Assistant Professor, Graphic Design for Interactive and Digital Media

Start of review process

January 1, 2027. The position will remain open until filled.

Starting Date

August 16, 2027

The Department of Design at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with a start date of August 16, 2027. The Department seeks a scholar-maker of graphic design for digital media who is well versed in current industry best practices and whose research or creative agenda focuses on the field’s future rather than its past. Salary commensurate with qualifications. This position requires relocation to Austin, TX.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate or graduate level courses in graphic design and digital media on topics such as typography, motion graphics, UI/UX design, digital accessibility, interaction design, or data visualization.
• Mentor undergraduate students.
• Supervise and mentor graduate students, including chairing and serving on thesis committees.
• Contribute to curriculum development, revisions, and reviews.
• Produce creative work or publications with national or international impact in the field of design.
• Participate in shared governance of the department, college, and university by serving on committees and task forces and performing other types of administrative service as needed.
• Contribute to the field by serving on national or international boards or committees or peer reviewing proposals and papers.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree (PhD, MFA, or equivalent) in graphic design, interaction design, information architecture, computer science, or related field.
• Portfolio of work that attests to the candidate’s expertise in graphic design for interactive or digital media.
• Ability to effectively teach introductory, advanced, and special topic courses for design undergraduate and graduate majors in graphic design, interaction design, and/or related areas proven by previous college or university teaching experience or other evidence.

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of successful full-time university teaching experience.
• Expertise in accessible UI/UX design, motion graphics, data visualization, color management, prepress and print production, or packaging design.
• Record of recent professional experience in the field.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover Letter highlighting how your credentials and experience satisfy the required (and, when applicable, preferred) qualifications and briefly describing the direction of your research or creative work over the next five years.
• Names, job titles, affiliations, email addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references
• List of five links to recent projects that showcase your expertise in the area of graphic design for interactive and digital media.
• List of courses taught, including name of institution, course number, course title, and year.

The committee may request additional materials at a later date, such as syllabi or student course evaluations. The committee will begin reviewing applications on January 1, 2027, but the position will remain open until filled.

About the Department of Design

Drawing on the world-class resources of the University of Texas at Austin and the rapidly growing economy of Central Texas, the Department of Design offers BA, BFA, and MFA degree programs in design. Last year, the department identified graphic design and industrial design as its primary areas of focus for the future. We now seek a faculty member to help shape and deliver course offerings in the area of graphic design for interactive and digital media. The department provides more than 200 students, 17 full-time faculty, and 6 full-time staff with access to two digital fabrication labs, two woodshops (https://design.utexas.edu/about/facilities), and the Design Lab, a mixed-use fabrication space offering a wide range of equipment and resources for 2D and 3D making. The Design Lab offers woodworking tools, sewing facilities, photography equipment, digital scanning and printing, vinyl cutting, Vandercook proofing presses, silkscreen facilities, and bookbinding equipment, in addition to housing the nationally renowned Rob Roy Kelly American Wood Type Collection (https://rrk.finearts.utexas.edu).

About The University of Texas at Austin:

The University of Texas at Austin is a flagship, tier-one, research institution situated in Austin, TX, a city known for its vibrancy, quality of life, and active engagement in the arts. The University has been awarded the Seal of Excelencia designating it as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Benefits of Working at the University of Texas at Austin

• Nine-month contract (August 16–May 15) with competitive salary of $90,000 - $100,000, based on credentials and years of industry and teaching experience.
• Choice between a defined-benefit (“pension”) retirement plan or a 403b defined contribution plan (a retirement investment account). Details, percent of employer matching funds, and additional optional retirement programs are described here.
• Fully paid health insurance premiums for full-time faculty during the calendar year, affordable plans for dependents, and optional dental, life, disability, and other insurance plans for employees and their dependents. Optional pre-tax healthcare and dependent-care savings plans. For program details go here.
• On-site Child Development Center; access to child and dependent care referral services.
• Policies to support work/life balance, including family and medical leave, and modified instructional duties.
• World-class libraries of over ten million volumes.
• Eligibility for competitive university-funded Faculty Development Leaves (“sabbaticals”), Faculty Travel Grants, Research & Creative Grants, book subvention grants, and external grant-finding and -writing support.
• Eligibility for generously funded awards for research, teaching, and service.
• Startup package including university-provided laptop; professional development funds for research and travel; eligibility for pre-tenure research leave.

For more information about benefits, please visit the university’s Human Resources page at https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.