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Assistant Professor Design & Visual Communication

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Position Number: 00850907

Introduction (Description of School/College/Dept/Program)


Job Summary
The Design & Visual Communication BFA program in the Department of Art and Design is seeking a forward-thinking tenure-track colleague.

Responsibilities for this position include teaching Design and Visual Communication classes and developing curriculum at all levels, undergraduate and graduate. Potential aspects of this position include developing service-learning opportunities, working in interactive media, UX/UI, Information Design, Design Entrepreneurship, Speculative Design, Digital Fabrication, Package Design, Design Research and Thinking.
Collaborative interdisciplinary opportunities exist between the Design and Visual Communications program and the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the schools of Engineering, Public Health, Information Sciences and other colleges and schools on UWM's campus. This position has the additional potential to work with international programs.

Participation in the Department of Art and Design's current and developing graduate program through mentorship and development is expected. Other services to the department will include involvement in curriculum development, area course scheduling, community outreach, co-maintaining the area budget, advising students, senior capstone exhibition showcases, and participating in the Design and Visual Communication Student Portfolio Review.

The Department of Art and Design values cross-disciplinary collaboration, and an awareness of traditional as well as interdisciplinary areas of art media and design. Faculty members in the Department of Art and Design must maintain active creative, professional, and/or scholarly research in their field and contribute to the department, school, and university through committee service and faculty-shared governance responsibilities. The successful candidate will bring leadership experience, an accomplished record of research, and evidence of innovative teaching in design.

This position is anticipated to start this Fall semester beginning August 19th, 2024.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master of Fine Arts or equivalent terminal degree.


• Previous college teaching experience.


• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience with, computer-mediated technologies and core software applications relevant to the design and visual communication discipline.


• Demonstrated experience in print and screen-based design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Record of creative/professional research (exhibitions and/or publications and/or professional design).


• Evidence of teaching experience at all levels of undergraduate design curriculum and graduate studio curriculum.


• Demonstrated experience in, and/or evidence of, outstanding typographic skills.


• Demonstrated experience in, and/or evidence of, excellent ideation and critical thinking skills.


• Demonstrated experience in storytelling, design process, strategies and methodologies for problem-identification and problem-solving.


• Evidence of strong writing and organizational skills.


• Evidence of knowledge of communication theory and visual literacy.


• Evidence of knowledge of emerging technologies within the field.


• Evidence of expertise in design and universal design theory, history, and criticism.


• Demonstrated expertise in print and screen-based design.

Application Instructions
Candidates seeking consideration must apply online. A completed application will include the following:

1. Letter of application addressing required and preferred qualifications (Upload to "Cover Letter")


2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae


3. References - A document listing the names, titles, addresses and telephone numbers of three references


4. Research Interest / Designer Statement - A document describing your creative research interests, including a brief research statement.


5. A document (PDF preferred) including examples of your creative research (You may include URL links to videos and examples, if applicable. Upload to "Other Document 1".)


6. Student Work - A document with examples of student work describing the context(class, project goals/outcomes), including examples annotating student work. (Upload to "Other Document 2.")


7. Teaching Philosophy - A brief teaching statement (700 words maximum); and


8. Examples of two course syllabi (Upload to "Other Document 3")

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Application Notes
For this position, applicants are required to apply online. UWM will not consider paper, emailed or faxed applications. Additionally, applicants must complete all required fields and attach any required documents. The process is complete when the message "Your application has been submitted" is displayed and you receive a confirmation number.

Legal Notices AA/EO Statement

UWM is an AA/EO employer: All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

Reasonable Accommodations

UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsins Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsins Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWMs Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization

In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.uwm.edu/postings/38871