Museum, Gallery & Exhibition Design
CREATING AWARD WINNING EXHIBITION AND MUSEUM DESIGNS, GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
I have produced designs for exhibition, installations and displays used at showcase events, galleries and museums; including The Walker Art Gallery, Museum of Liverpool, Scottish Museum Edinburgh, Mersey Maritime Museum, Glencoe Visitor's Centre, The Falkirk Wheel, Sudley House , Conservation Centre (Liverpool), Calderglen Visitor's Enter and The Lady Lever Art Gallery (Cheshire).
All designs must have aesthetic appeal; be practical; communicate the client's message, concept and image to visitors; meet the limitations imposed by space and budget. I would then oversee and take responsibility for the implementation and building of the exhibition, liaising with contractors and building, health and safety regulators.
The work varies between roles and employers, and larger museums and organisations may specialise and have managers handling certain aspects of the project, but tasks typically include:
• liaising with clients to discuss the brief (themes, ideas or products to be promoted) • discussing the brief and design concepts with the design team, finalising proposals and presenting these to clients • developing a genuine understanding of the museums's or organisation's needs and objectives, as well as the visitor demographics• working on quotes - once the design brief and concept are established, the costs need to be calculated to make sure the project is financially viable • gathering product information from the client; • creating initial design sketches and sometimes building models and prototypes • doing a variety of design work (graphic design and artwork) for different displays and exhibitions • taking financial responsibility for a project in terms of meeting budget constraints • attending meetings to discuss the status of current projects and to be briefed on new projects • liaising with the workshop manager or construction company to ensure the project is within budget, on schedule and meeting the client's requirements and that it complies with health and safety regulations • handling production orders for materials and site services, e.g. electronics • meeting with and briefing suppliers • ensuring all exhibitions and displays have a definite link to the museum's other collections and overall theme • making sure that the exhibition is compatible with the museum's own materials and conservation requirements • liaising with curatorial staff to produce outline plans to specification and supporting material, such as catalogues • working with members from other areas of the museum, such as marketing, education, conservation, front of house and, most crucially, the curator • liaising with graphics designers, audiovisual and animatronics experts, graphic video producers and multimedia specialists, even actors, to create a sensory experience for the visitor.