Logo
The University of Texas at Arlington

Lecturer-Visual Communication Design.

The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States, 76000

Save Job

Job Summary The Department of Art and Art History in the College of Liberal Arts, at the University of Texas at Arlington, invites applications for a Lecturer, Tenure Status: Non-Tenured Academic Professional Track, in the area of study of Visual Communication Design.

In accordance with USCIS regulations, successful applicants must be legally able to accept work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a nationally recognized Visual Communication Design (VCD) area of study that has produced over 200 award‑winning student projects in the last five years. With more than 220 undergraduate students, the area plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of visual communicators. This lecturer position offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution in the classroom as students prepare to enter a rapidly evolving visual communication design industry.

Supporting courses in our BFA Art and BA Art degree programs, this position serves a wide range of student needs in VCD curriculum. Applicants must be qualified to teach within a variety of aspects of VCD skills and should be especially comfortable instructing on the application of traditional graphic design principles within emerging technology and interactive design contexts.

We seek dynamic candidates with outstanding qualifications and relevant professional experience in visual communication design or a related field, along with demonstrated effectiveness in teaching graphic design, emerging technology, or broader areas within VCD.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, all Academic Professional Track faculty are expected to serve on departmental committees, to act as undergraduate faculty advisors, to conduct portfolio reviews, and to mentor undergraduate students in VCD. Details regarding duties, responsibilities, and qualification criteria are described below in labeled sections. CBC Requirement: It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a criminal background check on any applicant who is under final consideration for employment with the University.

This position may have access to critical infrastructure as defined by Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. If so, to be hired for and continue to be employed in this position you must maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure as set forth in Texas Executive Order GA‑48. By assuming this position, and if you have access to critical infrastructure, you authorize the University to conduct routine background checks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Candidate must be well trained within the field of graphic design, with a strong understanding of design principles, design history, print design, web design, and broader areas of visual communication design.

The candidate must be a versatile designer, with an emphasis on emerging technological skills within the field.

Available to teach at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum.

Available to serve as an effective mentor and advisor to undergraduate students.

Required Qualifications

A terminal degree (MFA, MDes, PhD) in Communication Design, Visual Communication, Graphic Design, or a related field from an accredited or recognized equivalent university.

Exceptional knowledge in one or more areas of advanced design focus (such as web design, mobile application design, advanced packaging design, etc.).

Demonstrated knowledge of design principles, standards, and concepts as shown in a professional portfolio of communication design work.

Expertise in Mac OS and Adobe Suite.

Ability to contribute to the excellence of the academic community through teaching, advising, and service.

Strong oral and written communication skills.

Working knowledge of the ideation and creation of design deliverables in both tangible and interactive spaces. This includes research, concept sketching, user flows, low‑ and high‑fidelity layouts, prototype development, testing, product finalization, and presentation.

Preferred Qualifications

Minimum of two (2) years of teaching experience in design courses at the university level.

Minimum of two (2) years of professional design work experience.

A background in personal creative practice and industry experience is strongly preferred.

Ability to develop and support a competitive curriculum, including proposals for special topics courses that enhance the academic goals of the VCD area of study.

Expertise in applicable software and digital technologies aligned with current trends and grounded in the concepts, principles, and practices of interactive design.

Record of active participation in professional organizations.

Additional exceptional knowledge in specialized areas such as web design, mobile app design, interactive design, motion graphics, emerging technology, fabrication, information graphics, packaging design, data visualization, or UI/UX.

Working knowledge of industry‑standard tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Figma.

Experience conducting portfolio reviews.

Special Conditions for Eligibility Department Information The Department of Art and Art History at The University of Texas at Arlington is located among excellent cultural facilities. The Dallas‑Fort Worth‑Arlington metroplex is home to several major internationally recognized museums and galleries (e.g., Kimbell Museum of Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, the Modern Art Museum – Fort Worth, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art). In addition, Dallas‑Fort Worth is home to over 20 corporate headquarters, including Toyota, Chase, Kimberly‑Clark, AT&T, Exxon Mobil, McKesson, American Airline Group, and more.

Art and Art History is the largest department (serving over 800 undergraduates in our degree programs) in the university’s College of Liberal Arts, which itself serves over 4,000 students across its dozen departments in the fine and performing arts, humanities, and social sciences disciplines. The department is nationally accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), as well as holding through the university SACSCOCS accreditation.

Within the department, the Visual Communication Design (VCD) area serves several hundred students who elect to concentrate their BFA Art or BA Art degree programs in this area of study. This area of study has received more than 200 student design awards, honors, and accolades. In addition to the special lab classrooms serving the area in our department in the spaces of the Fine Arts Building, on campus we also benefit from the UTA Fab Lab and campus computer facilities based in the Main Campus Library, as well as a specialist art and architecture library based on the west side of the UTA campus also. Our department has a specialist print lab for VCD students’ use, industry‑level cardboard cutting table and printer for packaging design and production, alongside other relevant fabrication equipment.

University Information The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is located in the heart of the Dallas‑Fort Worth‑Arlington metroplex, a vibrant and diverse metropolitan area that is home to over 7 million people, one of the fastest‑growing tech economies in the United States, and a wide array of arts, entertainment, and cultural activities. As a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution, UTA is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of more than 42,000 students, UTA is the second largest in the University of Texas System. As a result of its combination of rigorous academics and innovative research, UTA is designated as a Carnegie R‑1 “Very High Research Activity” institution and nationally recognized for its commitment to student success and service. It ranks No. 5 in Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges” and is the top university in North Texas for its graduates’ salaries (The Wall Street Journal). UTA is designated as both a Hispanic‑Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander‑Serving Institution and is No. 6 for undergraduate ethnic diversity in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, 2023). With a global alumni network of approximately 280,000 – including leaders at many of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas – UTA contributes an estimated $29 billion annually to the Texas economy.

UTA is expanding its regional footprint by building a regional campus, called UTA West, in Parker County on the far west side of Fort Worth. It is scheduled to open in fall 2028. This initiative aligns with the university’s strategic growth and commitment to serving the broader community. Furthermore, UTA has launched the RISE 100 initiative, aiming to recruit 100 new tenure‑system faculty to strengthen its research enterprise and leadership in key academic areas. Learn more at .

This is an exciting time to join UTA and contribute to its bold vision for the future.

Working Title #J-18808-Ljbffr