Visual and Media Instructional Designer

Universities of Wisconsin • Menomonie, WI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Wisconsin–Stout invites applications for a Visual & Media Instructional Designer to join our Multi‑Modal Instructional Designer team. This position plays a critical role in advancing high‑quality, engaging, and accessible learning experiences across online, hybrid, and in‑person courses/training. This position is predominantly on-site and not remote, with a primary focus on visual design for e‑learning, user experience (UX), and the implementation of accessibility-first practices. The successful candidate will bring strong visual communication skills to instructional design work—translating learning goals into clear, intuitive, and visually compelling course experiences that support diverse learners. Working collaboratively with faculty, subject matter experts, and campus partners, the Visual and Media Instructional Designer helps ensure UW‑Stout courses are pedagogically sound, visually coherent, and inclusive by design. Consistent with UW‑Stout’s polytechnic mission, this position values applied learning, innovation, and continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in instructional design, education, instructional technology, visual design, or a related field.
• Experience designing instructional materials for in‑person, online, and hybrid learning environments, with strong visual design skills for digital learning (layout, graphics, multimedia).
• Demonstrated application of accessibility standards and inclusive design practices in digital learning.
• Proficiency with design and media tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro), Canva, or similar platforms.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with experience collaborating with faculty, staff, or cross‑functional teams.
• Experience using Canvas or other learning management systems (e.g., Moodle, D2L, Blackboard, SAP, Workday).
• Experience applying instructional design frameworks (e.g., ADDIE, SAMR), including familiarity with using AI in instructional design workflows.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing accessible visual systems (templates, style guides, reusable components) for online courses.
• Application of HTML and CSS for instructional content customization.
• Experience developing HTML5/H5P style interactions
• Experience with integrating AR/VR or other emerging technologies in education.
• Strong project management skills and experience leading instructional initiatives.
• Experience creating AI applications for instructional design and learning.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with faculty and subject matter experts to design engaging, learner‑centered courses for online, hybrid, and in‑person delivery.
• Apply instructional design principles to align learning objectives, assessments, activities, and media with course outcomes.
• Translate complex concepts into clear, intuitive learning experiences through effective layout, visual hierarchy, and multimedia integration.
• Evaluate and implement emerging pedagogical approaches and technologies, including AI‑supported tools and XR (AR/VR) applications, where appropriate.
• Serve as a visual design partner within instructional design projects, creating cohesive layouts, graphics, infographics, icons, and multimedia assets that enhance comprehension and engagement.
• Apply principles of typography, color theory, contrast, spacing, and visual hierarchy to improve clarity, consistency, and usability of course materials.
• Design and maintain reusable visual components, templates, and design systems that support consistency across courses while allowing flexibility for instructional needs.
• Ensure visual alignment with UW‑Stout branding and quality standards across instructional materials.
• Design instructional and media assets using an accessibility‑first approach, ensuring materials meet recognized accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG and ADA).
• Apply inclusive visual design practices such as sufficient color contrast, readable typography, alternative text for images, captioned and described media, and keyboard‑accessible interactions.
• Review instructional materials for accessibility and usability, recommending and implementing improvements based on best practices and user feedback.
• Support faculty in understanding and applying accessible design principles in their courses.
• Provide consultation, training, and resources for faculty and staff related to instructional design, visual design for learning, accessibility, and educational technologies.
• Develop and deliver professional development workshops, guides, and learning resources focused on effective, accessible course design.
• Partner with instructors to iteratively improve courses based on feedback, evaluation data, and learner needs.
• Manage multiple instructional design projects simultaneously, balancing timelines, scope, and stakeholder needs.
• Contribute to team initiatives focused on instructional quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Stay current with trends in instructional design, visual design, accessibility, and educational technology.

Benefits

• The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan, demonstrating our commitment to the diverse needs of our employees.
• Employee Benefits: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/
• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees