Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Communications Design (71102)
Salary: $85,000.00 - $87,500.00 Annually
Location: NY, NY
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: UG Communications Design
Closing: 1/15/ :00 AM Eastern
About Pratt
Pratt Institute provides the creative leaders of tomorrow the professional knowledge and experience to make a better world. A world-class and internationally ranked college with programs in art, design, architecture, liberal arts and sciences, and information studies, Pratt offers nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The Institute's impact expands beyond its 25-acre residential campus in Brooklyn to cutting‑edge facilities throughout the borough, a landmark building and public gallery in Manhattan, as well as an extension campus, Pratt Munson College of Art and Design in Utica, New York. On Governors Island, Pratt is a core partner on the Stony Brook University team selected to develop the New York Climate Exchange, a research and educational hub poised to establish New York City as the global leader for the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. Another extension of Pratt's campus is the Research Yard, a 20,000‑square‑foot facility that brings together the research activities of Pratt Institute under one roof in the Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY).
Since our founding in 1887, Pratt has upheld the belief that education should be accessible to all who wish to learn. As a community, we define ourselves as standard setters who are:
- Resourceful and collaborative problem solvers,
- Socially responsible and equity‑centered creatives,
- Adaptable and resilient global stewards,
- Inquisitive and compassionate community members.
Description
The Undergraduate Communications Design Department at Pratt Institute invites applications in the discipline of communications design, with a focus on emerging technologies. This is a full‑time tenure‑track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank to begin in Fall 2026.
We are seeking candidates whose work actively utilizes or acknowledges emerging technologies—whether that is creating scholarly writing on this topic, creating professional or speculative work utilizing those technologies or even establishing entrepreneurial endeavors with emergent tech.
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate excellence in teaching, with a strong commitment to student mentorship, and be prepared to teach undergraduates in a program with two concentrations: Graphic Design and Illustration. Candidates should be able to confidently teach design fundamentals such as typography, spatial layout, and semiotics as well as upper‑level division courses focused on design thinking, interaction design and one or more of the following areas: visual design, artificial intelligence, extended reality (AR, VR, spatial computing), 3D digital prototyping and/or time‑based storytelling (After Effects, Cinema 4D). Candidates can expect to teach 5‑6 courses per academic year, as well as perform additional service to the department, school and/or the Institute.
We value applicants whose research and teaching demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, pedagogical innovation, student‑centered teaching, career paths for students, and a passion for contributing to the community on campus and beyond, through service and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Examples of Duties
- Teach a range of communications design courses at the undergraduate level, that provide the curricular scaffolding for the program that reach both Graphic Design and Illustration students
- Participate in curriculum revision and development and assessment
- Contribute to developing a strong culture of communications design research, practice, and professional development in the department
- Maintain substantial creative accomplishments in visual communication
- Exhibit and/or showcase work and participate in professional symposia in order to shape conversations in the field, develop strong connections with peers, and bring findings back to the classroom and curricular discussions
- Advise and mentor students and student organizations
- Participate in committee work and other service to the department, the School of Design, and the Institute
- Work with the department chair to establish community partnerships and internship opportunities for students
Qualifications
A strong record of achievement that includes professional practice, research, scholarship and creative activity should be demonstrated through a portfolio and record of production, exhibitions, presentations, publications, grants, awards, and partnerships.
Required Qualifications
- An MFA or MDes or degree equivalent in VISUAL COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION DESIGN, INTERACTION DESIGN or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching with a minimum of 2 years experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
- A substantial record of professional practice and/or creative research in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, or related field.
- Candidates must also have excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated intercultural competence, and the ability to work well with diverse populations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Engagement with critical issues around making and working with contemporary tools/technologies and theories, with a contribution to relevant communities.
- Additional expertise in any of these areas: scripting in programming languages, digital collage, experience design, interaction design, generative systems, time‑based media, 3D modeling, and data visualization.
- Innovative methods of form‑making, and/or experimental approaches, in order to develop broader, more inclusive narratives that incorporate and advance non‑traditional histories.
- Evidence of work outside the classroom engaging with various communities, both within the institution and externally, promoting social justice, and fostering inclusivity.
Benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- HSA
- Company Sponsored Basic Life & AD&D
- Company Sponsored Long Term Disability
- Flex Spending Account (Health, Dependant Care)
- Commuter Benefits (Transit & Parking)
- Disability (NYS)
- Voluntary Short Term Disability
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- 403B Retirement Plan
- Voluntary Supplemental Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off (Vac & Sick)
Supplemental Information
Please Note: We are currently unable to support new H‑1B visas for candidates residing outside of the United States.
For best consideration please submit your application before January 15, 2026. To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A cover letter addressing your qualifications as outlined in the position's responsibilities
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Ten examples of professional work
- Ten examples of student work
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- A statement demonstrating alignment of your research, scholarship, and work with the values of Pratt as described in the About Pratt section (bold text in third paragraph)
- Names and contact details for three professional references
About the School of Design
The School of Design educates curious makers in design practice to impact the world around them through the design of our messages, objects, spaces, and systems. We believe that design at its best is a force for good: it connects, enables, sustains, empowers, and humanizes. Across four undergraduate programs and five graduate programs, we explore the expansiveness of this idea.
About the Communications Design Department
The BFA Communications Design program at Pratt prepares students to engage in critical inquiry of visual communication, mediated through theoretical and applied research. As a result, our students become established as global innovators, leaders and practitioners in the field of communications design and beyond. The curriculum addresses emerging and integrative technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, the historical‑contemporary continuum, sustainable practices, human‑centered research and issues of ethical and social responsibility— which supports career aspirations toward both professional, social and speculative practice, and entrepreneurial endeavors such as independent publishing and freelancing.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pratt Institute recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.
At Pratt, we prioritize equity and have established a systematic approach to guarantee fair treatment for everyone. If your background and expertise align with the requirements of the position, you will be contacted for further instructions.
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