Exhibition Designer- Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
The Exhibition Designer develops and implements the design of travelling arts and humanities exhibitions through collaboration with curators, fabricators, production staff and contractors.
Responsibilities:
- Create spatial assessments, design development and construction documents for exhibitions using visual presentation tools — Including computer-aided design (floor plans and elevations), maquettes, and technical drawings as necessary.
- Incorporate innovative interactive, audio visual, and multimedia techniques to enhance the visitor experience while ensuring relative ease during installation.
- Troubleshoot and adapt plans as needed to serve intended purpose, conform to budget, fabrication restrictions, transportation limitations, and timelines.
- Organize and maintain design files and installation visuals that provide for ongoing reference and ease of access to archived materials; and assist as necessary with the refurbishment of exhibition components including fixtures and furniture, frames, installation graphics, interactives, AV, and other materials requiring special support.
- Assist with the preparation of budgets, work plans, and timelines for exhibition projects and shared departmental projects.
- Keep abreast of new and innovative installation, lighting, display and interpretation technologies in the museum field through workshops, site visits, and professional contacts; and establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and contractors related to exhibition materials and technical information.
Working Conditions:
Work is both sedentary and requires physical activity, including the lifting up to 30 pounds when necessary. Work activity includes walking, moving and driving to various locations, as well as extensive reading, sitting at a desk using a computer, phone and other office equipment. Will occasionally be required to travel to attend conferences or organization events. While a majority of work occurs in relation to long-term plans, the individual will be required to be flexible to changing priorities and additional projects that can require overtime and ability to manage short term deadlines.
Performance Measures:
The following are key items that will be utilized to evaluate performance of the work:
- Adaptability: Adjusts to changing situations, learns new and different tasks, and responds appropriately to suggestions for work improvement.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and concisely as it pertains to the job.
- Creativity: Offers innovative ideas that contribute to meeting assignment objectives and goals.
- Initiative/Problem Solving/Decision Making: Performs with minimal supervision, seeks and assumes greater responsibility, establishes priorities, acts promptly, seeks solutions to resolve unexpected problems that arise, makes practical routine decisions.
- Interpersonal Skills: Maintains harmonious working relationship with supervisors, co-workers and the public.
- Dependability: Consistently meets established deadlines, maintains an acceptable attendance record, works as scheduled, gives appropriate notice for absence.
- Job Knowledge: Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to perform effectively; understands the expectations of the job; keeps professional knowledge up to date.
- Work Habits: Demonstrates commitment, dedication, cooperation and positive behavior; complies with M-AAA polices and rules.
- Work Quality/Productivity: Completes duties as specified in the job description and other special assignments thoroughly and accurately. Performs as efficiently as possible without jeopardizing quality; maintains high level of quality, achieves goals.
Mid-America Arts Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree preferred in design, architecture, museum studies, and/or related fields.
- Knowledge of accepted museum practices for the handling, matting, framing, display, and installation of 2D and 3D works of art, including fragile and heavy objects.
- Knowledge of and proficiency in construction and carpentry, appropriate methods and materials used in the design and fabrication of exhibitions for travel, and pertinent museum visitor ADA (visitor safety, circulation, and environmental) requirements.
- Strong technical skills with proven expertise in graphic design, digital media, 3D design, and familiarity with interactive exhibitions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Design Suite products, and Vectorworks. Familiarity with Dreamweaver and basic HTML skills are beneficial but not required.
- Strong budget and project management skills.
- Solutions oriented, diplomatic problem solver and true team player.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding all sensitive project and organizational info.
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
- Contact Person: Angelette Hart Phone: 816-421-1388 Ext. 216 Email Address: hr@maaa.org Fax: 816-421-3918 Apply URL: http://www.maaa.org
