an active creative practice with a strong record of public engagement through exhibition, installation, and/or performance.
• Evidence of critical research through writing, publishing, or equivalent scholarly contributions that engage computational media, design, and the arts.
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment and contributing to the diversity of the School and University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline.
• Familiarity with and a critical perspective on historical approaches to experience design.
• Practice, teaching, and/or research that connect to one or more of the following areas of design: Gender and Design, Equity and Design, Indigenous Design Knowledges, and Design Futures.
• Familiarity with liberatory pedagogical approaches.
• A critical perspective on social biases embedded in technological systems.
• Experience teaching in a program that integrates Design, Technology, and Science.

Application Materials

• A cover letter addressing qualifications and research/creative practice.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Portfolio of scholarly and creative work.
• Research statement.
• A teaching portfolio, including a teaching statement, one or two sample syllabi, and (if possible) student work.
• Names and contact information for three references.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full‑time Assistant/Associate Professor position, appointed on a nine‑month basis. The expected start date is August 2026. The budgeted salary range is $75,000 to $80,000 for an Assistant Professor and $88,000 to $95,000 for an Associate Professor. Final salary will be determined by assessment of market data, internal equity, candidate experience, and budget constraints.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 PM (CST) on December 8, 2025. Interviews may begin prior to the initial closing date; however, the review of applications will continue until suitable candidates are identified.

Apply using the Apply Now button on this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information, contact Bobbie Clegg at bjclegg@illinois.edu or 217‑333‑2137.

EEO Statement

The University of Illinois offers a competitive benefits portfolio. The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217‑333‑0885 or accessibility@illinois.edu.