3/5/18
Overview
Princeton University Art Museum, one of the nation’s preeminent cultural organizations in an academic setting, seeks a Graphic Designer who thrives on working on a wide range of projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, enjoys working collaboratively, has strong interpersonal skills, and is committed to excellence in all areas of graphic design. The Graphic Designer works as part of a team that includes fellow designers and editors as well as clients from other areas of the museum, including curators, exhibition staff, and members of the Education, Institutional Advancement, and IT departments. The Graphic Designer reports to the Associate Director for Publishing and Communications and also supervises a Graphic Arts Specialist.
The Graphic Designer will be part of the team that supports an active and varied exhibition program, dynamic collections galleries, and a variety of educational programs, activities, and events for a diverse audience that includes University students and faculty, members of the local community, public school students, and visitors to the region. The Museum’s offerings also encompass a vigorous publishing program that includes a quarterly magazine, annual report, scholarly journal, and exhibition catalogues.
The Graphic Designer’s tasks will include providing artistic direction and continuity as well as oversight for the Museum’s graphic design projects in print and electronic media. S/he will manage projects from concept to completion, working with Museum colleagues and vendors as needed, and communicating with clients to ensure that schedules are maintained and deadlines met.
With a collecting history that extends back to 1755, the Princeton University Art Museum is one of the leading university art museums in the country, with collections that have grown to include more than 100,000 works ranging from ancient to contemporary art and spanning the globe. Its collections of Chinese painting, the art of the ancient Americas, and photography are widely regarded as being among the world’s finest.
A private institution serving the public good, the Museum is committed to serving the University, local and regional communities, and beyond through a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions, new scholarship, and innovative programming. By collaborating with experts across many disciplines, fostering sustained study of original works of art, and uniting scholarship with broad accessibility, the Museum contributes to the development of critical thinking and visual literacy at Princeton University and enhances the civic fabric of our nation.
The Museum also serves as a gateway to the University for more than 200,000 visitors from around the world each year. Intimate in scale yet expansive in scope, it offers a respite from the rush of daily life, a revitalizing experience of extraordinary works of art and an opportunity to delve deeply into the study of art and culture. The Museum is located at the heart of the Princeton campus, a short walk from the shops and restaurants of Nassau Street, and is free and open to the public.
To learn more, visit http://artmuseum.princeton.edu
Responsibilities
- Provide art direction, oversight, and coordination of the Museum’s graphic design activities.
- Provide consistency to the Museum’s visual identity across a wide range of print and electronic materials.
- Work closely with a variety of clients in the Museum and with outside vendors.
- Collaborate with colleagues in the Publishing and Communications department on a variety of graphic design projects.
- Communicate and collaborate frequently with staff members from other departments—Collections and Exhibitions, Education, Institutional Advancement, Information and Technology, and the Museum Director—to understand the substantive, interpretive, and informational goals of exhibitions, publications, and other projects and to create appropriate designs for them.
- Communicate with outside vendors to assure quality and maintain deadlines. Research new vendors when appropriate.
- Manage many projects simultaneously from concept through completion, including exhibition graphics, educational and interpretive materials, the quarterly magazine, invitations and brochures, gallery didactics, promotional banners and signage, print and digital advertising, and web-based communications.
- Establish and maintain systems for completing projects in a timely manner.
- Plan, oversee, manage, and adhere to production schedules for design, production, printing, and fabrication.
- Create and deliver graphic works; consult with clients to determine project needs; Develop a project plan, storyboard (when appropriate), and produce preliminary visual solutions.
- Communicate regularly with clients regarding timetables and deadlines.
- Supervise Graphic Arts Specialist.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts or a related field
- Five to seven years of project management experience in graphic design—print, electronic, and environmental—preferably in a team-based environment in a museum or cultural setting
- A commitment to excellence in all areas of graphic design
- An exceptional eye for elegant and dynamic design
- A passion for detail, including typography
- Knowledge of design trends and best practices. The ability to innovate and take risks to produce designs that are current and timely.
- A track record of compelling graphic design. Applicants may be asked to submit a design portfolio to demonstrate required skills and abilities.
- Technical ability and the artistic sensibility to create designs that focus on works of art, making them the showpiece of the design
- Ability to work in a complex institutional environment that is fast paced, deadline driven, and collaborative
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong ability to communicate and present designs effectively as well as to welcome feedback and incorporate requested changes as projects evolve
- Ability to keep colleagues in the department and across the Museum updated on schedules, deadlines, project status
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a variety of people
- Strong project management skills; ability to see projects through from design concept to end product
- Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign and Photoshop, using a Mac platform
- Experience preparing specifications; identifying, selecting, and coordinating with printers, fabricators, and other outside vendors; production and on-press experience
To apply, please go to Graphic Designer and post to requisition 2018-8543.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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