Bard Graduate Center

Exhibition Designer

Bard Graduate Center (BGC) invites applications for the role of Exhibition Designer. This is a full-time, on-site position at our campus on West 86th Street in Manhattan.

Bard Graduate Center is a graduate research institute in New York City. Our MA and PhD degree programs, exhibitions, research initiatives, and public programs explore new ways of thinking about decorative arts, design history, and material culture. BGC Gallery produces multiple exhibitions and publications each year, serving as a vital center of learning and a catalyst for engagement in these interrelated disciplines. It is celebrated in the museum world for its legacy of landmark projects dedicated to significant—yet often understudied—figures and movements in the history of decorative arts and design; these critically acclaimed exhibitions and publications typically represent the definitive intervention on the artists and objects they investigate. BGC Gallery is also committed to generating and supporting a vast range of diverse presentations, small and large, that challenge traditional approaches to object inquiry; these examinations of material culture explore the human experience as manifest in our creation and use of “things” of all kinds. Whether originating in internal research and expertise, or in collaboration with external subject specialists, BGC exhibitions prioritize rigorous scholarship while seeking to adhere to the field’s highest standards in production and design.

Reporting to the Director of Exhibitions and Chief Curator, the Exhibition Designer will oversee all phases of exhibition design from concept through production. Working closely with curators and BGC Gallery staff, the Exhibition Designer will create innovative displays that comply with the highest museum standards for object safety and visitor accessibility. While producing deliverables on time and within budget, the Exhibition Designer will also have a role as a key thought partner across the institution. An interest in pedagogy and commitment to fostering meaningful engagement with BGC’s graduate students and faculty is therefore essential. The successful candidate will be eager to seek out opportunities to involve students in the life of the gallery, such as mentoring, teaching, and/or leading workshops and demonstrations. In the future, the Exhibition Designer’s responsibilities will additionally include the realization of student- curated exhibitions and study collection displays within a new teaching-focused facility.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Works closely with curators and gallery staff to craft groundbreaking, research-driveninstallations that transform sophisticated interpretive goals into compelling visitor experiences
• Designs and facilitates production of two or three temporary exhibitions annually, with responsibilities including the conception and realization of gallery architecture, object layouts, exhibition furniture, casework and mounts, didactics, digital media displays, ighting, etc.
• Employing industry-standard software such as Auto-CAD or Vectorworks, produces detailed design drawings appropriate to every stage of exhibition development, from preliminary planning and budgeting exercises to detailed construction documents
• Works with Registrar to create practical schedules for assembly, installation, and dispersal of exhibitions
• Develops the design and production budget for each exhibition and oversees expense al locations as appropriate
• Manages subcontract relationships with external fabricators, liaises with Registrar and Chief Preparator in the oversight of contract crew
• Manages inventory of exhibition furniture
• Oversees contract lighting designer
• In connection with each exhibition, collaborates interdepartmentally with colleagues in graphic design, Digital Humanities + Exhibitions, and Public Humanities + Research
• Collaborates with faculty to create various opportunities for engaging with BGC’s graduate students, such as classroom visits, workshops, or gallery demonstrations
• Keeps accurate documentation of completed projects for BGC’s digital archive

Qualifications:

• At least five years’ experience in exhibition design at a major museum or gallery with museum loans
• Demonstrated record of conceptualizing, organizing, and realizing a dynamic program ofvaried temporary exhibitions, balancing curatorial objectives, object safety, scholarly value, and public appeal
• Deep knowledge of exhibition design and installation concepts, best practices and procedures, especially as applied to complex installations of three-dimensional objects and visitor accessibility
• Experience producing 2- and 3D visualizations in industry-standard design software such as AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Sketch-Up, or similar
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to work effectively and systematically on several projects simultaneously, meeting exhibition schedules on time and within budget
• Expertise in museum lighting with record of lighting object-based exhibitions is desired
• Experience supervising exhibition staff and external contractors preferred
• Demonstrated interest in pedagogy; university-level teaching experience desired
• Portfolio submission required
• BA in exhibition design, architecture, industrial design, or relevant field; MFA or MA preferred

We expect the successful candidate to be stronger in some qualifications listed above than others; we are committed to helping our future colleague expand their skills and hope to learn from their areas of strength.

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $85,000 + a generous benefits package.
 
To Apply:
Send resume, cover letter, four sample portfolio images, and contact information for three professional references to [email protected]
 
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.
 
Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

AA/EOE