Teaching and Research Faculty - Graphic Design - VCUarts Qatar

Graphic Design: Teaching and Research Faculty

Virginia Commonwealth University

School of the Arts in Qatar

Position: Teaching & Research Faculty

Tenure: Ineligible

Rank: Open

Appointment length: 9-month faculty position

Salary: Commensurate with experience and training. Generous international benefits available.

Promotion: Eligible for promotion in academic rank

Department/Program: Graphic Design

Location: Doha, Qatar

Position Begins: August 10, 2026

Review of Applications: Review of applications continues until position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due November 30, 2025.

More than one hire could be selected from this recruitment opportunity.

The Opportunity

The Department of Graphic Design at VCUarts Qatar invites applications for an open rank faculty appointment, specialising in Graphic Design with an emphasis on typography, editorial and publication design, branding, type design.We are seeking dynamic and innovative educators, researchers, or practitioners whose work expands contemporary design practices within a global context. Candidates may engage with multilingual and/or Arabic typography, cross-cultural perspectives, decolonial approaches, or emergent forms of design inquiry. The ideal candidates will contribute to a collaborative teaching environment by offering courses that push beyond traditional curricula, foster critical and creative research, and cultivate connections to both local and international design ecologies. Successful candidates will join a talented faculty and contribute to fulfilling our department’s mission that champions agency through competencies of collaboration, research, making, and cultural literacy.

There are generous benefits associated with this faculty position.

• Competitive international salary

• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers

• 30% Off-shore supplement

• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)

• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet

• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar) 

• Monthly auto allowance 

• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program 

• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

VCUarts Qatar:
VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts (VCUarts). Located in Richmond, Virginia, VCUarts (www.arts.vcu.edu) is a top-ranked public art school in the U.S. VCUarts Qatar was established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, or kinetic imaging; a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUarts Qatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from 34 countries.

VCUarts Qatar is dedicated to global outreach and education and provides students with an environment for cross-cultural exchange that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation. Examples of this mission are the two significant international conferences hosted by VCUarts Qatar—the biennial design conference, Tasmeem and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. VCUarts Qatar attracts globally recognized designers, artists and scholars while fostering partnerships within the region, and beyond, that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. Having established itself as a center of excellence for education and research, VCUarts Qatar has substantial involvement with the influential art and design world of the Middle East and is a catalyst for the growth and development of these fields in the region. VCUarts Qatar has over 120 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of over 300 students. VCUarts Qatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre multiversity campus. VCUarts Qatar was joined by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.

Qatar, with English as the standard second language, is a progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, while honoring a rich tradition that is evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. Al-Wakrah Stadium, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, designed by the defunct deconstructivist architect Zaha Hadid was inaugurated in 2021. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in March 2019 while the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The U.S. Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

VCUarts:

Ranked by US News & World Report as a top five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by 180 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The school includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business. 

Qualifications:

• MFA or PhD in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field

• Demonstrated teaching experience at the university level

• A clearly articulated research agenda, with potential for securing external funding, and a demonstrated record of scholarly work or creative practice that expands and complements departmental expertise

• Proven track record of professional practice and/or industry experience in graphic design, particularly in typography, editorial/publishing, branding, type design (2D, 3D and /or 4D) 

• Active engagement with an international creative network of cultural practitioners, designers, and artists, i.e. in the Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) region or elsewhere. Engagement could include conferences, events, institutions & industry connections

• Strong portfolio showcasing creative, research, and pedagogical activities

• Commitment to fostering cultural literacy and engagement with emerging media

• Strong collaboration, communication, and time-management skills, with enthusiasm for contributing to a dynamic international academic environment

• Experience and/or interest in connecting to the local and regional Creative Economy

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of professionalism, respect, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

• Proficiency in spoken and written English (all courses at VCUarts Qatar are taught in English). Bilingual proficiency is a plus preferred but not required.

Responsibilities:

• Teach undergraduate courses in Graphic Design, with a focus that includes typography, with editorial design, branding, book design, emerging media, motion graphics, type in motion, wayfinding, bilingual type design (analog and digital, 2D, 3D, 4D)

• Supervision of student projects, internships, and research initiatives

• Development of innovative syllabi that integrate history, theory, practice, and new media

• Engage in collaborative relationships across VCUarts Qatar departments and Qatar Foundation partner universities in Education City

• Support collaborative relationships with the VCUarts Department of Graphic Design and the VCU School of the Arts at large

• Active engagement in research, publishing, and collaborative projects

• Participation in departmental and university service and outreach activities

Research and Collaboration:

• Emphasis on fostering interdisciplinary research, industry collaboration, and cultural literacy

• Engagement with a wide range and emerging media, methodologies, and or technologies

• Support student-led projects and industry partnerships

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit application materials via VCU Jobs Website at vcujobs.com.

Only electronic applications will be accepted.

The following documents should be submitted:

• Letter of Interest, which conveys relevant academic and professional experience and describes experiences and/or professional service that inform a collaborative and community-engaged approach to teaching

• Current CV

• List of three current references including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (references will not be contacted prior to applicant’s approval)

• Portfolio of work— a link to appropriate selections of documentation of the applicant's experience in their area(s) of expertise. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples of one's work from a broad cross-section and/or combination of experience from a variety of roles.

• Portfolio of student work-- a link to appropriate selections of documentation of student work. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples from a broad cross-section and/or combination of student work from a variety of settings.

Questions about the application process should be directed to Kristin Brown, HR Administrator, at brownka@vcu.edu, School of the Arts HR.

Review of applications continues until position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due November 30, 2025.

ORP Eligible: Yes

Rank: Open

Tenure: Ineligible

Months: 9 months

Contact Name: VCUarts Human Resources 

Contact email: artshr@vcu.edu