Full-Time Faculty Position in Illustration and Interactive Media, School of Art and Design

Company Description:

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), an internationally renowned college of art and design, business and technology, of the State University of New York, invites nominations and applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position in Illustration in the Illustration and Interactive Media Department of the School of Art and Design.

The Fashion Institute of Technology, a part of the State University of New York, has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology for over 70 years. With a curriculum that provides a singular blend of hands-on, practical experience, classroom study, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, FIT offers a wide range of outstanding programs that are relevant to today’s rapidly changing industries. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers more than 45 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the global marketplace.

With close ties to industry, FIT draws faculty from the city’s art, business, and design elite, and from the rich academic community of the region. The college continually seeks creative faculty members who are passionate about their field and demonstrate exceptional professional capability in the core competencies of instruction design, learning enrichment, globalism, and use of technology, as well as mastery of established and emerging industry practices.

The mission of FIT’s School of Art and Design is to educate the next generation of creative, socially responsible and globally relevant professionals able to succeed in the broad spectrum of art and design fields. The school challenges students to create new and valuable ideas through innovation, collaboration and experimentation.

The Illustration program at FIT emphasizes a strong foundation in conceptual thinking, drawing, painting and sculpting which equips students to embrace traditional and emerging technologies with a high level of craft and innovative thinking.

The strength of our program comes from the belief that we can embrace new creative  technologies while developing a set of skills that does not change: an in depth understanding  of how to develop verbal prompts into visual stories, how to observe and capture the form and  movement of human and animal figures, understanding how to use color and how to follow  and reimagine aesthetic rules as a means of creating illusions of proportion, form, movement  and space.

 

Job Description:

The Illustration and Interactive Media Department seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member who is an experienced illustrator/visual artist actively engaged in creating imagery in a range of specialized disciplines and platforms that include editorial and commercial print and online media.

The ideal candidate will be a highly creative artist and educator whose work and teaching reflect a strong understanding of fundamentals including anatomy, composition, color theory, form, and space. The faculty member will be expected to teach and lead both in their specialties and foundation courses. The faculty member will work collaboratively to contribute and maintain a high level of creativity, academic excellence, and pedagogical and technological innovation.

In the conceptual process, the candidate will teach through demonstration and by example from their professional experience, the techniques of research, exploring multiple narrative and editorial directions, developing visual solutions and determining an aesthetic approach that best communicates the ideas they choose or are commissioned to convey.

As a practicing professional and teaching artist, the ideal candidate understands the importance of embracing diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, thought processes and social issues that inform their work and the work of their students.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

Globalism

• Demonstrate an understanding of how illustrators, as visual communicators, can educate and influence public perception and beliefs that influence global issues with national and international impact.
• Demonstrate an understanding of world and national history, as well as current events, as a means of context and perspective for effective decision-making in the role of visual communicator and illustrator.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the benefits and opportunities of networking with the New York City Creative District and incorporate distinguished guest speakers and class field trips to local museums, galleries and other educational resources as means of enhancing class material and student learning experiences.
• Demonstrate awareness of and respect for racial, ethnic, religious, social, and gender diversity, and incorporate this into the pedagogical experience.
• Demonstrate ability to develop student awareness in the classroom environment for cultural diversity, and the need to respect all racial, ethnic, religious and social groups, in support of diversity and equity, in the classroom as well as in professional circles.
• Demonstrate experience working with people of racial, ethnic, religious, social, and gender diversity in support of the education of a diverse student population.
• Demonstrate the ability to share extensive knowledge of art history in both Western and non-Western contexts, as well as current practices, approaches, and movements in the contemporary art world, demonstrating appreciation for cultural diversity and a positive approach to cultural differences.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the global nature of today’s illustration discipline.
• Demonstrate an awareness of professional, ethical and social responsibility.

Instructional Design

• Demonstrate ability to teach students to integrate traditional illustration skills and techniques with digital media in class assignments and projects.
• Demonstrate ability to teach students how to integrate and utilize information and skills from various disciplines including photography, design, animation, film, writing, social sciences, world history, and art history to create stimulating and effective visual communication images and illustrations.
• Demonstrate ability to design engrossing class assignments to enhance information literacy and research skills, foster experimentation, and to cultivate creative critical thinking.
• Demonstrate ability to be an effective verbal communicator and speaker who conducts enlightening and thought-provoking lectures, presentations, demonstrations, and critiques.
• Demonstrate the ability to teach a breadth of 2D processes to all levels of undergraduate students.
• Implement an academically rigorous experience by incorporating professional and business practices in classroom learning.
• Develop a variety of assessment methods for student work to capture various learning styles in the classroom.
• Serve as an active contributor to curricular assessment and development.
• Maintain strong connections within the illustration industry to provide currency and to introduce and integrate new methodologies into the curriculum.
• Utilize the college’s learning management system to maintain information required for assessment monitoring.
• Demonstrate commitment to student-centeredness with active participation in student work reviews, and provide constructive feedback, assessment, and guidance.
• Incorporate instructional variety to service students of different learning styles, abilities, demographics, and diversity.

Learning Enrichment

• Demonstrate and generate an excitement and passion for teaching, illustrating and learning that inspires students to experiment, innovate and create.
• Demonstrate ability to formulate and create a clear and concise class syllabus to enable and empower students to maximize their potential academically and creatively.
• Demonstrate integration of knowledge of industry and entrepreneurship in classes, and personal career development strategies and experiences, to support and encourage students’ creative and professional interest and progress.
• Demonstrate currency in the discipline, incorporating innovative technology in instructional pedagogy and changes into a progressive curriculum.
• Incorporate industry developments, technology updates and illustration applications into the curriculum, and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching.
• Contribute to ongoing student centeredness through mentorship and advisement.
• Demonstrate the ability to support different student learning styles and abilities.
• Model and guide professional development and facilitate student engagement with the illustration community within and beyond FIT.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate active and continued engagement in professional, creative and scholarly work and activities aligned with the discipline of illustration in the competitive graphic arts business, and that inform and enhance the discipline.
• Demonstrate an understanding and mastery of established and emerging industry practices and their relevance to the illustration markets.
• Demonstrate expertise in the application of entrepreneurial skills, an understanding of copyright laws, and knowledge of billing practices, and current marketing and promotional protocols.
• Maintain active participation and engagement in discipline-related activities that inform and enhance the discipline.
• Maintain and foster a cultivated network of alumni and experts in the discipline who will serve as a resource for internships, mentors, curriculum development, guest speakers and placement opportunities for graduates.
• Demonstrate currency and engagement in the teaching discipline.
• Model professional behavior that prepares students for entry into related fields.
• Demonstrate ability to apply professional expertise in the continued advancement of the program, including curriculum, and program assessment and development, and program expansion into other areas of illustration applications and markets.
• Demonstrate collaboration and engagement in contributing to and participating in administrative and committee service for the department, the school, and the college.

Technology

• Utilize course management systems and demonstrate capability and currency in utilizing technology in the classroom/studio.
• Possess discipline-specific technology skills and demonstrate expertise and effective utilization of technology and software in illustration to deliver course material and convey practical learning experiences to students.
• Demonstrate ability to inspire students’ imaginations and educate them in further developing the integration of traditional with digital illustration proficiencies consistent with current industry standards and protocols.

 

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Six (6) years professional experience as an illustrator in one or more visual storytelling media.
• Two years of college-level teaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MFA or MA degree in illustration, fine arts, design or other visual art discipline.

 

Additional Information:

Please note, all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

The final starting salary and appointment rank will be based on education level and cumulative experience; Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Salary Schedules pg. 72.

Instructor: $65,207.33 – $75,971.53
Assistant Professor: $75,917.54 – $111,883.11
Associate Professor: $88,858.05 -133,780.10
Professor: $108,354.52 – $163,053.55

The College reserves the right to select one or more candidates after having been duly reviewed and presented to the President in conformance with the provisions of Article 15 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship 

This position may be eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual’s ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT’s non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

This position will be required to constantly read and comprehend, occasionally perform calculations, constantly verbally communicate, frequently analyze, and constantly write. The working conditions for this position will be any combination of the classroom, lab, and/or office space. Certain roles may be required to handle machinery and chemicals. The physical requirement for this position will require occasional sitting, constant standing, occasional bending, frequent walking, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.

 

Application Instructions:

In order to considered for this position, please submit the following documents online:

• Letter of interest clearly indicating your qualifications for the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy Statement
• Unofficial Transcript*
• A minimum of three professional references, including names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail contact information.

*Official transcripts are required within the first 30 days of hire. Applicants with foreign degrees must submit a completed credential evaluation comparing their foreign academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S.

Returning Applicants – Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application materials.

This is a full-time, tenure-track position beginning in Fall 2025. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled, or until March 2025.  First consideration will be given to completed applications received by October 1, 2024.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding his or her application status.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: www.fitnyc.edu.

 

The Fashion Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within the community.