Exhibit Designer

Paycom; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Missouri Historical Society is seeking an Exhibit Designer to design and co-lead exhibitions, from concept through fabrication, across multiple galleries. You will create sketches, 3D concepts, and documents to communicate design intent and collaborate with historians, curators, and external vendors.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Exhibition Design (Master’s preferred) and 3+ years of experience, with strong Vectorworks and Adobe CC skills on a Mac.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Exhibition Design or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in exhibition design.
• Experience with Vectorworks and Adobe CC.
• Ability to prepare sketches, drawings, and models for planning and fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Design and co-lead exhibition projects as part of a team.
• Prepare design documents, bid materials, and contracts.
• Coordinate with collections staff, fabricators, and vendors.
• Lead or co-lead project teams and manage multiple stakeholders.

Skills

Exhibit design

Project management

Collaboration

Accessibility design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Exhibition Design or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Vectorworks

Adobe Creative Cloud

Microsoft Office

Job description

One of the largest, oldest, and most-visited historical societies in the country, the Missouri Historical Society is in the midst of a transformative decade. We believe public history has the power to build stronger communities, and world-class exhibits are essential parts of that work. The Missouri Historical Society operates three locations: the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and the Library and Research Center. In the years ahead, we will expand our efforts to share more history with more people than we ever have before. Those efforts include a new 12,000 square foot St. Louis history gallery set to open in 2028 and a dynamic schedule of temporary exhibits across multiple galleries at the Missouri History Museum and Soldiers Memorial.A creative and accessible visitor experience is central to the mission of MHS, and the Exhibit Designer plays a key role in this mission. The Exhibit Designer will design and co-lead projects as part of a team responsible for all phases associated with the design and development of exhibitions. The Designer is responsible for creating engaging experiences for all visitors by sharing stories told through artifacts, graphics, interactives, and media. The designer is expected to be skilled in all areas of exhibit design including the development of sketches, 3D models, and documentation drawings to communicate and execute all phases of design. The Exhibits Designer is expected to closely collaborate with all members of the Exhibitions Department, as well as public historians, curators, collections team members, and all other MHS staff as necessary.Duties/Responsibilities:Perform all design related tasks including design research, conceptualization, rendering, drafting and construction specificationsCreate all project design documents, bid materials, and contractsEnsure quality of design that engages diverse audiences and ensures a fresh, unique approach by taking advantage of participatory and interactive interpretive strategies as well as new technologies as appropriateCo-lead exhibit teams alongside project content leadEnsure the integration of design with all project goals including interpretation and education, conservation, accessibility, and sustainabilityWork with collections staff to determine display requirements for artifactsWork with fabricators, preparators, and mount makers to determine methods for building and installing exhibitsPerform all project management duties associated with assigned projects as necessary, including:Develop and manage project budgetDevelop and manage project calendarCoordinate project-related small and large team meetingsCoordinate project file sharing and communication with internal and external collaboratorsContract and manage the work of graphic design, fabrication, construction, and other contractors associated with exhibitsHelp to lead the installation of exhibits alongside preparator team leadershipLead the design of banner exhibits and small-scale offsite exhibits with MHS community partnersSupport ongoing artifact rotations in permanent galleries across MHM and Soldiers Memorial through exhibit design and coordination with collections team members, content leads, and contract graphic designersSupport the overall work of the Exhibits Department by participating in project and process reviews to advance institutional methods and proceduresAll other duties as assignedEducation and Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Exhibition Design, Interior Design, Architecture, or an experience design-related field, Master’s degree preferredThree or more years of experience in exhibition design, preferably in a history museum settingMust be able to prepare sketches, drawings, specifications, and models for planning purposes, fabrication, and presentations in VectorworksExperience project managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, preferably museum exhibitionsSkills and Experience:Experience in creating accessible, thought-provoking, and engaging history exhibitions for visitors of all ages and interestsExperience working in Vectorworks, Adobe Creative Cloud (CC), and Microsoft Office, particularly on a Mac systemAbility to prepare sketches, drawings, specifications, and models for planning purposes, fabrication, and presentations through VectorworksKnowledge of and experience with exhibition graphic design, fabrication, construction, and all other steps related to exhibition productionFamiliarity with best practices for display of artifacts of historical significance including conservation requirements, lighting, mount-making, security, etc.Experience and interest in advancing accessibility of exhibit designs and knowledge of accessibility best practices in exhibitionsExperience and interest in advancing sustainability of exhibit designsExperience project managing complex exhibition projects with multiple stakeholders, leading or co-leading project teams, and communicating project needs and deliverables with other museum departmentsExperience developing and managing exhibition budgets and project calendarsExperience identifying and building relationships with local exhibit vendors, as well as drafting, executing, and managing RFPs and contracts with vendorsExcellent organizational, administrative, communication and leadership skillsExcellent time management skills and an ability to juggle many simultaneous tasks across multiple projects in different phasesAbility to adapt or learn new skills through creative problem solving to accomplish complex projectsDisclaimerThis job description is designed to provide a general overview of the requirements of the job and does not entail a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that will be required. The Missouri Historical Society reserves the right to add to, remove or modify this job description at any time. This includes the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities as needed. The Missouri Historical Society also reserves the right to release or delete this position at any time.