Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts · 1 day ago
Senior Exhibition Designer
Little Rock, AR
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expThe Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the largest cultural institution in the state, dedicated to inspiring and building community through the visual and performing arts. They are seeking a Senior Exhibition Designer who will lead the design vision for exhibitions, collaborating closely with curators and other staff to create innovative and immersive experiences that align with the museum's commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.
ArtNon ProfitPerforming Arts
Responsibilities
Lead the design vision for major temporary exhibitions, permanent collection rotations, and site-specific installations, closely collaborating with the curatorial department to ensure that each exhibition experience is intuitive, holistic, emotionally impactful, and represents curatorial intent
Translate curatorial narratives into immersive spatial experiences by integrating architecture, lighting, media, materials, and visitor flow to create engaging environments
Collaborate with curators and registrars to develop design solutions that meet the highest standards of collection care, object safety, and conservation protocols, ensuring the integrity of the artworks throughout the exhibition process
Work in partnership with curatorial, marketing, and community engagement departments to align design with both internal strategies and public-facing objectives, ensuring exhibitions resonate with diverse audiences
Coordinate the final editorial proofing process for exhibition text panels and labels, ensuring that all content is grammatically correct, factually accurate, and appropriately formatted before being sent to print
Create detailed digital renderings, 3D visualizations, and schematic plans of each display, including artwork and fabrications, using industry-standard software and emerging technologies, presenting these to curators and the executive director to guide decision-making
Working directly with contractors, vendors, and the collections team, place and track orders for design elements and restocking supplies, including processing invoices and tracking expenses
Coordinate with vendors to schedule, fabricate, deliver, and install design and display elements, including text panels and large vinyl graphics
Research prices and quality of products, materials, and vendors, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards
Mentor and lead junior designer, fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and collaboration to maintain a high standard of design
Advocate for inclusive, sustainable, and accessible design solutions, ensuring that all aspects of exhibition development embrace universal design principles and reflect the museum’s commitment to social responsibility
Stay informed on trends in exhibition design, immersive media, and visitor experience, bringing fresh, boundary-pushing ideas that align with AMFA’s innovative vision
Ensure accessibility and safety in design by working with the collections department to guarantee that objects are presented in a way that is both secure and accessible to all visitors, including those with ADA limitations
Manage production deadlines and budgets, working closely with the Director of Collections and Exhibitions to ensure smooth execution from concept to installation
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Exhibition Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Art, Art History, or a related discipline
Minimum 7 years of professional experience in exhibition design, preferably within an art museum or cultural institution
Proven ability to lead large-scale projects from concept through completion, balancing visionary design with logistical rigor. Must have a design portfolio, demonstrating creative range and skills
Mastery of digital design tools: strong proficiency in CAD/Vectorworks/AutoCAD, 3D modelling and rendering software (Rhino, SketchUp, 3ds Max or equivalent), Adobe Creative Suite, and ability to produce photorealistic visualizations
Deep understanding of museum-display standards, art handling, conservation considerations, fabrication, lighting design, and visitor circulation
Exceptional communication and presentation skills: ability to articulate design vision to curators, arts handlers, and external contractors
Strong organizational and time management skills for meeting tight deadlines and managing competing priorities
Demonstrated experience leading interdisciplinary teams and collaborating across departments (e.g., collections, curatorial, marketing, education, development), including openness to feedback, to achieve a good design solution
Have basic familiarity with a collection management system, such as TMS Collections or similar
Attention to detail to ensure accuracy and consistency across design and production
Regular use of visual acuity to review written materials and view computer monitors
Regularly sit at desk for prolonged periods of time, up to 5 five hours at a time
Must be able to view full spectrum of color, with or without corrective lenses
Occasionally required to lift 50 lbs
Company
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts offers array of visual, performing arts and educational experiences.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$0.7MKey Investors
Windgate FoundationArvest Bank GroupBank of America
2024-08-12Grant· $0.45M
2022-12-28Grant
2022-11-11Grant· $0.25M
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