Designer in Residence - VCUarts Qatar

Graphic Design at VCUarts Qatar :   We are makers, researchers, collaborators, activists, artists, and strategists who apply our design thinking to not only make things and communicate ideas, but also to make the world a better place. We are a diverse community focused on cultural production, social innovation and the evolution of typographic heritage. We visually communicate the past and present and love to speculate on the future.

Our Alumni are leaders in the local creative economy, working in QM, QF, the Design District, in agencies and studios, in ministries and as academics and freelancers. Many alumni have continued their research and academic journeys attending some of the top graduate programs around the world.

The VCUarts Qatar Graphic Design Designer-in-Residence Program  brings practitioners and / or design academics to work within the Department of Graphic Design as designers-in-residence. This international fellowship aims to bring the best in talent from an international context to benefit our Graphic Design students in VCUarts Qatar.

Designers-in-Residence engage in research and mentor and teach within the program, and — along with the faculty, students and visiting designers — help to create a community of designers engaged in scholarly activity and research.

The 2026-27 Designer in Residence  will ideally be a bilingual or multilingual Typography expert, holding MA or MFA, and possibly PhD, with industry and university teaching experience, robust exhibition and publication portfolio and a familiarity with the MENA region.

The 2026-27 Designer-in-Residence will teach within the Graphic Design Department in the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters and work on Typographic projects that will culminate in an exhibition / publication, ideally for a local / regional and international audience, possibly in collaboration with GDES faculty and involving students.

Other required qualifications / experience : Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism 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.

Compensation and Benefits :

• Nature of appointment : Temporary adjunct appointment without any retirement benefits
• Duration of appointment : August 2026 – May 2027
• Total compensation for the above duration : $40,000 USD (taxable for U.S. citizens)
• Relocation assistance may be available for the selected candidate in accordance with VCUarts Qatar policies.
• The job offer is contingent on successful background checks and immigration clearance formalities for work visa issuance.

Relocation / Appointment Support (if applicable) :

This opportunity is a part-time adjunct faculty position and is not eligible for benefits. However, given the scope of this role and to facilitate an on-site residency in Doha, Qatar, the successful candidate, who will be required to relocate to Qatar for this appointment, may be eligible to receive limited employer-provided support. This could include facilitation of work visa, housing leased by VCUarts Qatar, a leased vehicle, and access to local health coverage (not VCU health coverage) for the individual appointee. Any such support is provided for the appointee only and does not extend to dependents. Eligibility and specific provisions will be confirmed at the time of offer and are subject to VCUarts Qatar policies and the terms of the appointment.

Application Instructions :

Applicants should submit the following materials via our online portal.