Tenure Track Assistant​/Associate Professor, Graphic Design Program

Overview

The School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) at Auburn University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Graphic Design at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (rank/title commensurate with credentials and experience) commencing August 2027. This is a nine-month teaching- and research-focused appointment with a typical teaching load of 9 credit hours per semester, consisting of two design studios plus participation on a senior thesis committee.

We seek designers and scholars whose research, creative practice, and teaching explore contemporary conditions of design, with an emphasis on innovation, emerging technologies, inventive pedagogy, and critical engagement - and who are interested in contributing to a collaborative, studio-centered culture. Tenure-track faculty are expected to pursue a clear research agenda or maintain an active program of creative or scholarly work.

The Graphic Design (GDES) Program (http://cadc.auburn.edu/graphic design) at Auburn University prepares students to practice visual communication in a competitive global environment. Our nationally recognized, NASAD-accredited B.F.A. in Graphic Design emphasizes a systemic approach to design that prepares students to become versatile designers, art directors and economically viable professionals.

GDES students receive hands-on instruction in a professional studio environment that fosters a strong sense of community among students and faculty. Students establish a foundation in drawing, 2D/3D design, and typography in lower-level coursework. Foundational skills are then applied and extended in upper-level coursework experiences that include interactive design, user experience design (UI/UX), motion graphics, brand identity systems, publication design, packaging, illustration, and image-making.

The GDES program introduces students to the professional design community by hosting exhibitions, symposia, and guest lectures by industry leaders. An internship program provides students with real-world experience and networking opportunities.

SIGD is situated within Auburn University's College of Architecture, Design and Construction, an interdisciplinary environment that brings together architecture, landscape architecture, environmental design, building science, industrial design, and graphic design. The school supports design education that is experimental, research-driven, practice-informed, and engaged with contemporary social, environmental, and technological questions - and shares a culture of making, inquiry, and public engagement with other disciplines across the college.

Auburn University is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution with an "R1" Carnegie classification, combining an exceptional student experience with a sustained commitment to groundbreaking research and public engagement. Located in Auburn, Alabama, a historic college town and one of the state's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, the university offers increasingly diverse cultural and recreational opportunities, with close proximity to Birmingham, Atlanta, and the Gulf Coast.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach undergraduate courses in graphic design, including advanced and emerging-topics
• Contribute to the revision and innovation of curriculum to address future-facing design practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, technological integration
• Conduct scholarly, creative, or professional research in design innovation, future-focused design education, or adaptive/experimental design methodologies
• Engage in school, college, and university service, including participation in committees, student reviews, and outreach initiatives
• Foster a collaborative and creatively adaptive learning environment
• Engage in Auburn University's land-grant mission

Required Qualifications:

• MFA, MDes, or equivalent terminal degree in Graphic Design or a closely related field at the time employment begins
• A record of, or strong potential for, creative research or scholarly activity in design innovation or related areas
• Demonstrated teaching effectiveness at the university level
• A forward-thinking and adaptive approach to design education and practice

Desired

Qualifications:

• Experience integrating emerging technologies (e.g., AR/VR/XR, AI, data visualization, interaction design, speculative design, design futures, biodesign, and systems design) into design…