Design Director

Design Director

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree with coursework in design, modern art, and contemporary art, or closely related. M.A. or M.F.A degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years full-time experience with at least five (5) years in a supervisory role
• Experience leading large-scale exhibition design especially in immersive, interactive or multimedia displays
• Experience with art direction, graphic design, and project management in an art context
• Familiarity with safety regulations (OSHA, ADA) and experience in architecture, engineering, or construction a plus
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Technical Proficiency: Adobe Creative Suite, Sketchup, Microsoft Office Suite, knowledge of AutoCad, Cinema 4D, and 3D applications is preferred

Responsibilities

• Encourage an inclusive, rewarding, and inspiring workplace, where innovation, discovery, and constant learning cultivate a deep sense of belonging and shared responsibility.
• Build and foster a culture of safety, inclusivity, and equity.
• Support employee personal and professional growth.
• Lead Design Studio hiring, execute and oversee performance reviews, and regularly update CCEDO on departmental progress.
• Manage, coordinate, and foster effective collaboration within the Design team.
• Work in a healthy and flexible management style that understands and adjusts to staff needs and complex projects that support strategic pursuits and sustainable workloads.
• Facilitate, conduct, and/or participate in creative discussions, cross-departmental design and staff meetings, reviews and project critiques.
• Oversee the evaluation, hiring, and management of outside consultants when necessary, including artists, designers, printers, architects, photographers, and new media technology providers to ensure successful communication flow, budget, timeline controls, contracts and quality of execution.
• Lead and inspire a high-volume creative department to conceptualize and design visitor-centered materials and experiences that support museum initiatives and increase audience engagement through a range of media solutions, including experiential and environmental concepts, print, mobile and online media, digital publications, e-communications, and in-gallery digital resources.
• Manage accessibility and sustainability design initiatives in alignment with museum priorities, ensuring their integration into exhibitions, visitor experience, and institutional branding.
• Provide creative direction for Concept, Schematic, and Construction exhibition design packages that include sketches, illustrations, storyboards, 3D renderings, bid packages, models, mock-ups, colors, finishes, materials and notes, as well as scalable plans, elevations, sections and details.
• Strategize and champion an integrated interdepartmental design process and foster collaboration across Graphic Design, Exhibition Design, and other Divisions to plan long-range initiatives for exhibitions, marketing, education, visitor services, wayfinding, and external communications, ensuring alignment with institutional goals through iterative planning and continuous feedback.
• Oversee the museum’s identity (“brand”) and its application to all facets of the museum experience. Serve as brand steward.
• Work closely with in-house project management team and Design Studio supervisors to develop design objectives, project budgets, and schedules for all design/fabrication/digital requests. Provide departmental budget information to CCEDO.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.A. or M.F.A degree preferred
• Familiarity with safety regulations (OSHA, ADA) and experience in architecture, engineering, or construction a plus
• Knowledge of AutoCad, Cinema 4D, and 3D applications is preferred