The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, game design, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We are a diverse community of professionals, with great appreciation for creativity and responsibility. We produce world-class research and educate front-line professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields. Our campus in Espoo, in the greater Helsinki area of Finland, makes working together among and across disciplines easier than ever before. We are tackling societal grand challenges head-on and striving towards a sustainable, just society and environment.
The Department of Art and Media at Aalto University is seeking a university teacher in Visual communication design. The position will start on August 1, 2026, or as agreed. The position is permanent and is placed on the first level of the Aalto University lecturer career system.
We are looking for an early-career practitioner in image-led areas of communication design with potential to grow in the field of practice-led higher arts education and design academia. You will be appointed on the lecturer career track with the expectation to pursue pedagogical studies within Aalto University within 2–4 years. This position requires fluent Finnish and English skills.
Your role
As University Teacher, you will have an important role in the Visual Communication Design (VCD) majors of the BA and MA programmes in Art and Media. You will work as part of the VCD teaching team. Your main role is in planning and teaching courses and supervising theses on BA and MA levels. Your tasks might also include those in academic supervision, curriculum development, and student admissions activities. Administrative tasks are part of the job. You may also take part in teaching of the joint programmes of Art and Media and/or other departments at Aalto ARTS.
As part of our faculty you will also have the opportunity to dedicate some working hours for maintaining your own creative practice, research, and/or developing yourself professionally in the academic environment.
Co-teaching and co-learning are important aspects of the department of Art and Media and the VCD major. You thrive from working collaboratively with other teachers in planning and delivering courses and projects. You have an interest in engaging with contemporary teaching and learning methods and environments, for which Aalto University provides ample resources.
Your experience
Education
You hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field of education.
Professional knowledge
We are looking for an ambitious profile with potential for growth. You are an early-career practitioner with strong work in visual communication, particularly in the area of image-making and visual storytelling using contemporary modes of expression. You follow developments in the field and are motivated to make a difference within them.
We expect your portfolio to show expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Illustration
Visual storytelling
Comics
Image-based art direction
As university teacher, thesis supervision will be a significant part of your work. We therefore appreciate evidence of research interest – for example, in applying theory, conceptual frameworks, and/or critical discourse to your practice. We consider evidence of one or more of the following approaches as merits:
Questions of authorship and agency in image-making
Non-linear approaches to storytelling
Communicating diversity and complexity
Critical and/or speculative lenses
Teaching
Previous experience in teaching at university level is considered a merit, but not strictly necessary. We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate significant potential for a career in education driven by research-oriented creative practice.
We assess potential holistically. We consider your notions on teaching and learning, your ability to contextualize your own artistic practice and reflect on its relationship to teaching, as well as your readiness for supervising and providing considered feedback. We also value a willingness to grow as a teacher and to engage as part of the university community.
In case of limited teaching experience, your teaching portfolio can demonstrate and reflect on your potential. You can show evidence of your experience on one or more of the following:
Facilitation of workshops or other events
Participating in or leading communities
Independent research projects within your practice
Writing, editing and/or publishing within art/design
Thesis advising or other supervision work
Experience of collaborative projects (planning and implementation)
Other evidence aligning with the above
Language skills
You have good oral and written communication skills for teaching and supervising students in Finnish and in English. The language of instruction is Finnish for the bachelor's major and English for the master's major in Visual Communication Design. In many contexts, the working language at Aalto University is English.
We offer
The salary is determined based on experience and qualifications according to the salary system of Aalto University. The position is located in Otaniemi. Aalto University provides its employees with health care benefits, an inspiring working environment, and versatile staff training.
Interested?
If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruitment system on Thursday 12 February, 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish time UTC +2) at the latest. To apply, please share the following application materials with us in English, as named separate pdf files:
1. CV
a recommended template is available on the page of The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity TENK, applied to your own merits.
2. Teaching portfolio
compiled according to the instructions by Aalto University (please follow the instructed length and structure.)
3. A motivation letter (max 2 pages) describing:
your current practice;
your insight on contemporary developments in the field of visual communication design, particularly image-based thinking and practices;
how you would pursue these interests and insights through teaching. (max. 2 pages).
4. Art/design portfolio (max 16 pages)
a pdf presenting max. five of your most relevant projects for this position
If the file size exceeds 5MB, please provide a link.
If you are already an Aalto employee or visitor, please apply directly through your Workday profile (Workday > Career > Find jobs). Please see how to apply as an internal applicant here.
The top applicants will be invited to visit the Aalto University campus for an interview and to give a teaching demonstration during spring 2026.
For more information on the content of the position, please contact Professor Arja Karhumaa: arja.karhumaa(at)aalto.fi
In questions related to the recruitment process and system, please contact HR Specialist Satu Pöyhönen satu.poyhonen(at)aalto.fi
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