Assistant Professor

About the Company

The MIT Institute of Design and the MIT School of Fine Arts & Applied Arts are seeking an experienced and passionate Assistant Professor specializing in User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design. This role is critical for educating the next generation of designers who can craft intuitive, accessible, and impactful digital products and services. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in human-centered design, a cutting-edge portfolio, and the ability to integrate design thinking with modern technology.

About the Role

Position: Assistant Professor (UI/UX Design)

School / Institute: MIT School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts / MIT Institute of Design

Experience: Minimum 3 to 5 years of experience as a Lead UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer, or Interaction Designer in a technology/design company or prior teaching experience at the Assistant Professor level in a recognized design school

Reporting to: Head of Department

Location: MIT ADT University, Vishwaraj Baug, Loni Kalbhor, Pune, Maharashtra – 412201

Responsibilities

Teaching and Mentoring:

Instruction: Design and deliver comprehensive lectures, studio modules, and hands-on workshops across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

• Core UX Subjects: Human-Centered Design (HCD), Design Thinking, User Research Methods (Qualitative & Quantitative), Information Architecture (IA), and User Journey Mapping.
• Core UI Subjects: Visual Interface Design, Interaction Design Principles, Prototyping (Low-to-High Fidelity), Design Systems, and Usability Testing.
• Tools & Technology: Provide instruction on industry-standard tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Axure.

Student Projects: Supervise, guide, and evaluate student projects, theses, and dissertations, ensuring projects adhere to professional UX/UI methodologies.

• Curriculum Development: Actively participate in reviewing and updating the UI/UX curriculum to reflect the latest trends in areas like conversational design, AR/VR interfaces, and ethical design principles.

Research and Professional Engagement:

• Practice/Research: Engage in professional practice, research, and scholarly activities related to Interaction Design, Cognitive Science, and Digital Product Strategy.
• Industry Liaison: Establish and maintain robust relationships with technology and design firms to facilitate industry visits, guest lectures, student internships, and live client projects.
• Thought Leadership: Represent the Institute at conferences, seminars, and design events, contributing to the academic discourse on UI/UX design.

Institutional Service and Administration:

• Committees: Serve on departmental and institutional committees related to admissions, curriculum, and faculty development.
• Administration: Manage course documentation, student records, and grading systems accurately and efficiently.
• Campus Life: Contribute to the overall academic culture by organizing design workshops, hackathons, and student portfolio reviews.

Qualifications

Education: A Master’s Degree (M.Des.) or equivalent in UI/UX Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related discipline from a recognized institution.

Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of combined experience in either:

• Professional practice as a Lead UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer, or Interaction Designer in a technology/design company.
• Prior teaching experience at the Assistant Professor level in a recognized design school.

Portfolio: A comprehensive, professional portfolio showcasing end-to-end design projects (from research to final UI implementation) and demonstrating mastery of the UX process.

Required Skills

• UX Mastery: Deep understanding of the full User Experience lifecycle, including planning, user interviews, synthesis, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• UI Proficiency: Exceptional skills in visual design, typography for screens, information hierarchy, and creating robust, scalable Design Systems.
• Technical Acumen: Familiarity with the technical limitations and possibilities of front-end development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) is highly desirable, though not mandatory.
• Pedagogy: Proven ability to translate complex industry knowledge into engaging, structured academic modules.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, necessary for teaching, mentoring, and administrative duties.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with emerging technologies in design.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Pay range and compensation package

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement

MIT ADT University is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.