Exhibition Designer

The Harvard Art Museums

Ever since their founding, the Harvard Art Museums—the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum and Arthur M. Sackler Museum—have been dedicated to advancing and supporting learning at Harvard University, in the local community, and around the world. Displayed in galleries that mix not only media but schools of art, the collections at Harvard are celebrated and interrogated within a larger story of artistic expression and historical and contemporary issues. The diverse collection is among the largest in the United States. Through research, teaching, professional training, and public education, the museums strive to advance the understanding and appreciation of art.

Summary:

The Exhibition Designer produces unique concepts and plans for gallery installations. Under the supervision of the Assistant Director for Exhibition and their focus on design and installation, this position upholds the museum’s standards for display and aesthetics, while seeking creative solutions to enhance visitors’ engagement with artwork. The Exhibition Designer will serve as lead or supporting designer for numerous exhibition and collection gallery projects, guiding them from concept to production and installation.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Produce installation designs for temporary exhibitions and collection galleries. 

• Work closely with the curator to bring their theoretical concept into a tangible design in keeping with museum standards of sustainability and fiscal responsibility.

• Generate and propose creative solutions for presenting artworks, narratives, and ideas that align with guidelines set by Conservation; Registration; Facilities and Security. Communicate ideas, gather feedback, and obtain consensus from stakeholders for each installation.

• Work closely with Editorial and Design Services to smoothly integrate gallery text and other interpretive elements, including wall graphics, audio and video content, and related print material, into the exhibition design. 

• Will provide all necessary specs (dimensions, wall and furniture colors, label formats) for the creation of gallery text and graphics and will assist in reviewing and reconciling proofs with gallery elevations. 

• To encourage cross-departmental collaboration, meetings or working sessions may take place at the Art Museum Research Facility in Somerville.

• Prepare and disseminate design materials, including floorplan and elevation drawings, exhibition furniture construction drawings if needed, gallery models (physical or virtual), and related documentation. 

• Organize and lead meetings with museum stakeholders to present design plans, review artwork; mockups, conservation and/or loan requirements or other elements that factor into the design. 

• Review design plans with Exhibition Production team to gather feedback on feasibility for execution and installation.

• Works closely with Assistant Director for Exhibitions and Gallery Planning, providing updates on schedule, budget, design status, and other deliverables specific to each installation.  Receive updated information and adjust design and/or schedule as needed.

• Help maintain and build upon design office resources, such as base architectural files, furniture drawings and inventories; design tools such as software and supplies; and project-related documentation on Basecamp and in archives.

• Support gallery installations, being available in person for guidance or to troubleshoot.

• Keep Assistant Director for Exhibitions and other Collections Management staff well informed of project status, identify complications in advance, and seek advice on challenges or next steps.

• Work collaboratively with museum colleagues in the execution of the role's duties.

Working Conditions: This is an on-site position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to move around a multi-story museum building. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.  Ability to walk, stand, stoop, push, and pull; must be able to reach and work above the shoulders, climb ladders, lift, kneel, twist, and squat.