Minnesota Association of Museums

The Exhibit Developer is responsible for the content, storylines, and exhibit ideas that create memorable visitor experiences. Position reports to the Design Manager in the Curatorial Department.

Work on site with the exhibit designer, graphic designer, and clients to create vibrant and effective interpretation that engages visitors and meets client goals.

Areas of Responsibility and Specifics

Sales and marketing

Brainstorm creative ideas and approaches for major proposals, as needed.
Participate in phone and in-person interviews with prospective clients, as needed.

Conceptual development

Rapidly assimilate knowledge on the topic.
Begin to assemble a resource package, including images, artifacts, and research for the exhibition.
With the designer, conduct a start-up meeting with the client and stakeholders to determine storylines, themes, and goals of the exhibition.
Establish interpretive objectives, themes, and approaches.
Guide designer in the best organization of content and themes on floorplan.
With the designer, brainstorm ideas, interactives, and best media to express exhibit topics and content, being cognizant of audience, goals, client, SRS build needs, and budget.
Work with the designer to locate exhibit ideas on a floor plan and develop interpretive flow.
Write concept document containing exhibit themes and goals, narrative description, component list and descriptions, and supporting images and artifacts. This will develop into the final content manual for the projects.
Participate in evaluation process, as needed (on major projects).
Work with the graphic designer and exhibit designer to develop graphic approach to the exhibition, based on the content and interpretive goals.
Develop descriptive treatments for all interactives and audiovisual components.
With project manager, create and maintain tracking list for borrowed materials (research, images, artifacts).
Ensure good customer service: that the client is being heard and responded to regarding the interpretation.

Design development

Revise and refine content manual in response to client comments, adding sufficient detail to communicate design and development intent, including graphic and artifact sizes. Ensure that the codes are clear and consistent with design package and estimate.
Write exhibit text in a clear, concise, approachable style, including full documentation of sources.
Source all photos, acquiring FPO copies for use in draft layouts.
Create and maintain image, artifact, and prop-tracking database. This includes photos and dimensions for all artifacts to be used in the exhibition.
Revise artifact database, providing details to the designer and graphic designer for artifact layouts.
With designer, compile art fabrication reference package, showing species, colors, styles, time of day, reference photos, and other details for all original artwork, illustrations, commissioned photographs, and specialty components.
Review AV and interactive script submittals from subcontractors.

Pre-production

Hand off reference package for art fab; participate in start-up meeting for CAD and fabrication.
Acquire and track final images; or oversee outsourcing of this task.
Proofread and edit copy graphics, displaying a thorough knowledge of grammar. Make changes to graphics and content manual as required by client. Make final, detailed proof of graphics before they go to production.

Fabrication and close-out

Monitor art fabrication and shop build for quality control and design/development intent.
Compile copies of final content manual and digital files for archives and client.
Review AV and interactive submittals from subcontractors.

Other Requirements

This job requires periodic travel for research and presentations. The exhibit developer must be comfortable facilitating and leading meetings with a variety of stakeholders. Developers are also often required to present at sales interviews or for prospective clients.

About the Company

Split Rock Studios specializes in creating natural and cultural history exhibits for museums, interpretive centers, aquariums, zoos, and political institutions. From coast to coast, our team of museum experts brings stories to life. Our clients trust and enjoy our design process because it’s collaborative, creative, and organized. From exhibit designers and project managers in our front office to artists and woodworkers in our shop, Split Rock Studios brings together the full range of museum exhibit design and fabrication services under one roof.

Of special note: Split Rock Studios is now an employee-owned business known as an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).

How to Apply

Send a pdf including your letter of interest and salary requirement, your resume, and your portfolio samples or link that include at least 3 examples of exhibit development (with your role identified) to heather@soladayolson.com.