Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, AR

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Arkansas School of Art invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, starting August 2027. This is a standard nine-month, in-person faculty appointment with a workload of 40% teaching, 40% research/creative activity, and 20% service. Teaching is equivalent to a 2/2 load across the Graphic Design BFA program, the Master of Design in Communication Design, the upcoming design minor, and/or the School of Art’s foundations program.

The successful candidate will bring practical knowledge of emerging technologies and design futures, potentially including artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality, experimental design, data visualization, speculative design, and other innovative design methods. The candidate will demonstrate future-thinking approaches in teaching, creative practice, and scholarly research, including consideration of how AI is transforming visual communication, design authorship, image-making, typography, branding, interaction, publishing, and other areas of graphic-design practice.

The position requires regular, reliable attendance and extensive in-person participation, including office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings. The ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships is also an essential job duty. The Graphic Design program is a community of 110 undergraduate students, 14 graduate students, and nine full-time faculty. Its facilities in the Studio + Design Center include large studio classrooms, technology and equipment labs, risograph and letterpress printers, and a Design Clinic.

The appointment is benefits-eligible. The University describes its benefits package as including health, dental, life, and disability insurance; tuition waivers for employees and their families; 12 official holidays; immediate leave accrual; and retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5% to 10% of salary. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applicants must have legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. Pre-employment screening includes a criminal background check and sex offender registry check.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (PhD, MFA, MDes, or MGD) in Graphic Design or a closely related field such as visual communication, from an accredited institution of higher education, conferred by the first date of appointment.
• At least one academic year of university-level teaching experience as a graduate teaching assistant with classroom teaching responsibilities or as instructor of record in graphic design or a closely related field.
• Evidence of an active research agenda and/or scholarly or creative activity in emerging technologies.
• Ability to work in person and participate in essential in-person activities, including office hours, student advising, and committee meetings.
• Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance and the ability to maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships.
• Proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of university-level teaching experience as instructor of record in graphic design or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and/or cross-campus collaborations.
• Demonstrated research trajectory related to emerging technologies such as VR/AR, artificial intelligence, or data visualization.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and coordinating design programs.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal communication, as demonstrated in applicant materials.
• Practical knowledge of emerging technologies and design futures, including AI, machine learning, VR, AR, extended reality, experimental design, data visualization, speculative design, or other innovative design methods.

Responsibilities

• Teach a 2/2-equivalent course load in the Graphic Design BFA program, the Master of Design in Communication Design, the upcoming design minor, and/or the School of Art foundations program.
• Pursue research and creative activity, including an active agenda related to emerging technologies and design futures.
• Provide service as part of the faculty workload.
• Participate in person in office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings.
• Maintain regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance and collegial working relationships.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and coordinate design programs, as identified in the preferred qualifications.

Benefits

• Health, dental, life, and disability insurance with university contributions.
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families.
• 12 official holidays.
• Immediate leave accrual.
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5% to 10% of employee salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree