The Department of Visual Communication Design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position, as well as a full-time Associate Professor position, beginning in August of 2024. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
The Department of Visual Communication Design (VCD) galvanizes students to be original, critical, empathetic and vital contributors to the broader cultural context. Our students represent a diverse collection of interests, skills and cultures, united by a common goal: to explore and experiment, engage and excite, and ultimately advance whatever purpose they choose to pursue through the power of visual and verbal communication.
We prepare our students for a life in design by guiding them along a pathway that is both rooted and radical in its structure and trajectory. We provide a critically-based design education through an understanding of social implications; cultural and historical roles of design; the creation of meaningful, creative, and informative visual forms and messages to diverse audiences; and the exploration and application of a range of technologies, methodologies, and theories to target, develop and assess interactions and experiences. This happens at every level of the curriculum, from the overall framework to individual courses, activities and outcomes. This distinctive approach is made more potent within the context of a legendary, multi-disciplinary art school aligned with one of the most highly regarded art museums in the world.
Further information about the department can be found at https://www.saic.edu/visual-communication-design
RESPONSIBILITIES
Full-time faculty in the Department of Visual Communication Design teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. Faculty impart to their students a progressive awareness of the changing and interrelated roles of representations, objects, environments, interactions, and media; maintain an active and recognized professional practice of client-initiated or self-initiated design development and/or academic research investigations; and participate in the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development, departmental administration, school governance, and service.
The assistant professor will engage in department and school-wide service while maintaining teaching, research, and professional practice work that will build toward a successful tenure review. The associate professor will assume mentorship and leadership responsibilities within the department and maintain teaching, research and professional practice standards commensurate with that of a tenured professor.
QUALIFICATIONS
A terminal degree in visual communication/graphic design or other relevant field of study is preferred. Teaching experience at the university level is highly preferred for the assistant professor position. Teaching experience commensurate with that of a tenured professor is required for the associate professor position. The candidate’s creative activity may address social, structural, or cultural issues within the broad spectrum of visual communication design. In particular, we invite applications from designers with a broad practice whose expertise includes: User Interface (UI) design, hybrid practices, and/or storytelling. Areas of research, practice, and teaching may include design for diverse content structures (narrative, informational, or interpretive), interaction modes (digitally- or physically-interactive), and content formats (screens, pages, objects, or environments). We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds, and who will create a positive, inventive, and productively critical learning environment. The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and/or a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and design practices in the field. Candidates should demonstrate their experience with, or aptitude for, departmental administration as service will be expected.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants are encouraged to apply by Wednesday, January 17, 2024, for full consideration. Please submit application materials via http://SAICfaculty.slideroom.com. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline. Applications will not be accepted after February 17, 2024.
Complete the fields for: educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:
- cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
- resume or curriculum vitae
- statement of research and practice
- statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, gender, and/or socio-economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field
- documentation of professional work and/or creative practice
- diversity statement
- 3 examples of course syllabi, including detailed descriptions of specific assignments
All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
ABOUT SAIC
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.
Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MDes in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Title IX Coordinator
Robert Babcock, Ed.D., Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu
Section 504 Coordinator
Robert Babcock, Ed.D., Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu
For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS
SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs at mscranton@saic.edu.
