Assistant Professor of Communication Design - Department of Art 26-14

Assistant Professor of Communication Design - Department of Art 26-14

Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement

Department: Art and Design

Faculty Hire Number: #26-14

Rank: Assistant Professor

Effective Date of Appointment: August 19, 2026 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Anticipated Hiring Range: $87,500 to $94,500 (Dependent upon qualifications)

The Department of Art & Design at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in the Communication Design area at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will teach both introductory and advanced undergraduate courses in Entertainment Advertising Design and Branding, with the ability to integrate communication design techniques with emerging technologies and platforms.

Required Qualifications:

• An MFA degree in Art or Design with a concentration in graphic/communication design, or a related field from an accredited institution, foreign equivalency, or post-baccalaureate experience, training, and expertise at least equivalent to those required for the Master of Fine Arts degree.
• College, university, or advanced industry-focused teaching experience in in-person and/or online settings.
• Professional experience in the field with a record of creative achievement as an entertainment advertising or brand designer, utilizing the latest software and technologies, such as VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and video/motion production.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to utilize fundamental graphic design principles using the latest technologies, as demonstrated in the portfolio.
• Proficiency in creating key art and various touchpoints for marketing entertainment media across live events, streaming, digital, and social media platforms, as demonstrated in the portfolio.
• The candidate should have a strong understanding of brand strategy within the entertainment industry and how it aligns with overall objectives during the advertising of new media.
• Teaching or Professional experience that includes working with a diverse student body or leading groups of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience or potential for creating a student-centered learning environment, such as community engagement, inclusive professional development, active learning strategies, culturally relevant pedagogy, curriculum development, etc. which leads to equitable outcomes for all students.
• Experience participating in inclusive approaches to mentoring, such as minority centered mentorship with community-based arts programs, leadership roles, or engagement with minority serving organizations, etc.