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Exhibit Coordinator Designer - Science Museum

"As an exhibit designer I really like making things and seeing how ideas can come to life. I am responsible for creating displays that are meant to capture attention and direct focus; for example, as an exhibit designer working for a science museum, I may create an environment that helps a person understand how something works. I must stay up to date with relevant trends and techniques, as well as have a good understanding of how people learn things. At times, I may collaborate in meetings with peers and work with colleagues to share ideas. I may also work with consultants."

Salary Range:

$60,000 - $85,000

The Tip

Build a portfolio of diverse credentials. Together, these will make you both unique and valuable.

Priority Knowledge & Skills
Management Skills

  • Manage the design process

  • Manage multiple workflows

  • Develop and implement program schedules

  • Manage budget and financial issues

  • Act in a responsible manner with regard to the needs of people, their communities, and society as a whole

 

Research & Insights Skills

  • Formulate focused and practical research questions

  • Develop and execute qualitative research including observation, interviews and text analysis

  • Develop and execute quantitative research including large data-set statistical analysis

  • Apply a deep knowledge of human behaviour to understand usability

 

Communication Skills

  • Translate content into meaningful information

  • Apply content management strategy

  • Conduct user testing

  • Use specialized software to prepare, edit and distribute content across multiple platforms

Design Skills

  • Build prototypes out of variety of materials

  • Critique and improve design artifacts.

  • Use current digital design tools

 

Additional Job-Specific Skills

  • Lead and manage exhibit design projects utilizing information design theories, practices and methods

 

Core Transferable Skills

Be an expert at all core transferable skills:

  • Thinking skills

  • Communications skills

  • Organizational skills

  • Interpersonal skills

  • Technical literacy

Building Block Experiences
Education & Learning:

  • Bachelor of Communications (information design) with a minor in anthropology

  • Professional Project Management certification via the Project Management Institute

 

My love of science and engaging spaces made me think about the people who make those exhibits for a living. When I realized I could create these learning spaces, I started looking for the education I’d need to do it.

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Employment Experiences:

  • Summer job with tourism bureau while in university

  • Did my work term with TELUS Spark science museum

  • Recruited to lead all content curation at large science museum.

 

I needed to understand how stories are sourced and told, so I leveraged university to learn how to curate content to drive engagement. I then sought jobs in organizations to allow me to apply my skills in experience design, user experience and wayfinding. What I do every day is the intersection of what I’m good at, what I love to do and making a living. My test for a job is simple—would I do what I do every day for free?

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Community Experiences:

  • I’m involved in the university and program alumni associations at my alma mater. I organized our 10-year reunion and post news from my graduating class on our Facebook page.

 

Learn by rolling up your sleeves and doing. You’ll make a lot of mistakes. Value the mistakes as much as you value your successes.

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Contextual Experiences:

  • In university I took part in an exchange program in Austria. I learned loads doing display work and learning in a new cultural context.

 

It’s rewarding to be able to do something I love and help people learn new things in an engaging environment.

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Relationships:

  • I seek mentors who are community leaders and have unique experiences; often very different than mine.

 

Value those who are different. The magic and learning is at the intersection of this diversity.

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