Contribute to the core work of the Exhibits team.

• Work with the entire Exhibits team to redevelop existing exhibits and create new exhibits that help the institution achieve its mission: to nurture generations of passionate learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens through an approach we call Design Make Play.

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

• Create visualizations of exhibit ideas by sketching, and by modeling in 3D with cardboard and in CAD.

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

• Work with the Pilot Tester to build pilots and prototypes of exhibit ideas to test with visitors.

• Work with the Exhibits Shop to help determine how to build exhibits.

Collaborate with other NYSCI departments to ensure the quality and feasibility of NYSCI exhibits.

• Work with cross-departmental teams to design exhibits that work for all stakeholders in the museum. (Visitor Services, Marketing + Comms, Research, Scientists, Maintenance, Education, Custodial, etc) as well as for our audiences.

• Work with visitors, community members, experts, advisors and Explainers (floor staff) to co-create exhibit experiences

• Work with the Exhibit Prototyper and the R&D Department to test and iterate exhibit ideas and learn from and with visitors.

• Work with Marketing and Visitor Services to help craft exhibitions that will drive visitorship and support revenue generation along with meeting our mission.

• Help to make the process of creating exhibits accessible to the rest of the museum by using transparent processes and building productive cross-departmental collaborations.

Concept and Schematic Phases

• Sketch exhibit ideas.

• Collaboratively generate Exhibit ideas.

• Build cardboard pilot tests and other representations of ideas to test ideas without audiences.

• Help our co-creation partners learn about sharing ideas in a collaborative design process.

Design Development and Construction Documentation Phases

• Work with team to refine exhibit elements

• Create CAD Drawings of exhibit elements

• Create basic renderings of over-all exhibitions for proposals and grants.

• Work with Exhibit Prototyper and Exhibits Shop to develop and test prototype exhibits with audiences.

• Help our co-creation partners learn about steps and skills involved in the exhibit design process.

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

• Work with the rest of Exhibits team to make the designs buildable within our means (value engineering, working with Exhibit Shop to refine processes and materials.)

Fabrication Phase

• Work with Exhibits Shop or external fabricators to answer fabrication questions and refine designs through process.  

• Other related duties, and responsibilities, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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; and or its work experience equivalent

• Experience working directly with museum visitors.

• Knowledge of fabrication techniques (wood, metal, some electronics) is a must, experience with fabrication.

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

• Knowledge and experience working on creative teams particularly on collaborative design teams.

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