Assistant Teaching Professor: Communications Design

The School of Design within the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University invites applications for a three-year renewable appointment at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor in the Communications Design program. This is a teaching-focused position, and the faculty member will be instrumental in working with the current team of practicing educators in delivering the program's core curriculum, advising students, and actively participating in service to the program and school. This position begins Fall 2027.

The Communications Design Program seeks to integrate a broad academic and studio-centered curriculum with the highest standards of professional practice through project-based learning. The program encourages exploration into all aspects reflective of the wide array of opportunities in our professional industry: branding and graphic identity, advertising, packaging, retail, environmental and exhibition design, direct response marketing, publication design, interactive media and web design and other related interests. Students are prepared for careers in the field of communications design, either as specialists or generalists and advised about their ethical responsibilities as shapers of public opinion and behavior, and as citizens of the world. We encourage entrepreneurial thinking and creative problem solving in search of the big idea. Our program has a strong national reputation and is proud of the success of its graduates around the world and the leadership roles they play in a multitude of creative endeavors.

The School of Design is home to six programs, offering BFA degrees in Fashion, Environmental and Interior, and Communications Design, a BID in Industrial + Interaction Design, a BS in Design Futures, as well as an MA in Museum Studies. We are very proud of our close to 100-year heritage of teaching, research, and innovation within the focused design disciplines while at the same time recognizing the reality that such disciplinary boundaries are increasingly permeable, and to be successful designers we need to have deep disciplinary knowledge and a broad range of relevant skills and experience across the creative spectrum. We seek to educate students who, upon graduation, will be prepared to join the field in a variety of categories ranging from consultancies, in-house and corporate design, to entrepreneurial start-ups as well as top graduate schools. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom, with our faculty and students encouraged to collaborate with disciplines across our Research-1 university.

Join us in shaping the next generation of design leaders and innovators. Become a driving force in our vibrant community of educators and scholars who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design education and research.

About The College of Visual and Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University is committed to the education of cultural leaders who will engage and inspire audiences through performance, visual art, design, scholarship, and commentary. We provide the tools for self-discovery and risk-taking in an environment that thrives on critical thought and action. To learn more about the college, our distinguished faculty, and our program, please visit our websites at www.syracuse.edu, www.vpa.syracuse.edu.

This position is part of a bargaining unit and is represented by a union, SEIU Local 200 United.

Qualifications

A graduate degree in communications design or a related discipline (i.e. graphic design) and some professional and/or academic experience is required.

Job Specific Qualifications

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, modern studio processes, and procedures
• Strong conceptual and design-based principles applied to communication and advertising design as they pertain to traditional and evolving media
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to contribute to the excellence of the academic community through teaching, advising, and service
• Interest and temperament to work within a NASAD-accredited curriculum
• A desire for cross-disciplinary collaboration - to be someone who can advance and advocate for design across campus
• Evidence of communication abilities and cross-cultural competencies to maximize their effectiveness with many different groups of students, colleagues, and community members.

Responsibilities

• Teach the equivalent of 4, 3-credit classes per semester
• Provide academic advising to students in the program
• Participate in curriculum development
• Develop and support relevant programmatic initiatives, such as exhibitions, field trips, lecture series, and projects that enhance the curriculum
• Contribute to recruiting and admissions activities
• Engage in appropriate service to the program, school, college, and/or university, such as committee work

Physical Requirements

Primarily on-site, in-person instruction for studio and experiential courses, standard delivery in current curriculum. Some hybrid or online instruction may be explored, depending on program needs and strategic goals.

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Portfolio Website URL
• Name and contact information for a minimum of four (4) references.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration given to candidates who apply by October 30, 2026. For further information contact Professor Mark Stress, Search Committee Chair (mvstress@syr.edu)