Experience Designer- Occasional

Science Museum of Minnesota; Minnesota; On-site; USD 43,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Science Museum of Minnesota is seeking an Experience Designer to lead across exhibit and digital experiences, shaping 3D environments, graphics, and UX/UI. You will collaborate with project teams, manage budgets and timelines, and present concepts to external clients while mentoring junior staff.

The role is an occasional position with variable hours, typically 15–30 hours weekly, and requires strong collaboration with internal design staff and external partners to deliver engaging, accessible

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in Exhibit Design or similar design field (theater, interior, architecture, industrial, graphic, digital media)
• Demonstrated proficiency in multiple design areas (2D, 3D, UX/UI)
• Experience leading meetings with internal and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Lead designer for exhibit and experience projects, setting design direction
• Coordinate with project leaders to manage budgets, timelines and staffing
• Create presentation materials and present concepts to clients
• Mentor junior staff and interns
• Collaborate with vendors, agencies and production teams to realize designs

Skills

3D environmental design

2D graphic design

UX/UI design

Illustration

Videography

Tools

Jira

Google Workspace

Job description

Science Museum of Minnesota | SMM
120 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102, USA

Description

Experience Designers create exemplary museum experiences and actively collaborate with project teams, managers, external project partners, and advisors in this work. Experience Designer is an important role on the Design and Development team, responsible for establishing the overall look and feel of a variety of projects (exhibit or online, internal and external) and works with other designers and museum staff to bring that vision to life. The Experience Designer participates in the creation of design team and project budgets, staffing assignments, and may serve as a primary client facing employee. This position is classified as occasional and is not guaranteed a minimum or set schedule.

The Science Museum of Minnesota is seeking a qualified Experience Designer to join our Exhibits team as an occasional employee. "Occasional" in this context means working variable hours based on current project workloads, typically between 15-30 hours weekly, with the possibility of more or fewer hours in any given pay period. This person will typically be assigned to one or more projects, but since our project workload changes throughout the year, there is a chance that gaps in work may occur. This occasional Experience Designer role offers an opportunity to be an official member of SMM's Experience Design team while maintaining the ability to decline hours based on your own schedule or external commitments.

Job Duties and Responsibilites:

• Experience with and demonstrated ability to independently employ and flex amongst/between multiple design disciplines, which should include several of the following, or more:
  • 3D environmental design: creation of 3D digital models, elevations, isometric projections, sketches of design concepts. Solid knowledge of 3D software required (SketchUp, Vectorworks, AutoCAD, Revit, etc)
  • 2D graphic design: Create both large and small format graphic layouts for exhibit and marketing projects utilizing industry standard software (Adobe Creative Suite).
  • UX/UI design: Create wireframes of digital media experiences (exhibit and online), work closely with software engineers on implementation, prototype as necessary to optimize visitor experience.
  • Illustration (hand and/or digital): Includes, but not limited to: Instructional illustrations of interactive experiences, overview of exhibit experiences, original artwork, marketing collateral.
  • Videography: Film and edit various video projects for exhibit and online experiences. Publish those projects on various equipment and platforms.
• Serve as lead designer for exhibit and experience projects, establishing overall design direction including 3D, graphic, lighting, and overall look and feel for those projects.
• In coordination with Project Leaders, organize and lead project team meetings both with internal teams and external clients. In the absence of a Project Leader, serve as the primary point of contact with external clients related to active project work.
• In collaboration with Project Leaders and Museum Experience Directors, develop design team and project budgets relating to design tasks, establishing timelines and staffing assignments to achieve exemplary work while remaining within budget. Monitor ongoing project budgets and advise on necessary adjustments to remain within budget.
• Produce presentation materials (digital and hand renderings) representing design concepts, and formally present them to external clients. Lead conversations with project stakeholders, soliciting feedback and ideas, and implement necessary design changes to meet project goals.
• Foster and maintain positive professional relationships with external clients, providing exemplary customer service and attention to detail to bring client’s projects from concept phase through finished product.
• As available, assign work tasks to and mentor junior staff and interns with a focus on the SMM process and design philosophy. Coordinate these efforts with Experience Development team, and Museum Experience Department leaders to foster staff growth.
• Collaborate with the design and development team, and exhibit production staff to ensure that prototype and finished designs are being rendered to specifications and meet overall project goals.
• Lead visitor testing and demonstrations of exhibit prototypes on SMM’s museum floor to ensure exhibits are safe, engaging, and provide intended learning outcomes. Recruit SMM visitors to participate in prototype testing. Offer ideas for improvements and modifications to meet these needs while remaining within project goals.
• Collaborate and lead discussions with outside creative agencies, vendors, and contractors as needed for exhibit or marketing related products and projects.
• Manage digital assets across multiple projects using file structures, version control systems, databases, and cloud based storage systems. Knowledge of Google Workspace and other Project Management tools (Jira) required.
• Understand and advocate for universal accessibility in the design of experiences.
• Confer with conservators and project teams 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. Advise other team members as needed.
• Adapt and apply new techniques and trends to create innovative exhibit experiences. Seek out new and emerging techniques to help assess the viability of their use in exhibit experiences.
• Hold and promote the value that the visitor is the ultimate client for the work of project teams.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Experience Required:

• 3-5 years experience in Exhibit Design or similar design field (theater, interior, architecture, industrial, graphic, digital media)
• Demonstrated technical proficiency in multiple (but not necessarily all) areas of design:
• 2D design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate)
• UX/UI design software (Figma, Sketch, or similar)
• Knowledge of building lighting systems
• Video Editing software: Adobe Premier or similar
• 3-5 years experience leading meetings and conversations with internal and external stakeholders, with an ability to build and foster positive working relationships.
• 3-5 years 3D environmental design: creation of 3D digital models, elevations, isometric projections, sketches of design concepts. Solid knowledge of 3D software required (SketchUp, Vectorworks, AutoCAD, Revit, etc)
• Demonstrated Illustration skills (hand and/or digital): Includes, but not limited to: Instructional illustrations of interactive experiences, overview of exhibit experiences, original artwork, marketing collateral.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as Lead Designer for internal and external projects.
• Demonstrable knowledge of industry standard technologies and techniques.
• Curiosity towards the scientific endeavor desired.

The starting hourly range for this role is $31.26 - $35.96

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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