Graduate Studies Adjunct Faculty – MA & MFA Motion Design

STATUS: Part-Time
DIVISION: Graduate Studies
REPORTS TO: Dean of Graduate Studies & Research
SUPERVISES: N/A
FLSA STATUS: Exempt

POSITION DESCRIPTION

CCS Detroit is seeking new Adjunct Faculty members to teach on the new MA and MFA Motion Design programs. Preparation and planning will start in January for teaching in Fall 2022

THE PROGRAMS:

As the creative industries evolve and technology advances, there is an increasing need for designers, artists, and illustrators who are highly skilled in the creation of images and communication in motion. 

Sophisticated moving image narratives pervade many interfaces, devices, and media channels in daily use. The technological capability to capture and design narratives in motion and finesse artwork with post-production software is now commonplace, yet few creatives have the comprehensive skill set necessary to fill the growing number of roles required in professional practice.

The Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Motion Design programs teach students to create moving image content for a range of applications that bring together skills in visual communication, illustration, animation, film, and the fine arts. Using animated graphics, avatars, apps, adverts, interstitial clips, film credits, art direction, and short films, motion designers bring images to life.  

Aimed at graduates of design, illustration, fine art, crafts, and other visual arts BFAs who wish to extend their skills and animate their artistic ideas, the programs provide versatile skillsets and capabilities that will expand career opportunities. The program works with the College’s rich industry network in Detroit placing students at the vanguard of creative professional practice.

CCS offers a 60 credit terminal MFA degree and a 30 credit initial MA degree. Students may take either program in full- or part-time mode.

THE ROLE

Graduate Studies at CCS is seeking accomplished professional art and design practitioners and academics with proven experience and knowledge in Motion Design, including: 

• 2D and 3D animation
• Typographic design (moving image)
• Motion graphic design
• Digital post-production
• Visual storytelling
• Sound design
• Design Thinking and Thought leadership
• Professional practice
• Thesis supervision

Under the direction of the Graduate Dean, Adjunct Faculty (Instructors) will teach courses which will involve the following essential accountabilities: 

• Preparation of teaching materials
• Teaching through lectures, studio instruction, seminars and/or off-campus visits
• Use of the College’s learning management system (Canvas) 
• Teaching online (synchronously and asynchronously)
• Overseeing live projects
• Assessment and feedback

Adjunct Faculty need to be available for teaching in the evenings, and will also be expected to attend occasional meetings and personal professional development sessions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Extensive professional experience in industry and/or academic research
• A terminal degree (MFA or PhD) is preferred
• An initial Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree will be considered for candidates with significant relevant professional experience
• Teaching experience at the college- or graduate-level is not essential, but preferred
• Excellent and delightful interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team leader and colleague in accordance with CCS’s values

WORK ENVIRONMENT

 This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are Core Institutional Values.

As a leading college of art and design, we recognize the value diversity brings to making, designing, creating, and expanding spaces for social discourse. 

The College for Creative Studies represents a diverse community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities, and worldviews that recognize differences of culture and circumstance. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are interlaced into our Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.

We are especially interested in candidates who have demonstrated commitment to excellence by providing leadership in teaching, scholarship, research or service toward building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans, and intersectional individuals are encouraged to apply. 

The College for Creative Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.  We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.  Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

ABOUT CCS

College for Creative Studies is a nonprofit institution; it is one of the leading art and design colleges in the world. CCS is ranked by LinkedIn as a top three design school in the US and the best in the Midwest, based on alumni success. CCS has state-of-the-art facilities to support the complete range of creative production, from traditional art forms such as painting, glassblowing, foundry, and printmaking, to the most contemporary systems, including the latest digital imaging technology and extensive rapid prototyping output tools. The College currently enrolls more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 13 majors:  Advertising Design, Art Education, Art Practice, Communication Design, Craft and Material Studies, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Accessories Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design, and Transportation Design. It also offers a Master’s degrees in four majors: Color and Materials Design, Interaction Design, Systems Design Thinking, and Transportation Design. The college also offers masters degrees in six areas: Art Education, Color and Materials Design, Design for Climate Action, Motion Design, Transportation Design and UX Design. 

For an informal conversation, contact Dr. Ian Lambert, Dean of Graduate Studies – ilambert@collegeforcreativestudies.edu.

Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The search will continue until suitable candidates are hired.

A cover letter, resume/CV, and URL portfolio or samples of professional project work should be sent to hr@collegeforcreativestudies.edu with “MA and MFA Design for Motion Design Adjunct Faculty” in the subject line. Official transcripts/certificates for degrees and professional references are required as a condition of hire.

Department Website:    https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/academics/graduate-programs/

CCS website:     https://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/

The College for Creative Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law3/12/19