Exhibit Designer

At Pacific Science Center, our mission is to ignite curiosity in every child and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. Our colleagues are passionate lifelong learners who live our mission every day. Each of us commits to bring an inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) focus in every aspect of our work. Join our collaborative team and help steward our warm, welcoming, community-learning environment at PacSci.

As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. If you have some of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed and you share PacSci's values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply.

Position Title: ​Exhibit Designer​
Department: ​Exhibits​
Reports to: Senior Manager Exhibit Design & Operations
FLSA Status: ​Salaried Exempt​

Position Summary
The Exhibit Designer (ED) contributes to Pacific Science Center’s (PacSci) mission to spark curiosity and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking by delighting guests with an exceptionally well-designed, highly interactive exhibit floor experience. In a period of renewal after the COVID 19 dormancy, the ED will contribute directly to designing guest experiences across PacSci’s exhibition spaces, with a continued focus on refreshing existing assets while also significantly contributing to the creation of new exhibits.

A visual storyteller for PacSci, this position focuses on the creation and implementation of environments, interactives, and graphics, for our exhibition spaces. In collaboration with the entire Exhibits team, this role is responsible for the realization of exhibit projects from initial concept through fabrication/production and into final installation. Always designing to meet the learning objectives of each exhibit, the ED views each project through multiple lenses, with special attention to the perspectives, stories, and languages of marginalized communities. In addition, the ED is a highly creative visitor experience steward, guided by Universal Design principles, comfortable with ambiguity and experimentation, and driven by an inclusive and collaborative mind-set. This position is part of the Exhibit Design department and reports to the Sr. Manager of Exhibit Design and Operations. This role works closely with both the Exhibit Development and Exhibit Operations teams.

PacSci is committed to strengthening inclusion, diversity, equity, and access both within our workplace and in our community. This role embodies the spirit of curiosity and real-world STEM experiences, supporting and celebrating the role of STEM in the lives of all learners, regardless of background and identity. We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to equity and justice for all. We embrace science as a process of inquiry, discovery, and problem solving that helps us better understand our universe and each other. As part of the Exhibits Team, we strive to create empowering opportunities for all our visitors to explore and learn.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Support PacSci’s Mission and Guiding Principles through the design of interactive and engaging exhibits that inspire curiosity for all visitors.
• Create, communicate, and implement design solutions for exhibition projects through all project phases: concept, schematic, design development, fabrication, and installation.
• Prepare design presentation, documentation and production files as needed for projects; including floor plans, elevations, renderings, shop drawings, as-builts, construction bid packages and final art files.
• Collaborate within cross-department teams, primarily the Exhibit Development and Operations teams, to provide design guidance and coordinate the realization of initial concepts through fabrication and installation phases.
• Assist, when needed, all aspects of design as it relates to PacSci exhibits. This includes environmental signage, graphic design of exhibit interpretation, interactive/interface design, space planning and 3D components.
• Coordinate contractor relationships for assigned projects in support of Sr. Manager of Exhibit Design and Operations, primarily printers and fabricators, to oversee graphics and component production and installation.
• Advocate for accessibility across all projects, ensuring that design decisions are made with inclusion and access in mind.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• Experience with the exhibit development and design process and its key phases including concept, design, design development, construction documentation, fabrication and installation.
• Implementation of an iterative design process—comfort with prototyping design solutions, responding to feedback and collecting data to further design decisions.
• Extensive experience (2 years) in designing 3D environments, display furniture, signage, and/or interactives; including proficiency in Autocad, Sketchup, Rhino and/or similar software.
• Fluent in Adobe software collection (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop) to create interpretive graphics, design documentation, renderings, and/or image assets; experience in creating environmental graphics a plus.
• Knowledge of fabrication methods and materials for 3D and/or signage projects (CNC a plus).
• Desire to enact anti-racist leadership through exhibit design. This includes but isn’t limited to understanding that exhibits can be a visual representation of culture and being strategic about viewing each project through a multicultural, anti-racist lens.
• Knowledge of contemporary and sustainable materials and practices for 2D and 3D design and fabrication.
• Application of Universal Design principles
• Comfort with Microsoft Office suite, and file sharing programs such as SharePoint and OneDrive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organization and attention to detail
• Multitasking and prioritizing with sound judgment, including ability to organize around multiple projects.
• Ability to think spatially and translate ideas into physical experiences.
• Responsiveness, flexibility, innovative, and adaptive to rapid and regular adjustments to demands of tasks at-hand.
• Work collaboratively and effectively within a fast-paced design environment.
• Able to build productive relationships with internal teams, external stakeholders, and departments throughout an organization.
• Effectively manage time, combined with the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously, and apply creative problem solving to tight budgets and operational challenges.
• Give and receive critical feedback.

Qualifications
Required

• 2 years relevant design experience in one of the following fields: exhibition design, industrial design, scenic design, architectural design, environmental design, graphic design or similar.
• Demonstrated experience completing complex design projects on-time, within budget, and with quality levels in excess of expectations.
• Demonstrated understanding of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility principles.

Preferred

• Previous design experience supporting informal learning experiences for museums, zoos, science centers, or similar environments that need to accommodate users of all ages, abilities, and experiences.
• Museum and/or experience with hands-on interactive development.

This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Compensation
Pay is based on several factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience.
Starting Base Salary Range: $68,500.00 per year
In addition to base salary, regular employees working 40 hrs/week can expect the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, basic life insurance, and disability insurance
• 4 weeks of vacation, 12 floating holidays, and sick pay
• 403(b) Retirement Savings
• Commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee PacSci Membership

Pacific Science Center stands with those who are courageously fighting against hate, racism, and injustice. We recognize that not being racist is not sufficient. We must be actively anti-racist, and we commit to doing so. We prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in everything we do. Curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and changes that need to happen.

Pacific Science Center complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at HRDepartment@pacsci.org.