Assistant Professor of Instruction

Columbia College Chicago•Chicago, IL

3d•$62,000 - $64,000•Onsite

About The Position

The School of Design of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a full-time teaching track position in Graphic Design. Position begins in August 2026 and is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois. As an institution focusing on the arts, media, and communication, Columbia College Chicago is a leader in design education. The School of Design is a growing school with approximately 700 student majors, 32 full-time faculty, and over 100 adjunct faculty and offers undergraduate degrees in Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, Game and Interactive Media Development, and Computer Graphics/Animation, and provides courses for the math and science general education core. The School of Design sees the future of connections between the design disciplines, practices, and pedagogies across the college through collaborations among Fashion Studies, Design Management, Illustration, Marketing, Photography, Communications, Art and Art History. Our Graphic Design program emphasizes creative problem-solving, cultural awareness, and technical excellence. Students learn to navigate both traditional craft-based approaches and cutting-edge digital practices. Our well-equipped facilities include traditional practice space, digital labs, and collaborative workspaces. We maintain strong connections with local design firms, cultural institutions, and community organizations. The primary responsibility of this position is to teach across the curriculum in the undergraduate Graphic Design program and act as a leader in the program and institution. The ideal candidate’s research and/or practice should be in digital design, typography, layout, and branding. The candidate should also engage with spaces from print to public, involving collaboration and human-centric co-creation, inclusion and accessibility, social and economic issues in production and consumption, visual narrative, informational and interpretive strategies, and a history of amplifying underrepresented voices. In addition to ongoing expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate education.

Requirements

Terminal degree (MFA, MDes, or PhD) in Graphic Design or a closely related design field. Consideration will also be given to candidates with a BA/BFA and a significant track record of professional accomplishments and experience.
Demonstrated excellence in graphic design practice, with a strong portfolio of professional and/or creative work

Nice To Haves

Notable teaching experience at the college/university level, with a proven record of engaging students in both traditional and digital design methodologies
Knowledge of current design software, technologies, and industry trends
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills
Commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment

Responsibilities

Teach a range of undergraduate courses in graphic design, including typography, layout, branding, print, and digital design as assigned by School Director.
Responsibility for 24 credit hours of classes (12/12) across the academic year.
Engage students in both traditional and contemporary digital design practices, including web design, motion graphics, UX/UI, and emerging technologies.
Work with existing faculty to develop and refine the graphic design curriculum to ensure students gain a strong foundation in design principles, conceptual thinking, and technical skills.
Engage with the broader professional and scholarly communities.
Mentor and advise students, contributing to their creative, academic, and professional development, including portfolios and capstone work.
Maintain an active creative practice, publications, client work, exhibiting work, etc.
Remain current in the field with appropriate creative practice Collaborate with industry partners and community organizations
Participate in service to the college, school, and design profession.
Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.
Columbia College Chicago actively promotes access to an expansive array of social and cultural theories, practices and perspectives that are vitally important to the successful delivery of a contemporary creative curriculum and the college’s mission to educate students who will author the culture of their times. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.
We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work contributes to a rich educational experience consistent with our mission. For more information, please visit here.