Assistant Professor - Sustainable Futures: Communication Design

Link to job posting: San Jose State University - Details - Assistant Professor - Sustainable Futures: Communication Design

San José State University: Silicon Valley’s Public University

Assistant Professor - Sustainable Futures: Communication Design

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor of Design

Target Start Date: August 17, 2023

Application Deadline: February 28, 2023 (Applications accepted until position is filled or closed)

Position Description

Sustainable Futures: Communication Design

The Department of Design invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position to direct the Bachelor of Arts Design Studies Program (BADS). The ideal candidate will be able to operate within the theme of “Sustainable Futures: Communication Design.” The appointment will be made at the level of Assistant Professor. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2023.

BADS, launched in 2019 as a liberal arts degree, allows students to curate an educational experience that spans animation, graphics, industrial, interaction, and interior design. The program graduated 500 students in the spring of 2020, however, it needs direction and focus. We wish to hire a designer to develop a curriculum that will address ways that design can be characterized and practiced through creative, sustainable, and accessible technological experimentation and will prepare students for future challenges that no longer conform to the boundaries of traditional and siloed design disciplines. We live in the Anthropocene, an era of human change that has caused climate change, rapidly changing media systems, migratory populations, and pandemia. The convergence of design and bootstrap technologies can offer unique insight and skills on how to navigate these complex conditions within our society and in California specifically. Successful candidates will be dedicated to design research, scholarship and creative activities that leverage multidisciplinary collaborations, creative computation, and digital tools to create new approaches and impact. These might include but are not limited to design as an interface to information, the creation of intelligent design tools, speculative and creative computation, data-rich installations, critical approaches to machine learning and artificial intelligence. We are interested in new modes of design practice, and new approaches to the social, cultural and ethical aspects of design, which will benefit our students from our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This new faculty member’s academic assignment will include the creation of a clear path(s) for students enrolled in the BADS program, 90% of whom are currently focused on the area of graphic and communication design. The candidate will share student advising, curriculum development for BADS, and student assessment responsibilities. The candidate is expected to bring new ideas and suggestions for developing cross-disciplinary foundation skills and broad knowledge in interdisciplinary design practices for the future of the BADS program. The candidate may also be involved in the forthcoming Master of Design (MDes) program.

The Department of Design and San José State University value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our research, teaching, and service excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. SJSU enrolls more than 36,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved, around 45% are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant, inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000 alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.

Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service. We ask that all applicants include a Diversity Statement with their application package. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines, along with information about how these statements will be evaluated.

Required Qualifications

· A terminal degree (MDes, MFA, Ph.D.) in Graphic Design or related discipline is required. Completion of the degree must occur before the targeted start date.

· The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability and skills to teach principles of graphic design, interdisciplinary approaches in the fields of graphic design and problem solving skills for visual communication design.

· The candidate must exhibit an understanding of design within historical, socio-cultural, economic, and technological contexts and demonstrate a command of fundamental visual literacy and exploration.

· Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

· At least 2-5 years of professional experience in design and university teaching experience in design or design-related courses are desired qualifications

· Professional experience and mastery in three or more following specializations: graphic design, information design, interaction design, motion graphic design, and design thinking, emerging technologies.

· A track record of successful or demonstrated potential for success, research, or creative activities that are relevant to the position and that results in recognition (published, exhibited, awarded).

· Expertise in image making, typography, and visual exploration using digital media with applications.

· Candidates should be able to teach at all levels (both lower division and upper division courses) in graphic design (e.g., basic 2D design, typography, digital software for graphic design, fundamental motion design, and interaction design) and demonstrate the ability to interact and/or collaborate with colleagues in a multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

· Along with regular teaching assignments, the appointee will share student advising, curriculum development, and student review responsibilities. The ability to attract funding and project sponsorship is also expected. Effectiveness in academic assignment, scholarly, creative, and professional activity, and department/college/university service are all required to achieve tenure and promotion.

· Responsibilities will include major advising of students, program and curriculum development, new student recruitment, grant writing, and associated organizational duties. Candidates must address the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language, and academic preparation – through course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

· The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.

· Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).

· The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.