Adjunct Instructor – Design Thinking & Creative Design Process Lab
new york school of design · New York, NY
CONTRACT
Posted Sep 8, 2026
Job Description
Job Title: Adjunct Instructor – Design Thinking & Creative Design Process Lab
Program: Design Thinking and Product Innovation
Institution: New York School of Design (NYSD)
Schedule: Jan 4 – Feb 24 Meets twice weekly, 9:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Total Instructional Hours: 60 Hours (30 hrs Design Thinking + 30 hrs Lab)
Class Size: ~30 Students
About the Program & Role
The New York School of Design (NYSD) is seeking a dynamic educator to lead a integrated, 60-hour combined module—Design Thinking and Creative Design Process Lab—within our
Design Thinking and Product Innovation program.
This program equips multidisciplinary students (backgrounds in psychology, computer science, business, and design) with the strategic tools to innovate for the US consumer market, building upon context learned in their
Cultural American History course. The instructor will guide a cohort of approximately 30 students through both foundational strategy and hands-on team application.
Course Overview
- Design Thinking (30 Hours): Establishes design as a strategic, human-centered problem-solving framework to address ambiguous marketplace challenges. Focuses on ethnographic user research, empathy mapping, problem framing, and ideation.
- Creative Design Process Lab (30 Hours): Serves as the applied studio component. Working in cross-disciplinary teams, students synthesize their unique skills to build a viable market innovation. Key deliverables include a product prototype, an individual process portfolio, and a co-authored industry white paper.
Note: The Lab module includes an additional 30 hours of Recitation led by a Teaching Assistant to support team breakout sessions, technical execution, and feedback review.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver 60 total hours of instruction blending theoretical design strategy with active studio supervision.
- Guide interdisciplinary student teams through qualitative research synthesis, rapid prototyping, and market alignment.
- Mentor teams on collaboration, team dynamics, and writing co-authored industry white papers.
- Evaluate individual process portfolios, final physical/digital prototypes, and project presentations.
Qualifications
- Experience: Proven professional background in design strategy, product innovation, UX/human-centered design, or innovation consulting.
- Education: Advanced degree in Design, Product Development, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), Innovation, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
- Skills: Strong foundation in project-based teaching, cross-disciplinary team facilitation, and guiding students from concept to prototype.
To Apply
- Please submit your resume/CV along with a brief cover letter or portfolio link highlighting your work in design strategy and student mentorship to: hr@nysd.edu
Program: Design Thinking and Product Innovation
Institution: New York School of Design (NYSD)
Schedule: Jan 4 – Feb 24 Meets twice weekly, 9:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Total Instructional Hours: 60 Hours (30 hrs Design Thinking + 30 hrs Lab)
Class Size: ~30 Students
About the Program & Role
The New York School of Design (NYSD) is seeking a dynamic educator to lead a integrated, 60-hour combined module—Design Thinking and Creative Design Process Lab—within our
Design Thinking and Product Innovation program.
This program equips multidisciplinary students (backgrounds in psychology, computer science, business, and design) with the strategic tools to innovate for the US consumer market, building upon context learned in their
Cultural American History course. The instructor will guide a cohort of approximately 30 students through both foundational strategy and hands-on team application.
Course Overview
- Design Thinking (30 Hours): Establishes design as a strategic, human-centered problem-solving framework to address ambiguous marketplace challenges. Focuses on ethnographic user research, empathy mapping, problem framing, and ideation.
- Creative Design Process Lab (30 Hours): Serves as the applied studio component. Working in cross-disciplinary teams, students synthesize their unique skills to build a viable market innovation. Key deliverables include a product prototype, an individual process portfolio, and a co-authored industry white paper.
Note: The Lab module includes an additional 30 hours of Recitation led by a Teaching Assistant to support team breakout sessions, technical execution, and feedback review.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver 60 total hours of instruction blending theoretical design strategy with active studio supervision.
- Guide interdisciplinary student teams through qualitative research synthesis, rapid prototyping, and market alignment.
- Mentor teams on collaboration, team dynamics, and writing co-authored industry white papers.
- Evaluate individual process portfolios, final physical/digital prototypes, and project presentations.
Qualifications
- Experience: Proven professional background in design strategy, product innovation, UX/human-centered design, or innovation consulting.
- Education: Advanced degree in Design, Product Development, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), Innovation, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
- Skills: Strong foundation in project-based teaching, cross-disciplinary team facilitation, and guiding students from concept to prototype.
To Apply
- Please submit your resume/CV along with a brief cover letter or portfolio link highlighting your work in design strategy and student mentorship to: hr@nysd.edu
Additional Details
- City
- New York
- State
- New York
- Country
- US
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