The Henry Ford is a nonprofit organization, an internationally recognized cultural destination, and a one-of-a-kind workplace. Our team is inspired daily by one another as well as the authentic stories of innovation that we share across our four venues. We want you to be part of this legacy and take it forward.
Are you a curious digital professional with a passion for understanding how people interact with the world?
The Experience Design team is seeking a Digital Exhibits Producer. This newly created role is responsible for creative direction, implementation, and vendor management of digitally based guest experiences on The Henry Ford campus. Project management responsibilities support digital exhibit projects and other temporary and permanent exhibition design projects of all sizes within all institutional venues. In this position, you get to work at every stage of exhibition creation and in close collaboration with many institutional departments and external partners. The ideal candidate will be innovative in approach while committed to creating authentic, memorable, and exciting experiences, with demonstrated ability in prototyping and evaluation of digital experience solutions.
Please note, the application process requires a portfolio submission for consideration. Include 5-10 projects that demonstrate your most innovative, exciting, and engaging experiences. Projects should highlight your ability to work at different stages of the design process and include built projects when possible. Also include examples that demonstrate ability to manage projects and the tools used to accomplish the work.
The Experience Design Team works part time in person on The Henry Ford campus and part time remotely. Availability for meetings, in person or virtual, is required during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. There is occasional travel for project work or training.
Essential Responsibilities
• Participates collaboratively as a team member in the story development and conceptual design of new and revised exhibits that bring together innovative guest experiences, the synthesis of historical content and contemporary stories, interpretive best-practices, and engaging exhibit design techniques.
• Creates concepts, strategy, and roadmaps for the development of digital exhibition experiences that are supportive of learning and guest experience objectives and supportive of institutional priorities.
• Works with institutional departments to solve operational, maintenance, and life-cycle concerns through the design process and post-installation to create best-in-class experiences.
• Creates necessary deliverables that clearly communicate creative and strategic directions for digital experiences that may include design intent, look and feel, materials and their use, interface and coordination of exhibit components, and technology/hardware solutions through a variety of formats including concept renderings, wireframes, mock-ups, diagrams, and other illustrative means.
• Prepares design intent and ready-to-bid vendor packages. Manages and works with outside vendors to ensure projects are produced and installed according to project objectives and institutional standards.
• Actively manages assigned exhibition design projects by creating necessary project management documentation, using project management tools and techniques, and collaborating with institutional stakeholders for efficient and successful project completion.
• Evaluates and collaborates cross-functionally to identify improvements to existing and new installations in the areas such as guest engagement, maintenance, and programmatic use through evaluative data.
• Ensures best design practices by staying up to date on industry trends and developing strong working relationships with outside experts, and continuously seeks out and recommends ways to make The Henry Ford’s campus a more engaging and accessible space.
• Contributes to the effective team management of all problems, issues, and opportunities, including leading and participation in meetings and planning sessions.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned.
Your Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a digital based design field, certificate, or equivalent work experience.
- Four or more years of demonstrated success in creating compelling digital technology experiences across web, mobile, or other digitally based mediums.
- Three or more years of demonstrated project management experience managing vendor contracts, planning, tracking, creating budgets, building timelines, managing risk, and communicating with stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and associative design tools.
- General familiarity in Microsoft Office products and project management software/tools.
Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills
- Familiarity with the concerns, challenges, and evolving industry of museums and similar organizations.
- An understanding of technology and hardware solutions to support design solutions.
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of ways (in person, via phone, email, chat, Zoom or Microsoft Teams, etc.)
- Self-directed ability to track multiple projects, set priorities, track progress, meet deadlines, and anticipate future issues of concern.
- Act proactively, independently, and collaboratively in a team with members who have diverse job responsibilities and backgrounds.
- Experience successfully discussing, presenting, and creating documents to express creative work and project status.
- Ability to focus on project details and keep bigger-picture project goals in mind.
- Enthusiasm for learning new skills, training, and trying new processes to accomplish your work.
- Commitment to a high-level of customer service.
- Enthusiasm for performing other duties as assigned to support team projects and deadlines.
- Must be a critical thinker and quick problem solver.
- Knowledge of current technology and trends, products, and industry standards. Experience in the blending of technology and physical components to create unique interaction opportunities is important.
This job description is subject to change at any time.
It is the policy of The Henry Ford to prohibit discrimination in any employment, donor or volunteering opportunity (including but not limited to recruitment, hire, employment, program participation, promotion, salary, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment or service as a volunteer) based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability. Marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, height, weight or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This Policy applies to all of our employees, donors and volunteers to ensure that they are treated without discrimination.