Description

Exhibit Design Lead

Looking for a job that’s “out of this world?” One where you can “reach for the stars?” Or where you can make endless space puns without ridicule?

Do you feel like you ask too many questions? Are you always the person who says “well, what if we did it this way instead?” Do you want to dream up new ways to use materials? Do you find yourself analyzing the design of every store and coffee shop you enter? This might be the place for you!

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Visitor Experience Design Lead to join a dynamic team on Chicago’s Museum Campus.

The Position

This position will be responsible for translating the compelling story of astronomy and science into dynamic spaces and experiences that allow visitors to join us in the exploration of space. Accomplishing this will include:

  • Visualizing all new exhibit and experience ideas, from the simple to the outlandish.
  • Working with exhibit and experience teams to use strong design to tell a story, help our visitors, and create an emotional connection to the content.
  • Work with other departments, such as operations, cafe, retail, events, and visitor services, to bring functional and evocative design to all areas of the building, not just exhibits
  • Cheerfully offer suggestions on seating, paint colors, surfaces, typeface, and more for all aspects of the visitor experience.
  • Keeping up to date on best practices and upcoming trends for public engagement and communicating those ideas to colleagues.
  • Documenting the exhibit development and design process in a visual way to share with stakeholders.
  • Lead diverse project teams that combine internal and external partners.
  • Lead a small but mighty design team who oversee video and graphic needs for visitor experience. Work within a strong established brand, but find areas to push us into the future.
  • Be an advocate for the Adler visitor in all programs, exhibits, service and content.
  • Performing other duties as appropriate.

The Team

 

We believe that the best experiences are visitor focused, authentic, active and inspiring. We are science geeks, museum nerds, storytellers, educators, party planners, and people who just want our guests to have a great time while experiencing the wonder of the universe. We create exhibits, programs, planetarium shows, live theater pieces, lectures, events and more to show our nearly 500,000 annual visitors that science is fun, active and happening all around us, all the time. We aren’t afraid of a challenge and we know that challenging each other gives us a better project.

Requirements

The Person

As a kid you redecorated your room (and every other room) a thousand times. You built furniture for your action figures and dolls. Today your design dreams are on a larger scale. You love how great design tells a story. You love seeing your ideas and the ideas of others come to life.

You’re constantly monitoring trends in all industries. You know the value of a good thrift store hack, as well as the joy of fine Italian craftsmanship. You believe deeply that form follows function. But you also know that good design can set the stage for a great experience.

You’re flexible and creative. You aren’t afraid to get feedback and know that critiques only lead to a better product. You seek inspiration in museums, yes, but also in retail, concerts, cruise ships and hospitals. You see inspiration in the natural world and in the industrial. You’ve got at least three notebooks filled with ideas. Or maybe a hundred Pinterest boards. Your response to a challenge is “bring it on.” You want to test your ideas with real people. You like to play, and know that interactivity isn’t just for kids.

You’re a strong leader, you listen to others’ ideas and share your own. You know that great exhibits come from collaboration and you value communication and inclusion of multiple people at multiple levels to make projects successful.

Other things we’re looking for:

  • Bachelors degree in design – industrial, interior, theater, graphic…you name it. It’s what you did after the degree that matters.
  • 5+ years experience turning designs into reality in a visitor centered industry like a museum, theme park or event venue.
  • Experience creating exhibits of all sizes from conception to implementation.
  • Ability to hand sketch. Not looking for an illustrator per se, but conceptual drawings are a must, and the faster we can get pen to paper the better.
  • Ability to work on multiple, fast paced projects simultaneously
  • You’re happy with a job that sometimes extends beyond the 9-5, but rarely feels like work.

Interested in joining us? For more information and to apply, visit our website:

http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/jobs

Job Information
  • Chicago, Illinois, 60605, United States
  • 25726027
  • November 12, 2015
  • Exhibit Design Lead
  • Adler Planetarium
  • Exhibitions
  • No
  • Full-Time
  • Indefinite
  • BA/BS/Undergraduate
  • 5-7 Years
  • 0-10%