Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

The Graphic Design Department at KCAI seeks a collaborative, innovative, and critically minded designer/educator for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. We welcome candidates with expertise in contemporary design practice who can contribute to a curriculum that spans analog, digital, emerging, and hybrid modes of making. Candidates should bring strengths in typography, image-making, composition, and creative direction, alongside research and/or professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

• UX/UI and interaction design
• Emerging and disruptive technologies (AR/VR, creative coding, AI)
• Experiential and spatial design
• Data visualization and information design
• Motion/time-based design
• Design research, publishing, or critical storytelling
• Service design or systems thinking

Faculty in Graphic Design collaborate to foster a vibrant, student-centered studio culture grounded in inquiry, making, critique, and the social and civic dimensions of design. The department is deeply engaged in interdisciplinary teaching, integrating professional practice and curricular innovation to support a diverse community of learners.

Essential Functional Responsibilities:

Teaching & Student Support

• Teach a 3/3 load across sophomore–senior levels, aligned with departmental needs and expertise.
• Use varied instructional methods (lectures, workshops, critiques, demos) to support diverse learners.
• Provide timely feedback, maintain accurate grading, and meet all evaluation deadlines.
• Contribute to curriculum development and assessment of programmatic learning outcomes and course learning outcomes.
• Support student success through mentorship, studio engagement, and regular availability.

Creative Practice / Research

• Maintain an active and evolving creative practice, research agenda, or applied design practice with local, regional, or national visibility.
• Integrate contemporary and emerging technologies into creative practice and teaching where appropriate.
• Disseminate work through professional projects, exhibitions, publications, conference presentations, writing, or industry collaborations.

Service

• Participate in shared governance through the Faculty Assembly and one annual committee assignment.
• Contribute to cross-campus initiatives, including the integration of technology, professional practice development, and collaborative teaching.
• Assist in a range of department-level initiatives, including recruitment events, end-of-semester exhibitions, and annual assessment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellence in analog and digital design processes, with the ability to select and apply appropriate methods for diverse learning outcomes.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools, including Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects), prototyping platforms such as Figma, and collaborative tools (e.g., Miro, FigJam); ability to learn and evaluate emerging technologies relevant to contemporary design practice.
• A developing record of creative practice, applied industry work, or design research.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a small department.
• Evidence of interest in interdisciplinary teaching or cross-department collaboration.

Required Experience/Education:

• MGD, MDes, MFA, or equivalent terminal degree in Graphic Design or a closely related field.
• Post-secondary teaching experience as a teaching assistant or part-time instructor.
• Demonstrated experience using digital and analog/hands-on technologies and processes.
• Demonstrated record of professional practice.

Preferred Experience/Education:

• 1+ years of post-secondary teaching as a part-time or full-time faculty member.
• 3+ years of professional practice demonstrating depth of client engagement, multi-project workflows, or systems-based approaches to communication design.
• Experience publishing, writing, speaking, or presenting on design.
• Experience integrating accessibility, inclusive design practices, or socially engaged design methodologies.

Application Procedures
Applicants should submit the following materials as PDFs or accessible website links through the KCAI employment portal:

• Cover letter describing interest in the position and relevant qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching philosophy (1–2 pages)
• Professional portfolio (PDF or website)
• Student work portfolio including prompts/objectives (PDF or website)
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• (Optional) Statement on creative practice or research

Finalists may be asked to provide a teaching demonstration, portfolio presentation, and participate in on-campus meetings and interviews.
Priority deadline for applicants is Friday, February 6, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed, but are not guaranteed consideration.

Apply via: https://www.kcai.edu/employment

Statement

Driven by exploration, curiosity, and passion, it is Kansas City Art Institute’s mission to educate artists and designers while honoring the distinct journeys of students. We create a community that equips students to become leaders who leverage the creative process to transform the future. Our excellence is integrated in our community, rich with varied experiences and perspectives from faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We invest in continuous growth by cultivating a culture of care and belonging—a climate where respectful dialogue thrives and every person is seen, heard, and valued. When individuals feel supported and connected, they achieve their full potential and accomplish remarkable things.

KCAI is committed to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified candidates for employment without regard to any characteristic prohibited by federal, state, or local law. KCAI provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you have difficulty using our online system and require accommodation due to a disability, contact the Human Resources Department about your interest in employment. Any questions or concerns can be directed to KCAI’s Human Resource Administrator at hr@kcai.edu.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.