Contract Museum Exhibit Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Discovery Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we fuel your passion for science and the natural world by delivering awe-inspiring exhibits and educational programs. 
Our immersive experiences captivate, challenge, and empower audiences of all ages, sparking a spirit of discovery and lifelong learning. We hope to forge a future where science catalyzes, creating boundless opportunities, fostering hope, solving complex problems and driving positive change across the globe. 

Summary: 

Discovery Place is seeking an experienced Exhibit Designer to help imagine, create, and refine exhibitions for our family of museums. The Exhibit Designer will collaborate with a cross-functional team to develop exhibit concepts and carry the design vision through project execution and deliverables on schedule. 

As a key member of a highly collaborative exhibits team, you will work closely with subject matter experts, fabricators, and educators to develop immersive experiences that captivate, challenge, and empower visitors of all ages, sparking curiosity and lifelong learning. This role will also contribute to the exciting work of planning and building new museums within the Discovery Place network. The position reports to the Director of Exhibit Development. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the Exhibits team to redevelop existing exhibits and create new exhibits and exhibitions 

• Support and expand temporary exhibitions 

• Use human-centered design in all design decisions to create an inclusive, welcoming learning environment 

• Work with internal resources to create drawing packages, including design detail drawings  

• Explore new technology (digital and analog) to create interactive exhibit experiences 

• Work with the Director of Research and Evaluation to build simple prototypes of exhibit ideas to test with visitors  

• Work with the Exhibits Fabrication team and external vendors to help determine how to build exhibits and refine designs through the process 

• Create basic renderings for proposals, internal communication, fundraising campaigns, and grants 

• Learn from and with our team, our colleagues, and our visitors to craft an exhibit experience that works for our audiences 

• Creating look-and-feel mood boards, compositional mock-ups, and exhibit style guides 

• Responsible for translating project stories and interpretive plans into three-dimensional experiential spaces, from the conceptual stage through final drawings 

• Manage documentation for each unique project 

• Develops assets and documentation to be used for project budget estimating 

• Working closely with Project Mangers to help in the planning, budgeting, and scope delineation for new projects 

Other related duties and responsibilities, as assigned 

• 4+ years of experience in exhibition design, exhibit shop work, product design. 

• Bachelor’s Degree in design, engineering, art, craft/ manufacturing, sculpture, product design, industrial design, museum studies, or a related field 

• The ability to provide a professional portfolio with completed projects 

• Knowledge of exhibition design process from concept to installation 

• Experience managing budgets 

• Knowledge of fabrication techniques is a must 

• Familiarity with digital and traditional fabrication techniques, materials, and adhesives 

• Experience working on creative teams, particularly on collaborative design teams 

• Familiarity with best practices in exhibition design and development for interactive science centers 

• Knowledge of inclusive design best practices – beyond ADA requirements  

• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of Discovery Place Inc. 

• Proficient with modern CAD packages such as AutoCAD, VectorWorks, Fusion 360 or other comparable systems 

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills 

• The employee must be able to remain in a stationary sitting position for up to 8 hours a day with appropriate breaks 

• Manual dexterity: The role requires the frequent use of hands for typing, writing, and handling office equipment 

• Visual acuity: The employee must have the visual ability to perform extensive computer work for long periods, including reading and analyzing data on a computer screen 

• Ability to push/pull carts loaded with materials or exhibition pieces 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Prior work experience in informal learning research or facilitation in an informal setting is a plus 

• Experience collaborating with architects and construction teams, including familiarity with architectural drawings, building codes, and construction documentation to ensure seamless design-to-build transitions 

Working Conditions: We are currently in a hybrid schedule, in the office three days a week – subject to change according to business and position needs. This is not a remote-only position.

Travel: Must have ability to travel to our four local museums regularly, with limited other travel.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None at this time.

Employees of Discovery Place should uphold the mission, vision and values of the organization. We strive to provide exceptional service through four core values: uncommon courtesy, the pursuit of personal excellence, teamwork and inclusion. We value the diversity of opinions and intellectual thought and encourage an environment where employees can share ideas openly.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities of this job. Other duties may be assigned. This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.