Graphic Design Faculty 86 views

Maine College of Art is looking for Graphic Design Faculty

Location: USA

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including health, dental, vacation, sick and retirement benefits.

About Maine College of Art:

Located at the center of one of America’s fastest growing art and design communities, Maine College of Art brings together makers, educators, and leaders to enrich the evolving culture of the state and region. The College is a cornerstone in the heart of Downtown Portland, a diverse and vibrant waterfront city, in a state which has served as an inspiration for artists for hundreds of years. MECA’s history as a longstanding cultural institution in New England speaks to the College’s commitment to the value of creativity and the universality of artistic expression. New additions to the College’s programs include the Bob Crewe Program in Art and Music, a minor in Sustainable Ecosystems in Art and Design, the nationally known Salt Institute of Documentary Studies, and a BFA in Animation and Game Art, all of which complement MECA’s long-running Public Engagement program. In the summer of 2020, Maine College of Art completed a key component of its new strategic plan by hiring a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. The DEI Officer works in tandem with Indigo Arts Alliance, a local non-profit organization committed to the artistic development of people of African descent, and helps guide the college to fulfill its strategic goal to “Develop a Culture of Social Justice, Racial Equity, and Inclusion.”

Maine College of Art is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor to carry forward these values through its Graphic Design Program. Previous faculty and alumnus of the program have worked internationally and domestically for numerous prominent clients and nonprofits, co-founded Design Inquiry, and designed typefaces in collaboration with Indigenous communities. The ideal candidate understands the power that comes with designing and sharing visual information. This visionary educator is someone who can impart fundamental skills in typography and design while also teaching students to think critically about the cultural context of design.

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to help shape the program, defining its future for decades to come.

Responsibilities and Job Summary:

The Assistant/Associate Professor of Graphic Design must be committed to graduating students with the skill sets and visual literacy required for their future success in a dynamic and competitive field. Candidates will demonstrate excellence and innovation in their teaching, and a genuine interest in actively mentoring students. Like all full-time faculty at MECA, they will teach a 3/3 course load. The position’s primary focus is in the BFA program. In addition to Graphic Design classes, teaching assignments may include Foundation courses, seminars, or graduate courses as experience and opportunity allows. Individualized attention and effective teaching are hallmarks of a MECA education; therefore, a genuine engagement in pedagogy with a focus on continually improving the learning environment is required.

It is expected that the candidate will Chair the program in the near future, providing academic vision and leadership, fostering curricular development, managing program evaluation and assessment, new initiatives, and the program’s budget. Chairs mentor and collaborate with part-time faculty as needed, and recommend part-time faculty for hire. The candidate must have the capacity to foster a positive working environment and will be a holistic thinker able to contribute to the fulfillment of the College’s mission.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will hold a terminal degree (MFA) in Graphic Design or a related field or will be an outstanding graphic designer with an equivalent record of creative achievement. Significant college-level teaching experience in the discipline and/or an established record of professional accomplishment are required. Demonstrated excellence in teaching, current engagement with the profession, and knowledge of industry standards and best practices is expected. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills. Evidence of effective service, particularly regarding curriculum development, is desirable, as is recognition in the industry.

Requirements:

• The ability to teach across a wide range of undergraduate Graphic Design courses, both in content and learning level, as well as teach regularly recurring electives within the candidate’s expertise.
• The ability to support the program’s core focus on typography, design methodology, and explorations in communication across multiple media.
• Teaching experience in current and emerging platforms, literacies and skills required of a contemporary practice in visual communication.
• The ability to effectively motivate students to take risks and embrace a process of improvisation and experimentation in an effort to understand the consequences in meaning that come from formal and conceptual design decisions.
• Familiarity with contemporary design issues, including inclusive pedagogies, issues around unconscious bias in design, and designing with accessibility in mind.

Interested candidates please apply.