Fast Facts

The Exploratorium seeks an On-Call 3D Designer proficient in Vectorworks to create exhibition environments, collaborating closely with a diverse design team on innovative interactive exhibits in San Francisco and globally.

Responsibilities: Deliver high-quality exhibit designs, generate concept sketches, produce architectural renderings, and create design documentation for fabrication and installation.

Skills: Proficiency in AutoCAD, REVIT, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, with strong concept sketching and model-making skills required.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in relevant design fields or equivalent experience, along with one year of professional space design experience preferred.

Location: Hybrid position located in San Francisco, California, United States, with variable hours per week.

Compensation: $39 - $41 / Hourly

SUMMARY

The Exploratorium develops, fabricates, and maintains educational interactive exhibits and installations for public display at the Exploratorium’s site in San Francisco and other venues throughout the world. The 3D Designer is involved from initial concept development to final production, helping create exhibition environments that are immersive and hands-on. The ideal candidate will be able to envision environments in which spaces, exhibits, and people interact. The ideal candidate will also have a knack for getting his/her hands dirty, enjoy constant learning, and be able to offer a unique perspective across many areas of exhibition design, from science museums to art museums, healthcare, and outdoor installations in public spaces. This position calls for both an understanding of the 3D and 2D aspects of an environment, from landscape or architectural work to fixtures, furniture, and graphic design, and an ability to move between them. This position will help create full-scale immersive prototypes, and collaborate with designers from all backgrounds including industrial design, architecture, engineering, and fine arts. The 3D Designer reports to the Director of Exhibition Design, but works closely with Project Directors and Project Managers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Execution: Consistently deliver high-quality exhibit/exhibition designs across a number of projects under the direction of project leadership.
Idea Generation: Produce quick and expressive 2D and 3D sketches to communicate and document design ideas, including those of other team members, clients, and project partners.
Documentation:
Produce high-quality architectural and exhibition renderings at various scales, including lighting, textures, atmospheric effects, and engaged visitors.
Produce professional-level design documentation that meets standard technical and code requirements for fabrication and installation, including materials, dimensions, and ADA.
Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Studio-based bachelor’s degree or higher in architectural design, landscape architecture, industrial design, or similar, from an accredited college/university or equivalent experience.
One years’ professional experience in the fields of space design such as architecture, landscape architecture, tradeshow, retail, hospitality, exhibit, or urban design preferred.
Concept sketching skills for both quick ideation as well as more complete presentation sketches, CAD drawing in the form of plans and elevations (AutoCAD, REVIT, SketchUp/ LayOut preferred), and 3D CAD modeling and visualization (SketchUp/ LayOut, AutoCAD, 3D StudioMax preferred).
Extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.
Excellent storytelling and narrative skills; model-making skills and knowledge of machine and wood shop tools a plus.
Ability to collaborate as part of an effective team.
Comfort in taking direction and mentoring from senior staff, graphics and editorial, and visitor research and evaluation.
Enthusiasm for asking a lot of questions and reserving judgement.
Interest in science, informal learning, and community engagement a plus.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS

The Exploratorium is looking for a technical drafter who is fluent in Vectorworks to support our 3D Design team in developing exhibit-scale design intent drawings. The work would require a drafter to:

Clean-up/prep existing exhibit models imported from SketchUp,
Lay out exhibit sheet drawings with perspectives, plans, elevations, annotions/call-outs, and dimensions

The ideal candidate is a clear communicator, detail-oriented, dependable with time and scope, and occasionally available between 9-5 PM PST.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This position is open until filled

HOW TO APPLY

This is an on-call (variable hours per week), non-exempt position that does not include benefits. The starting range for this role is $39.53 to $41.83. This range represents steps 1-3 on a 6 step union pay scale. Please, no phone calls in regards to this job. To apply, please visit the Exploratorium job page.

The Exploratorium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, inclusion and respect. We welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Exploratorium

Piers 15/17, San Francisco, CA 94111

Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/about/jobs. No phone calls, please

The Exploratorium is committed to an inclusive workforce.

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