Assistant Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Design

Design Observer; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kansas is seeking a faculty member at the Assistant Teaching Professor level to teach undergraduate and graduate students in Visual Communication Design and MDES programs and help develop new curricular offerings in Experiential Graphic Design (XGD).

The position emphasizes teaching, collaboration across graphic design, architecture, and related disciplines, and contributions to curriculum development.

Qualifications

• MFA or terminal degree in a relevant design field.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating teaching, research, and professional practice.
• Experience in wayfinding, branded environments, exhibitions, or placemaking.

Responsibilities

• Teach required courses in Visual Communication Design, including experiential graphic design.
• Engage in service to the department, university, and profession.
• Pursue research or applied practice in experiential graphic design and collaborate with clients and communities.

Skills

Typography

Wayfinding

Branding

Information design

Education

MFA or terminal degree

Job description

The Department of Design at the University of Kansas is seeking a faculty member at the Assistant Teaching Professor level to teach undergraduate and graduate students in its Visual Communication Design and MDES programs and help develop new curricular offerings in Experiential Graphic Design (XGD).

We are looking for an enthusiastic and engaging design thinker, maker, and educator with a passion for connecting people to place through visual communication in the built environment. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty to strengthen the program's integration of typography, information design, identity systems, interaction, and spatial experience. Candidates with experience in teaching, curriculum development, collaborative practice, and robust professional work will stand out. We also encourage recent terminal-degree graduates eager to launch a career in design education and education- and mentorship-minded industry professionals to apply.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate professional-level skills in visual communication design and experiential graphic design, supported by a strong foundation in typography, visual systems, information design, branding, human-centered research, accessibility, and production. They should be able to guide students from research and concept development through prototyping, fabrication, implementation, and evaluation.

Candidates should also have a strong understanding of industry-standard tools, materials, production methods, and current professional practice, along with the ability to collaborate across graphic design, architecture, interior design, industrial design, interaction design, and related disciplines.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following areas: wayfinding systems, including signs, maps, directories, and directional cues that help people move safely and intuitively through complex public environments; branded environments that translate organizational identity and culture into spatial graphics and architectural settings; and exhibitions and placemaking, including interpretive panels, interactive displays, public art, and installations that transform spaces into engaging physical stories. Additional strengths may include environmental graphics, mapping and information systems, inclusive and universal design, digital and interactive experiences, 3D visualization, fabrication, project management, and collaboration with clients, communities, architects, fabricators, and allied professionals.

This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between The University of Kansas and United Academics, United Academics of KU, AAUP, or AFT. UAKU is the exclusive representative. As the State of Kansas is a right to work state, you have the right to be a member or not be a member of a union without fear of personal or professional repercussions.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate, and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. This is a non-tenure position with up to a 3-year limited term contract, which has the possibility of renewal based upon a comprehensive evaluation.

The Department of Design, housed in Chalmers Hall, prepares animators, illustrators, experience designers, graphic designers, marketing creatives, motion designers, photographers, product designers, UX/UI developers, and other multidisciplinary communicators to thrive as innovative practitioners and socially engaged leaders in an ever-changing professional field. Design students have access to studio spaces, computer labs, a letterpress lab, a Riso lab, a robust photography area, and digital fabrication labs. Students gain insights from lectures and workshops with world-renowned designers, collaborations with industry partners, and opportunities to participate in short-term study abroad programs and semester-long internships in the US and abroad.

Students earn a BFA in Design with programs in Animation, Illustration, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, and Interaction Design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design is a four-year, 120-credit-hour degree program. All design students spend the first semester in general design foundation courses and in the second semester begin taking foundation courses in their chosen major.

KU Design also offers minors in Design and Design Entrepreneurship, as well as a Certificate in Book Arts.

Our graduate programs offer an M.A. in Interaction and User Experience Design and an M.A. in Design Management and Strategy. The Master of Arts in Design is 31 credit hours of coursework, a thesis that documents independent discovery and research, and an oral examination.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Allocation of Effort

1.0 full-time equivalent appointment will be distributed as follows:

• Teaching/Advising (70%) - Teach required courses in the Visual Communication Design program, including courses focused on experiential graphic design, as well as visual communication courses open to students from other majors at the undergraduate level. The typical teaching expectation for this position is a 3/3 course load. Courses may include typographic systems, identity systems, information design, wayfinding, branded environments, exhibition design, placemaking, and related studios. Participate in the planning and integration of existing and new coursework, technologies, fabrication methods, and community or industry partnerships. Candidates must also meet department expectations for student advising.
• Service (20%) - Serve the department, university, state, and profession. This includes attending departmental meetings, participating in committees and boards, supporting recruitment and outreach, and performing select administrative departmental functions.
• Research and/or Applied Professional Practice (10%) - Conduct research, creative, and/or professional work focused on experiential graphic design and its applications. Collaborate with clients, communities, and professional partners on the application of this work and/or disseminate the work through exhibitions, publications, presentations, conferences, and other appropriate venues.

Required Qualifications

MFA or terminal degree in graphic design, visual communication design, experiential or environmental graphic design, communication design, interaction design, architecture, interior design, or a related field. Candidates with a bachelor's degree in visual communication design or a related field and 9 or more years of professional experience will also be considered. Any successful candidate without a Master’s degree will require approval from the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Industry professionals with an interest in academia are encouraged to apply.

A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in teaching, research, creative practice, and/or industry experience, particularly in wayfinding, branded environments, exhibitions, placemaking, or related areas of experiential graphic design.

Demonstrated command of typography, visual systems, information design, accessibility, and human-centered design, along with proficiency in relevant industry-standard tools, prototyping methods, fabrication processes, and production practices.

Ability to collaborate with and support faculty colleagues, develop curriculum, mentor students in multidisciplinary projects, and help expand experiential graphic design studio offerings within the Visual Communication Design program. Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit for teamwork, teaching, mentorship, and service.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.

KU is an EO. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, gender identity, disability, genetic information, parental status, gender identity, gender expression or protected Veteran status. Nondiscrimination, Harassment, and Equal Opportunity.