Full-Time Faculty, Design And Innovation

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Position: Full-Time Faculty in Design and Innovation

Department: Graphic Design

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Chair of the Graphic Design and Product Design Departments

Position:

The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) invites applications for a full-time faculty position in Design and Innovation, a new program within that includes Architectural Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, Bio Design, and Social Design. MICA is recognized for the quality of its fine art and design programs at national and international levels, its dedication to student learning and teaching excellence, a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, and for preparing students for successful creative careers. We invite applications from working designers who have a demonstrated commitment to education to join our faculty with a preferred start date of August 1, 2026.

About Design and Innovation at MICA:

As a small, private art and design school with a rich legacy of experimentation and avant-garde practice, MICA is reimagining design education. We are building a curricular "Design Core" that serves as a central nexus for design thinking and practice, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among students from graphic design, product design, architectural design, bio design, and social design. As a larger area of study, it supports a wide variety of design practices and professional pathways for students from across the globe. Our facilities include comprehensive dedicated studio spaces, computer labs, classrooms and an array of supporting equipment.

Job Description:

Full-time faculty teach 3 courses per semester, ranging from introductory First Year Experience (FYE) to senior thesis-level coursework. In addition, full-time faculty members at MICA participate in departmental service, undertake committee membership, and are expected to maintain an ongoing professional practice.

This role is pivotal in shaping the future of design education at MICA and demands a balance between specialized knowledge and a willingness to engage broadly with concepts and methodologies that challenge traditional boundaries. We are seeking a versatile educator committed to this multidisciplinary, critical approach, with deep expertise in rapid prototyping - from low-fidelity to high-fidelity - across both physical and digital outputs. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our new, transdisciplinary Design & Innovation (D&I) major, its core curriculum, and the evolution of digital design coursework, including human-centered design and user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) across our design disciplines. A particular emphasis on how user experience can be holistically approached from both physical and digital directions, grounded in anti-ableist principles, is crucial.

Responsibilities Include:

• Teaching six undergraduate studio classes per academic year, (3 Fall, 3 Spring).

• Teach a range of courses in design, including both foundational and advanced topics.

• Specifically help teach and continue to create new Design and Innovation courses, as well as the basic prototyping, interface, and experiences courses from Graphic Design and Product Design.

• Develop and implement a curriculum that integrates design principles with emerging technologies and practices.

• Mentor and advise students, fostering their creative and professional development.

• Contribute to departmental initiatives, including but not limited to program development, assessment, and strategic planning.

• Active participation in departmental and institutional service including:

• Curriculum and program development, assessment, and strategic planning

• Share in coordinating department exhibitions of student work

• Engage in college-wide committees and initiatives that promote shared governance

• Maintain an active professional practice and/or research agenda that informs teaching and contributes to the field.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree (BFA, BA. BS, Bdes) in Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, User Experience, or related field

• A record of professional accomplishment demonstrating a breadth of design practice, including both digital and physical prototyping skills (low to high-fidelity), digital and physical interface design, and user experience principles.

• Proficiency with relevant industry-standard design software.

• Strong communication, collaboration, and facilitation skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of design practice, theory and history

• Familiarity with core design frameworks such as Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design.

• Teaching experience at the college level beyond graduate assistantships, with a proven ability to teach foundational design methods and first-year students through advanced courses

• Personal commitment to teaching using pedagogical approaches relevant to our student body

Preferred Qualifications:

• A terminal degree (MFA, MA, Mdes, PhD) in Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, User Experience or related field (or equivalent professional experience)

• Proven track record facilitating collaborative teamwork

• Experience implementing anti-ableist principles in design work and/or the classroom

• Ability to teach at the intersection of practices such as graphic and product design

• Demonstrated expertise in core design frameworks AND ability to critically engage with advanced methodologies, including: Co-Design, Systems Thinking, Participatory Design, Speculative Design, and Regenerative Design.

• Expertise in one or more specialized areas such as: user experience design, ethnography (participant observation, contextual inquiry, diary studies), data visualization, design for social impact, systems mapping and complexity visualization, participatory design and community-engaged research, critical semiotics and visual analysis.

• Experience with or interest in integrating new technologies (e.g., AI, AR/VR, generative design) into design practice and education

• Knowledgeable about contemporary practices, art and theory and their relationship to broader social, cultural, economic, scientific, and technological contexts

• Demonstrated ability to approach user experience holistically from both physical and digital perspectives

• Shows promise or proven ability to enrich the strategic aims for the Department and the College

Additional Information: The faculty are represented by the SEIU Local 500.

Salary: Commensurate with experience and college policy ranging from $56,246 to 146,325. Excellent benefits package.

Apply: The College will review applications as received. Materials received before October 10, 2025 are best assured of receiving full consideration. The position will remain open until filled. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in the strictest confidence.

Application Instructions:

• Applications MUST be initiated via the MICA website. During your application on MICA's website, you will be redirected to Slideroom to upload supporting materials as directed below. After you have uploaded your materials on Slideroom, please complete your application on MICA's website. Both the Slideroom upload and MICA application must be completed.

Submit online: Two multi-page PDF documents.

The first multi-page PDF document should include:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position, your vision for the future of design education, and teaching philosophy

• Comprehensive CV

• Names and contact information including address, phone and email for three references.

The second multi-page PDF document should include:

• A portfolio consisting of

• 10-20 professional work samples

• 10 Examples of student work (if applicable)

• Descriptive list of all images above

• Links to live URLs may be submitted as well, but will be considered as a secondary source. Any additional media (MOV, MP3, etc.) should be formatted for Apple computers and have representative still image and description information in the PDF portfolio document.*

Please format PDF documents for screen resolution and viewing. No physical media are requested nor will be returned.

Conditions of Employment:

• Conditions: Satisfactory Background Check

Physical demands and work environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of a job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to (amt) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. (may be adjusted depending on position)

• Work environment: While performing the duties of the job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

• Required training: Handbook orientation, Anti-Harassment, Hazard Communication, Emergency Plans & Fire Prevention, Personal Protection Equipment. (additional training may be added, SEE: EHS Manager training schedule)

Maryland Institute College of Art is committed to its policy of providing equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status (disabled, Vietnam-era, or otherwise). Furthermore, the College does not tolerate any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. This policy applies to all programs, facilities, and activities provided by Maryland Institute College of Art, including but not limited to admission, educational programs, and employment.

Applicants must apply online for each job in which they are interested. You will not be considered for any job for which you have not specifically applied. We do not accept applications via email, U.S. mail, or fax. Successful candidates for any staff or faculty positions will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

MICA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at 410-225-2363.