Head Of Design And Production: Gallery Scale Works

Full-time, salaried position located in Brooklyn, NY. Exempt status under FLSA NY wage and hour laws.

About the role

Leo Villareal Studio is a fine art studio specializing in the creation of sequenced light artworks. We seek a Head of Design and Production of Gallery Scale Artworks to work in person in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Reporting to the Studio Director, this role will design and fabricate light sculptures and manage exhibition projects. The ideal candidate is a product design professional who will lead the development of impeccably finished, high-performance custom LED light sculptures.

Responsibilities

• Design Strategy
  • Lead the design and production of gallery artworks to maximize artistic quality while maintaining efficiency and scalability of systems.
  • Cultivate a vendor roster for design, fabrication, and contract assembly.
  • Balance in-house vs. outsourced design and optimize studio space use.
  • Define guidelines for the use of off-the-shelf products versus custom components, including documentation and storage protocols.
• Design Execution
  • Collaborate with the artist on R&D priorities and perform rapid prototyping.
  • Generate photorealistic visualizations of nascent concepts for presentations and iterative artist reviews.
  • Develop holistic artwork systems, including specifying LED components, creating CAD models, and determining production strategies.
• Production & Project Management
  • Deliver simultaneous projects on-budget and on-schedule.
  • Vet vendors, write technical specs, and manage RFPs/work orders.
  • Oversee production budgets and bi-weekly variance reporting.
  • Guide budgeting for material and labor across multiple projects.
• Exhibition Design and Project Management
  • Design artworks for inclusion in exhibitions.
  • Design exhibitions in partnership with the artist.
  • Coordinate venue site preparation and supervise onsite installations.
• Documentation
  • Record each step in the creation of an artwork, ensuring proper archival documentation.
  • Create and maintain Bills of Materials for active projects.
  • Develop artwork manuals and system diagrams.

Requirements

• Excellent attention to detail, including the ability to inspect artworks and components with exacting precision.
• Experience specifying, designing, and fabricating electronic artwork, including drawing complex metalwork in 2D and 3D.
• Ability to specify build parameters for fabricators and oversee execution.
• Experience in mechanical and electrical assembly, including crimping, wiring, and soldering.
• Proficiency with modern CAD, rendering, and creative tools.
• A college degree and at least five years of related experience in product design (ten years preferred).

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

Pay

$110,000 – $115,000 per year