Professional Practice Assistant Professor - Motion Design

Overview

The Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University seeks a professional practice assistant professor to teach motion design in our Graphic Design Master of Arts Program. This is an academic-year (9-month), term appointment position to begin August of 2024. 

USU currently has a thriving graphic design program housed within the Department of Art and Design that offers competitive Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees, with current graduates securing employment with leading design studios, agencies and organizations across the US.

USU’s graphic design program is also proud to host the Hashimoto Communication Arts Seminar, one of oldest and strongest visiting designer/artist programs in the country. The seminar is over 50-years old and hosts over 15 lecturers and visiting designers/artists from across the US each year.

USU’s Graphic Design Master of Arts degree concentration is a three-semester program extension of a BFA in Graphic-Design that focuses on the use of emerging technology to explore contemporary forms of time-based visual expression. Students will focus on design strategies for film, broadcast and advertising, digital media/film theory, narrative story-telling and advanced studies in two-dimensional and three-dimensional motion design methodology and technology. The program is open to all applicants with a BFA, or equivalent, in graphic design. Program acceptance will be limited to 10 students.

Responsibilities

• Candidates must demonstrate a passion for design and be capable of inspiring a new generation of students for the creative and critical thinking necessary to be leaders in this specialized industry.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for steering the evolution of the Graphic Design Master of Arts program curriculum.
• Demonstrate commitment to teaching and working with students from diverse populations.
• Participate in department, college, and university service.
• Provide national, state, and local service to the profession.
• Mentor students.
• Continued engagement in the motion design discipline which may include designing, directing or producing motion-based media for broadcast, film or exhibition related applications, and recognition of work through awards or juried exhibitions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Professional body of work that demonstrates a high-level knowledge of, and practice in the field of motion design
• Evidence of strong design background
• BFA degree (or equivalent) in Visual Communication/Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Motion Design, Media Arts, Broadcast Design, or Interactive Media
• Strong knowledge of After Effects and Adobe Creative Suite
• Advanced knowledge of both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional methodologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Multimedia Design, Motion Design, Media Arts, Broadcast Design, Visual Communication/Graphic Design, or Interactive Media
• Prior teaching experience at the collegiate level
• Strong knowledge of Cinema 4D
• Editing experience in Final Cut Pro or Premiere
• Experience in sound engineering/editing
• Experience in virtual and augmented reality

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1) Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”.

2) Name and contact information (including email) of three professional references to be entered at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile.

3) Links to online portfolio and/or reel of relevant motion/design projects to be uploaded under Documents 1-10.

4) Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application.

5) Statement of teaching/learning methods to be typed/pasted at the end of your application.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

The Department of Art Design

Housed in the Caine College of the Arts at USU and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Department of Art Design has a century-long history and a suite of well-established and highly regarded programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. (Please see art.usu.edu for a complete listing of all academic programs in the department and their curricula.) The department features approximately twelve exhibitions a year in the beautifully remodeled Tippetts and Eccles Galleries; this includes a national juried exhibition for current BFA and MFA students. The department also works closely with the Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art to engage students from across the university in arts programming. In addition to programs on the Logan Campus, the department has faculty on the USU Eastern campuses in Price and Blanding, Utah, and delivers courses by electronic and hybrid instructional systems to USU’s six other regional campuses and numerous county centers around the state.

Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Utah State University is an AA/EO Employer and encourages gender and ethnic diversity. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique and diverse contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Caine College of the Arts

The Caine College of the Arts (CCA) seeks to make the arts more visible, more innovative, and more fully integrated into the intellectual life of Utah State University and the communities it serves. The CCA is a collaborative community, representing the collective strengths and voices of the arts and it acts as a conduit for connecting people and programs. The CCA offers a visiting artist program that brings important artists, designers, and scholars to campus, is home to award-winning faculty, features a world-class performance hall, offers internships with prominent artists and designers, and operates several international study opportunities. The College houses the Departments of Art Design, Music, and Theatre Arts, and is closely affiliated with the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art on the USU campus.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant and space-grant university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion. USU serves approximately 27,500 students throughout the state at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online has served students from all 50 states and 55 countries for over 25 years, and USU Extension provides outreach and service to all counties in Utah.  

As a land-grant university, USU engages communities and empowers people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. As an R1 research institution, USU provides a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price. Washington Monthly has consistently ranked USU in the top 10 among public universities for contribution to social mobility, research, and public service.  

Utah State is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where different perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 7/2023

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023