Assistant Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Design

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

9d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
Must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in wayfinding systems, including signs, maps, directories, and directional cues that help people move safely and intuitively through complex public environments.
Proficiency in branded environments that translate organizational identity and culture into spatial graphics and architectural settings.
Proficiency in exhibitions and placemaking, including interpretive panels, interactive displays, public art, and installations that transform spaces into engaging physical stories.
Experience in 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.

Responsibilities

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.
Meet department expectations for student advising.
Serve the department, university, state, and profession.
Attend departmental meetings, participating in committees and boards, supporting recruitment and outreach, and performing select administrative departmental functions.
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.