Yale University

Exhibition Production Designer

Yale University • $65K — $101K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Proficiency in AutoCAD, Fusion, SketchUp, and/or similar 3D design software; experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Strong communication skills to effectively incorporate feedback from various stakeholders.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while tracking progress and deliverables.
  • Understanding of conservation, lighting, and construction design principles; commitment to staying updated on industry trends.
  • Minimum of three years' experience in exhibition design, architecture, theater, or industrial design.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with curatorial and administrative staff to define exhibit themes, content, and locations.
  • Create preliminary drawings and detailed specifications for exhibit components based on technical and artistic knowledge.
  • Adapt plans as necessary to meet budget and fabrication constraints.
  • Work closely with exhibition teams and graphic designers to develop cohesive exhibit concepts.
  • Oversee the preparation and construction of exhibit components to ensure quality and conceptual integrity.
  • Coordinate with external contractors for specimen acquisition or structural needs.
  • Inspect final installations for quality and conformity to design specifications.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to oversee and mentor students, enhancing leadership skills.
  • Collaborative working environment with curators and exhibition teams.
  • Access to a dynamic cultural institution, fostering professional growth and learning.
  • Engagement in a creative role that influences visitor experience in a museum setting.
  • Involvement in diverse project types, from detailed design to final installation.
Full Job Description
Overview
The Exhibition Production Designer will be responsible for conceptualizing, drafting, and refining 3D designs for spatial layout of exhibitions and displays at the Peabody Museum. This position reports to the Head of Visual Design and works closely with the exhibitions team, curators, and other stakeholders to creatively translate key concepts, goals, and collection materials into an engaging visitor experience that can be produced within budget, timeline, and collection care parameters. The Exhibition Production Designer will be responsible for tracking project tasks and deliverables throughout the exhibition development process. This position may manage or instruct students.

Required Skills and Abilities
1. High proficiency with AutoCAD, Fusion, SketchUp, and/or other 3D design and modeling software. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.

2. Proven ability to communicate clearly and incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders in collaborative design development processes.

3. Comfort working on multiple projects at once. Ability to track detailed project status and deliverables through design development, fabrication, and installation.

4. Proven ability to understand and apply conservation, lighting, and construction design principles and best practices. Demonstrated dedication to keeping abreast of industry trends, tools, and best practices.

5. Three years exhibition, architecture, theater, industrial design, or related experience. Demonstrated experience with fabrication processes and materials.

Preferred Skills and Abilities1. Familiarity with natural history and human culture collections and display principles. Familiarity with print production methods. Student instruction and supervision.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Confers with administrative, curatorial, and exhibit staff members to determine theme, content, interpretative or informational purpose, and planned location of exhibit. Discusses budget, promotion, and time limitations, and develops production schedule for fabrication and installation of exhibit components. 2. Prepares preliminary drawings of proposed exhibit, including detailed construction, layout, and special effect diagrams and material specifications, for final drawing rendition by other personnel, basing design and specifications on knowledge of artistic and technical concepts, principles, and techniques. 3. Submits plan for approval, and adapts plan as needed to serve intended purpose or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions. 4. As part of an in-house exhibition team, works closely with curators, guest curators and other museum/gallery staff to determine methods and materials, develop cost estimates, and organize and track work flow. Works with Graphic Designer to determine the graphic look and feel of the exhibit. 5. Oversees preparation of artwork and construction of exhibit components to ensure intended interpretation of concepts and conformance to structural and material specifications. 6. Arranges for acquisition of specimens or graphics or building of exhibit structures by outside contractors as needed to complete exhibit. 7. Inspects installed exhibit for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special effects components. 8. Oversees placement of collection objects or informational materials in exhibit framework. 9. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in a related field and three years of related experience.

Job Posting Date
09/25/2026

Job Category
Professional

Bargaining Unit
NON

Compensation Grade
Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile
Supervisor; Senior Associate (23)

Salary Range
$65,000.00 - $101,000.00

Time Type
Full time

Duration Type
Staff

Work Model
On-site

About Yale University

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has a diverse student body and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a range of academic fields. The university is known for its strong liberal arts program, as well as its professional schools of law, business, and medicine. Yale has produced numerous notable alumni, including five U.S. Presidents and 20 Nobel laureates.
Learn more about Yale University
Size
13,433 employees
Industry
Founded
1701

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