Museum of Science and Industry

Senior Interactive Designer - Web

Department: Website & Online Programs
Status: Temporary Full Time (until 12/31/09)

The Museum of Science and Industry is in search of a Senior Interactive Designer for the web. In this newly created position, you’ll take a lead role in redefining the Museum’s web presence, establishing new features to convey the Museum experience and generally creating a knockout site. If you’re looking to work your versatile design magic on more interesting things than banner ads for processed cheese, the Museum of Science and Industry provides just that kind of opportunity.

Position Overview:

The Sr. Interactive Designer will be responsible for creating engaging and exciting visual experiences for the Museum’s websites, kiosks and other interactive mediums. This person will collaborate across departments on features that translate the environment, mission and spirit of the Museum into its online space. Creating motion graphics, interactive Flash applications and user interfaces, the Sr. Interactive Designer will work from concept to completion on a variety of projects, ranging from exhibit promotion and extension to educational modules. New projects in development include ones involving original content development, and we will look for you to add your own project ideas. As part of our growing web team, the Sr. Interactive Designer will play a lead role in expanding our website, already visited by millions of users each year.

Responsibilities:

• Translate big-picture strategy, concepts and requirements into beautiful and user-friendly designs, animations and interactive Flash experiences. Work includes developing new educational games, activities (e.g., virtual labs and online experiments) for kids 8-12, and creating designs and Flash elements for new exhibit microsites.
• Lead the visual creative process from discovery to deployment across multiple Museum web projects, interactive mediums and devices.
• Work closely with other Museum departments in developing visual designs and interactive applications for exhibits and guest programming.
• Develop storyboards, wireframes, sketches and theme boards to illustrate designs for new web experiences, games and applications.
• Define dynamic and functional aspects of the user experience, applying user-centered design principles.
• Execute visual designs as static graphics, page and module templates, Flash applications (light ActionScripting) and animations.
• Ensure all content meets Museum style, tone, site and brand standards.
• Collaborate with other Web team members on project plans, timelines and deliverables.
• Work well under tight deadlines and find creative solutions to limitations encountered during development.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional interactive design experience
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience and/or training
• Online portfolio with solid Flash work samples
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Excellent illustration skills
• Experience in working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams
• Prior experience working in an interactive agency or similar service business environment
• Demonstrated ability to execute multiple start-to-finish projects at once
• Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Highly proficient in Flash-based motion development
• Some experience with ActionScript 2.0+
• Working knowledge of web standards (HTML, CSS, XML, Javascript) with understanding of how to design within their particular constraints
• Strong typography skills
• Proven desire to learn and contribute to the successful completion of team goals and projects
• Online portfolio with solid Flash work samples

Rewards and Compensation:

They don’t just include competitive pay and benefits (though, yes, those are also involved). As the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, the Museum of Science and Industry is a workplace like no other. Where else could you work under the same roof as a 727, a fairy castle, a coal mine and a German sub? (Even the brashest Internet start-up only manages at most to acquire two of those.) We work hard, but our schedules are sane and, P.S., we have an Omnimax® theater.

Join the MSI team and play a direct part in shaping the experiences and education of millions of guests from around the world.

How to Apply