Exhibit Designer
: Job Details :

The Strong develops and offers exhibitions and other mission-driven experiences and services that engage, entertain, and enlighten through the exploration and interpretation of play. The museum's exhibitions provide a unique blend of artifacts and interactivity. The exhibit designer is responsible for conceptual and schematic design, concept rendering, prototyping, design development, and installation. This position promotes attractive, innovative, functional, and inclusive displays which further the museum's mission and strategic goals. This position requires a strong visual communicator who can think and design creatively, spatially, and experientially to determine the most effective methods of visitor engagement, accuracy in message portrayal, and functionality regarding staff and guest needs. The exhibit designer is required to expend such personal efforts as may be needed to keep up with advances in subject matter information related to this position. The employee must learn the constraints, with particular consideration of the budget, within which this job must be performed and work within those parameters. All museum staff are expected to cooperate with one another in furthering the museum's general objectives and in completing museum projects. Similarly, all staff consistently maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, act with integrity and in accordance with the highest ethical standards and demonstrate a loyalty to the museum in all public contacts. Guests and colleagues deserve our best efforts every day. Essential Duties: The specifications described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop a practical and intuitive understanding of The Strong's design style with the goal of ensuring that all visible new additions to the institution, whether on- or off-site, uphold and strengthen a tasteful and functional interpretation of design standards.

• Participate in meetings with the AVP for Exhibits to define project context, scope, budget, and strategy.
• Work within an interdisciplinary team environment to develop comprehensive designs including exhibition development, graphic design, interactive design, casework and artifact displays, and unique environmental opportunities for impactful guest engagement.
• Assist Institutional Advancement Team with the cultivation of donors through exhibit concept renderings, 3D modeling, virtual model flythroughs, donor recognition graphics, and various other presentation media methods.
• Consult the conservation team to determine how to handle an exhibit's environmental aspects, such as lighting, temperature, and humidity, so that objects will be protected, and exhibits will be enhanced.
• Encourage exploration of ideas and collaborate in creative brainstorming in the research and development phases. Maintain openness to rapid iteration and short-term problem solving as well as long-term vision development.
• Conduct research to inform design work and interpret the vision and objectives for an exhibit.
• Use up-to-date methods and standards to design exhibit layouts and features that are experiential, engaging, and accessible to diverse audiences.
• Suggest methods, materials, and techniques for exhibit fabrication and presentation of artifacts.
• Create and communicate original conceptual design ideas for temporary and permanent exhibit using descriptions, models, drawings, computer renderings, and other media. Be comfortable and confident working in 2D and 3D design environments.
• Develop concepts into 3D exhibit experiences. After receiving feedback, develop final designs with dimensions and notes to build by, including floor plan, lighting, design detail, section drawings, color schemes, and labels/graphics package. Ensure that final designs bring the team's vision to life.

• Contribute to prototyping efforts for exhibit concepts to determine functionality and feasibility.
• Evaluate components and rework or alter models or parts as required to ensure they meet exhibit and safety standards. Apply creative problem solving to unique exhibit interactive and multimedia projects.

• Work with exhibit fabricators, graphic designers, technology specialists, and other internal or external vendors to execute production from conceptual stages through to construction documentation, installation, and beyond.
• Develop and maintain appropriate documentation of exhibit design information, including concepts, specifications, final drawings, and graphics for team project files.

• Ensure efficient coordination, timely completion, and high quality of assigned projects.

• Write purchase requisitions for materials, as needed.
• Maintain positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, guests, contractors, and vendors. Follow up with individuals as appropriate.

• Look for opportunities to continually improve exhibits-related processes.

• Maintain technical knowledge and remain current on industry best practices.

• Complete all tasks with strict adherence to all internal and OSHA safety guidelines, policies, and procedures including lock out tag out, use of personal protective equipment, and maintaining an orderly and clean work area. Comply with all federal, state and local laws.

• Work with team members to clean exhibitions, as directed.
• Participate in the development and achievement of annual exhibits and museum-wide goals and objectives.
• Attend routine safety training to remain up-to-date on conditions and requirements of the job.
• Attend exhibits team and general staff meetings, and others, as needed.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assist with fabrication, installation, and other projects, as needed.
• Participate on museum committees, project teams, and process teams as assigned.

Core Values: These are embedded in all roles within the museum. Employees must have the ability to demonstrate, understand, and apply our workplace values.

• Respect: We treat guests and each other with fairness and respect. We celebrate differences as well as similarities. Our behavior is marked by courtesy, patience, compassion, and tolerance. We serve with honesty and integrity, and we expect trust and loyalty in return.
• Focus: We share a special sense of purpose based on the museum's mission. We take pride in our dedication to common goals and commit all our talents and efforts to achieving them.
• Excellence: We strive constantly for excellence and seek continual improvement in all that we do. Each of us takes responsibility for achieving outstanding quality and, in return, our accomplishments are recognized and rewarded.
• Community: We foster community within and outside the museum through an atmosphere of collaboration, cooperation, and collegiality. Teamwork and flexibility lead to esprit de corps and effective public service.
• Fun: We are friendly, enthusiastic, inquisitive, and creative. We strive to ensure that the museum is always welcoming, fresh, vibrant, and filled with engaging imagination and fun.
• Diversity: The Strong is inclusive. It embraces and honors cultural diversity while highlighting common experiences. It engages people of many backgrounds and interests. The museum commits to making its facility, exhibits, and programs accessible to guests of all abilities, ages, classes, ethnicities, gender identities, national origins, races, religions, sexes, and sexual orientation.

Work Environment: Work is performed indoors with moderate noise. The noise level may be more significant when operating various equipment and machinery. While operating machinery, the employee may be exposed to various particulates, fumes, and gases. This position may require occasional evening and weekend work as job duties demand. Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job: This position regularly requires full range of mobility in upper and lower body; the ability to reach overhead; the ability to work in various positions, including stooping, standing, walking, bending over, sitting, kneeling, and squatting for extended periods of time; the use or operation of objects, tools or controls; the ability to climb ladders and three flights of stairs; and the ability to talk, hear, and smell. This position frequently requires the ability to lift, pull, push, and carry weight up to 50 pounds to complete assigned job tasks. Specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus are important for this role. Members of the exhibits team may be required to operate a motor vehicle, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, spray painting equipment, pallet jacks, woodworking and metalworking machinery. Appropriate safety gear must be worn when operating equipment and machinery. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: The candidate may have any combination of education and experience but should possess the required skills and knowledge for successful performance. Our general minimum requirements are:

• Bachelor's degree in architectural interior design, industrial design, visual art, or related field.
• 5+ years of related work experience in creative or exhibit design, preferably in a museum.

• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary professional team, including high-level team leaders.

• Adaptable: Capacity to change. Anticipates and responds to changes in a professional and courteous manner.
• Analytical: Ability to inspect equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. Ability to analyze needs and exhibit requirements to create a design.
• Conscientious: Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion and be deliberate, flexible, and dynamic in practice.
• Creativity: Skilled in developing, designing, or creating new, innovative prototypes, ideas, or processes for exhibition development and fabrication. Ability to come up with several ideas about a topic. Must be able to take criticism well.
• Design: Knowledge of design and layout concepts, tools, and principles involved in 3D exhibit development and production. Skilled in providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to others about how parts or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Outcome-Oriented: Mustpossess a strong outcome-oriented work ethic and knowledge of principles and processes for customer needs assessments and meeting quality standards for services.

• Presentation: Ability to communicate creative concepts to stakeholders and leadership in an eloquent and professional manner, clearly and effectively articulating creative rationale.
• Production and Fabrication: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective fabrication and installation of exhibit components and fixtures.

• Process Improvement: Must pursue and implement more efficient processes to optimize results, as well as demonstrate resourcefulness and commitment to continual quality improvement.
• Safety: Ability to prioritize safety in the workplace and implement and follow all necessary safety procedures related to the position. Knowledge of occupational hazards, safety precautions, and OSHA guidelines.
• Visualization: Ability to imagine how something will look after it is repaired, rearranged, or moved around a space.
• Collaboration: We work in a team-oriented environment, so it is vital that our employees maintain effective interpersonal relationships. Team members must be good at active listening, conflict management, cooperation, facilitation, negotiation, and be open to feedback.
• Communication: Our employees should always communicate and act in a respectful manner when working with others, including those from outside the museum. The ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure is vital for this position. This job requires the ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form using the English language.
• Guest Service: All museum employees provide extraordinary service to our guests. People are filled with anticipation when they visit. When they leave, they feel enriched, are glad they came, and look forward to returning. The exhibits team's work should contribute to these sentiments every day.
• Problem-Solving: Things don't always go as planned.This job requires the ability to understand and follow instructions while recognizing, analyzing, and solving a variety of problems. The exhibit designer should exercise sound judgment to make minor decisions in the absence of their supervisor.
• Project Management: The ability to work well under pressure and handle several projects at once in order to meet the varying needs of the museum is fundamental to this role. The employee must be self-motivated, well-organized, and flexible. A strong ability to multi-task and work with competing deadlines and varying priorities without compromising attention to detail or quality of work is essential.
• Computer Proficiency: This position requires work on a computer and with related equipment. A high degree of comfort and proficiency with computer technology and software is important. Must have robust sketch abilities and high-proficiency with spreadsheets, computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software, desktop publishing software, development environment software, document management software, and graphics and photo imaging software.

Pre-Employment Requirements: Must consent to and pass a drug screen, hearing test, and criminal background check as conditions of employment. The employee will be required to complete an annual hearing test. Disclaimer: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Within reason, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Employees are expected to accept reasonable assignments whether they are specifically included in this position description. Equal Opportunity Statement: The Strong is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of The Strong to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to gender, sexual preference, age, race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or marital status. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including but not limited to: recruitment, selection, advancement, compensation, benefits, layoff, recall, transfer, and termination.