Position Overview
Reporting to the Director of Design, the Design Preparator assists in activities related to the planning and design of the MFA Boston’s galleries, interior spaces and campus at large. The Design Preparator is a key team member for the many duties that involve the production and installation of environmental graphics in the museum, including those for special exhibitions, permanent collection galleries, way finding, and assorted signage. Assists with enhancements of display apparatus as well.
Essential Functions
- Prepare, produce, and install exhibition graphics, design details, gallery display apparatus, and signage.
- Provide mockups, mechanicals, and samples for review. Produce exhibition graphics (labels, text panels, signage, and other related didactic materials), which may include file preparation as well as printing, mounting, painting.
- Assist Facilities staff with touch-ups and fine-tuning of various display apparatus.
- Assist with the general maintenance of signs and graphics throughout the Museum, keeping the building looking fresh for our visitors.
- Assist Design staff with the production of maquettes of design elements during the various design processes.
- Sharp manual skills in order to produce graphics related materials, including matte cutting, applying vinyl lettering and the wrapping and/or sewing of covers for bases and panels of case interiors.
- Comfort working with hand and power tools. Good color sense in order to match gallery graphics with wall colors.
- Assist with the upkeep and maintenance of graphics equipment and studio work areas.
- Fluency with Mac and PC platforms and graphics software including Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop, and Adobe Acrobat.
Secondary Functions
- Contribute strategies, techniques, ideas and insights during Design meetings and reviews in order to implement innovations and cost-effective solutions. Help designers troubleshoot and problem-solve in order to execute their vision.
- Research hardware and material needs for graphic display production.
Qualification Requirements and Characteristics (Consider ADA and OSHA compliance and list physical, mental and visual demands, if applicable)
- BFA in Studio Art or an equivalent experience at a professional/commercial level
- Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience working as an art handler, fabricator, carpenter, or A/V tech at other museums, galleries, design/build firms, academic institutions, etc.
- Ability to work unscheduled overtime during periods of installation
- Ability to work independently or in a team-setting with a high level of attention to detail, sense of urgency, and ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadline.
- Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and auditory), as well as strong listening skills.
- Recognition of ADA related design practices and requirements
- Adept at being part of a highly collaborative team, maintaining tight timeframes, and working constructively with a wide array of stakeholder
- A commitment to support the Museum’s values of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA)
Salary Range
Full-time Salary
Starting Salary: $49,000 - $54,000
This position is affiliated with the UAW union
The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Museum reserves the right to change job descriptions. While this job description is intended to include essential duties, it is conceivable that job duties may change before the job description is officially revised.
