Head of Exhibition Design and Production
Fondazione Prada is Seeking Head of Exhibition Design and Production
Application deadline: 30 September 2026
Salary Range: 70.000 – 90.000 EUR
Fondazione Prada is looking for a Head of Exhibition Design and Production to join its Design team and oversee the exhibition design of its projects across Milan and Venice. Working closely with curators, artists, and external architecture studios, the role combines spatial and exhibition design with the coordination of construction and production processes, from concept to final execution. Reporting to the Head of Programs, the Head of Design and Production will lead a dedicated team and act as a key point of reference between the institution’s curatorial vision and its physical realization.
Fondazione Prada, a cultural institution created in 1993 by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, operates on the belief that art and study are useful and necessary to understand the changes happening in the world. A wide network of collaborations with artists, curators, scientists, scholars, filmmakers, architects, musicians, and intellectuals, along with a varied program, which currently extends across the three locations in Milan and Venice, opened between 2011 and 2016, and, since 2018, in other spaces in Shanghai, Tokyo, and New York, allows Fondazione Prada to engage with an international and diverse audience.
Task:
We are seeking experienced and dependable Head of Design and Production to oversee the exhibition design aspects of Fondazione Prada exhibition projects and contribute to our Design team. This role demands a high level of autonomy and a proven track record in exhibition design while collaborating with curators, artists, cultural organizations, and project teams. Reporting to the Head of Programs, the Head of Design and Production will manage a dedicated design team focused on supporting exhibition and display activities across the museum.
Responsabilities:
- Developing collection gallery designs, including spatial planning, exhibition architecture, three-dimensional exhibition elements, public spaces, and interiors, from the conceptual stage to final drawings, in close collaboration with the Curatorial, Conservation, and Project Management team.
- Collaborating closely with external architecture studios.
- Using Auto-CAD and Sketchup to create drawings of exhibition display furniture, including display cases, platforms, custom art display walls, etc.
- Ensuring that designed elements meet universal access requirements and adhere to accessibility design specifications.
- Collaborating and managing with the Registration and Conservation teams.
- Ensuring the highest quality standards are applied to design development, construction, and exhibition display production while coordinating with external consultants, such as architects, artists, curators or suppliers.
- Implementing the procurement strategy to facilitate construction bids and engage external contractors and designers for project implementation.
- Administering standardized design files, maintaining an organized archive of production files, and assisting in defining standard operating procedures and workflows.
- Placing visitor experience at the forefront of all display design, ensuring efficient visitor flow, health and safety adherence, and risk assessment analysis in each project.
Qualifications:
- A recognized university degree in exhibition design, architecture, industrial design, or an equivalent field.
- A minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience in exhibition or industrial design, preferably within a visual culture-related institution.
- Proven experience in various design phases, including conceptualization, design development, and construction supervision.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, and Adobe Suite, along with experience in designing to scale.
- Solid knowledge of materials, fabrication techniques, project management, and construction processes, with an advantage for expertise in graphic production.
- Preferably, experience and knowledge of proper art handling procedures and art or object installation and display.
- The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
- A passion for visual culture and experience in the cultural sector.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively within a close-knit team.
- A high level of discretion and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and stay within budget.
- Strong organizational and design presentation skills.
- Excellent and fluent oral and written communication skills in Italian and English
Salary Range:
70.000 – 90.000 EUR
Workplace Wellness:
- Possibility to work remotely and with flexible hours
- Opportunities for training and professional growth
- Welfare programs
- Discounts on public transport services
- Free access to Fondazione Prada locations
Work Location:
Milan, Southern area