Parsons School of Design / The New School

Job Description

Parsons School of Design, a college of The New School, acknowledges the ancestral and traditional territories of The Lenape People on which our faculty, staff and students work, learn, and create. We recognize that New York City has the largest urban Indigenous population in the United States. We invite candidates for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Interaction Design in the School of Art, Media, and Technology beginning July 1, 2024. We seek candidates with an active practice in interaction design, and expertise in the history and theory of the field, positioned in the Communication Design programs. The Communication Design programs are a vital component of The New School, encompassing three distinct programs enrolling over 600 students: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), the Master of Professional Studies (MPS), and the Associate in Applied Science (AAS). We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate critical and contemporary approaches to interaction, data visualization, user interface, user experience, and other emerging technologies. Candidates should show expertise spanning screen-based interactive systems and physical computing, encompassing theoretical, historical, practical, craft-based approaches to the field, as well as a cross-platform approach to making. Candidates should have experience and interest in teaching within Parsons’ curricular spines in typography and interaction design to students with a diversity of skills, backgrounds, and interests. We are particularly interested in candidates who publicly or in their teaching materials reference questions including: What is the societal impact of certain design decisions, when many designers make these decisions at the same time? How do we decide what is “good” design? The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment. RESPONSIBILITIES The work of this faculty member is divided between (1) teaching, (2) scholarship or professional/creative practice, and (3) university service. The standard teaching load is five courses––or the equivalent––per academic year. Within their field of expertise, the faculty member will be expected to teach undergraduate, including First Year, as well as graduate courses, to majors and non-majors. They will hold regular office hours, and participate in extracurricular teaching activities such as critiques, review panels, thesis supervision, independent study, and advising. University service includes program, Parsons, and New School assignments on committees and task forces, and as program directors or associate directors with a reduced teaching load in graduate and undergraduate programs, including the undergraduate First Year. All faculty are expected to be engaged with scholarship or professional/creative practice at a level commensurate with their faculty rank. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS A bachelor’s degree is required. A graduate degree in a field germane to the position or professional experience equivalent to a graduate degree is highly preferred. At least 3 years of active research, scholarship, or creative/professional practice in the field as demonstrated by a body of scholarship or a record of creative/professional accomplishments and an ability to connect with external or community partners to develop collaborative projects and initiatives. Evidence of community, academic, or professional leadership is required to qualify for associate professor rank. Demonstrated expertise in contemporary approaches, concepts, techniques, and critical communication design issues related to interaction, technology, data visualization, user interface, artificial intelligence, and user experience. Two years teaching at college, university, community-based, and/or secondary education level with evidence of engagement with course and syllabus development/planning. Candidates seeking a position at Associate level must demonstrate equivalent teaching, research/practice experience, service and successful completion of academic review. Strong interest in working collaboratively across Parsons and the University, and have a record of working well with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, professional training, and aesthetic sensibilities. Ability to work effectively as part of a team, as a collaborator or lead. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines, communicate and motivate effectively. Evidence of a commitment to educational equity in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of cross-cultural communication skills in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of demonstrated interest in/building the ability to mentor and support students from diverse backgrounds, to develop and nurture the individual student’s abilities, and a strong commitment to progressive education. This evidence can be in a candidate’s teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of a commitment to diversity and inclusion (in classroom, campus, community) in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. A strong interest in shaping the school and evolving your own profile in response to broader social, cultural, economic, and technological forces. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience in higher education academic setting, with a working knowledge of curriculum development, student support, and management. Experience teaching English language learners, students from low income backgrounds, and first generation college students. University-level teaching that includes a combination of studios, seminars, and tutorials, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Experience with/commitment to curricular and community-building work for first-year college students; capacity to lead in the context of a first-year studies program. WORK MODALITY On-Campus Position: Faculty are expected to work on-campus due to the nature of the work in accordance with the University policies as set forth in the Full-Time Faculty Handbook.