Visual Communication Faculty

University of the arts sharjah; Sharjah; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Arts Sharjah invites applications for a full-time faculty position in Visual Communication within the BFA-VIC programme, fostering interdisciplinary inquiry and creative leadership across digital and manual media. Teaching is conducted in English on campus and aligns with the university calendar.

Responsibilities include delivering studio-based and theoretical courses, developing innovative curricula, guiding student portfolios, and engaging with industry partners to enhance

Qualifications

• PhD, MFA, MDes or equivalent in Graphic Design or Visual Communication.
• Minimum of three years' academic and/or professional experience.
• Proven expertise in graphic design and visual communication.
• Experience teaching in higher education or professional training.
• Strong research profile or outstanding design practice.
• Ability to teach across visual communication and graphic design.
• Experience with industry-standard design software and digital platforms.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication.
• Commitment to studio-based, student-centered learning.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Typography, Branding, Editorial Design, Information Design and related areas.
• Deliver studio-based teaching through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, critiques and practical learning activities.
• Develop and deliver course content that integrates design theory, visual communication strategies, creative practice and emerging technologies.
• Foster critical thinking, visual literacy, research skills and innovative problem-solving through project-based learning.
• Guide students in the development of design concepts, visual identities, publications, digital media projects and professional portfolios.
• Supervise student projects, dissertations and capstone projects where applicable.
• Assess student work and provide constructive and timely feedback in accordance with University regulations and academic standards.
• Integrate contemporary digital technologies, design software and innovative communication platforms into teaching and learning.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across visual arts, design disciplines and other academic programmes within the University.
• Contribute to curriculum development, programme review, accreditation activities and quality assurance initiatives.
• Maintain an active research, scholarly and/or professional practice profile through publications, exhibitions, conferences and projects.
• Engage with industry, cultural organisations, creative agencies and professional networks to strengthen programme relevance and student employability.
• Participate in exhibitions, public events, design competitions and knowledge-exchange activities.
• Support student recruitment initiatives, portfolio reviews, open days and outreach activities.
• Serve on academic committees and contribute to institutional governance and service responsibilities.
• Mentor students in professional practice, portfolio preparation, internships and career development.
• Support the University’s mission, objectives and commitment to academic excellence and creative innovation.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, health and safety regulations and professional and ethical standards.

Skills

Graphic design

Visual communication

Typography

Layout

Branding

Visual storytelling

Digital communication

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Student mentoring

Education

PhD/MFA/MDes or equivalent

3+ years experience

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

The University of the Arts Sharjah (UAS) seeks applications for a full-time faculty position in Visual Communication depending on qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will contribute to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication (BFA-VIC) programme an interdisciplinary programme that encourages critical inquiry creative experimentation and the development of visual communication strategies across diverse media platforms. The programme exposes students to a broad range of representational skills in both digital and manual media while drawing upon local regional and international design practices. The successful applicant will contribute to the delivery of a curriculum that combines graphic representation visual storytelling design thinking and theoretical frameworks preparing graduates for contemporary professional practice and creative leadership. Teaching is delivered in English on campus and follows the University academic calendar.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Teach undergraduate and (where appropriate) postgraduate courses in Graphic Design Visual Communication Typography Branding Editorial Design Information Design and related areas

Deliver studio-based teaching through lectures seminars workshops tutorials critiques and practical learning activities

Develop and deliver course content that integrates design theory visual communication strategies creative practice and emerging technologies

Foster critical thinking visual literacy research skills and innovative problem-solving through project-based learning

Guide students in the development of design concepts visual identities publications digital media projects and professional portfolios

Supervise student projects research activities dissertations and capstone projects where applicable

Assess student work and provide constructive and timely feedback in accordance with University regulations and academic standards

Integrate contemporary digital technologies design software and innovative communication platforms into teaching and learning

Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across visual arts design disciplines and other academic programmes within the University

Contribute to curriculum development programme review accreditation activities and quality assurance initiatives

Maintain an active research scholarly and or professional practice profile through publications exhibitions conferences design projects and creative outputs

Engage with industry cultural organisations creative agencies and professional networks to strengthen programme relevance and student employability

Participate in exhibitions public events design competitions community engagement projects and knowledge-exchange activities

Support student recruitment initiatives portfolio reviews open days and outreach activities

Serve on academic committees and contribute to institutional governance and service responsibilities

Mentor students in professional practice portfolio preparation internship opportunities and career development

Support the University’s mission strategic objectives and commitment to academic excellence and creative innovation

Ensure compliance with University policies health and safety regulations and professional and ethical standards

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• i PhD MFA MDes or equivalent qualification in Graphic Design Visual Communication Communication Design or a closely related discipline
• ii Minimum of three years of academic and or professional industry experience
• iii Demonstrated expertise in graphic design and visual communication practice
• iv Evidence of successful teaching and student engagement in higher education and or professional training environments
• v Strong research and scholarship profile and or outstanding professional design practice
• vi Ability to teach across a range of visual communication and graphic design subjects
• vii Experience with industry-standard design software and digital communication platforms
• viii Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• ix Commitment to studio-based and student-centred learning

Desirable

• i Experience teaching across multiple design disciplines
• ii Professional experience within design studios branding agencies publishing media or creative industries
• iii Expertise in emerging areas such as digital media motion graphics user experience UX user interface UI interaction design or information design
• iv Experience supervising undergraduate and postgraduate student projects
• v Experience in curriculum development and programme review
• vi Experience within international higher education environments
• vii Professional recognition through exhibitions publications awards design competitions or industry collaborations
• viii Membership in relevant professional design associations

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong graphic design and visual communication expertise
• Advanced skills in typography layout visual storytelling branding and digital communication
• Strong studio teaching mentoring and student engagement skills
• Research-led and practice-informed approach to teaching and learning
• Ability to integrate theory critical inquiry and creative practice
• Excellent presentation communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and project management abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary and multicultural environments
• Commitment to innovation creativity and continuous professional development
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to inspire experimentation while maintaining professional and academic standards

• Strong graphic design and visual communication expertise.
• Advanced skills in typography, layout, visual storytelling, branding, and digital communication.
• Strong studio teaching, mentoring, and student engagement skills.
• Research-led and practice-informed approach to teaching and learning.
• Ability to integrate theory, critical inquiry, and creative practice.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and project management abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary and multicultural environments.
• Commitment to innovation, creativity, and continuous professional development.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to inspire experimentation while maintaining professional and academic standards.