deYoung Open

Role
Senior Exhibition Designer
Responsibilities
Exhibition Design • Documentation • Fabrication Coordination • Installation
Scale
800+ artists • 3-week installation
The de Young Open required new methods for managing exhibition complexity. With more than 750 artworks, evolving jury selections, and a compressed installation schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project demanded coordinated systems for data management, layout generation, visitor planning, and installation documentation. Those tools enabled rapid iteration while maintaining a cohesive exhibition experience from concept through completion.
Project constraints shaping the exhibition design and installation strategy.
Project constraints shaping the exhibition design and installation strategy.
Project timeline from concept development through public opening.
Project timeline from concept development through public opening.
Early visitor flow study balancing intuitive circulation with a continuous artwork numbering sequence.
Early visitor flow study balancing intuitive circulation with a continuous artwork numbering sequence.
Custom workflow importing artist submissions into Vectorworks, eliminating hours of manual data entry while keeping exhibition data synchronized.
Custom workflow importing artist submissions into Vectorworks, eliminating hours of manual data entry while keeping exhibition data synchronized.
Semi-automated wall studies used to balance artwork density, scale, and thematic distribution across the exhibition.
Semi-automated wall studies used to balance artwork density, scale, and thematic distribution across the exhibition.
3D artwork footprints and platform studies used to balance artwork scale and platform capacity while maintaining visitor clearances.
3D artwork footprints and platform studies used to balance artwork scale and platform capacity while maintaining visitor clearances.
Rectangle-packing algorithms generated first-pass wall layouts, accelerating exhibition planning while preserving curatorial flexibility.
Rectangle-packing algorithms generated first-pass wall layouts, accelerating exhibition planning while preserving curatorial flexibility.
Artwork identification system using numbered displays to reduce visual clutter while maintaining access to artist and artwork information.
Artwork identification system using numbered displays to reduce visual clutter while maintaining access to artist and artwork information.
Working installation plan coordinating gallery sections, artwork numbering, platforms, and display cases throughout the exhibition.
Working installation plan coordinating gallery sections, artwork numbering, platforms, and display cases throughout the exhibition.
Installation elevations using color-coded spacing to reduce drawing complexity while speeding artwork placement.
Installation elevations using color-coded spacing to reduce drawing complexity while speeding artwork placement.
Exhibition graphics plan coordinating title walls, interpretive text, and donor recognition throughout the exhibition.
Exhibition graphics plan coordinating title walls, interpretive text, and donor recognition throughout the exhibition.
Installed title wall integrating exhibition identity, introductory text, and artist directory.
Installed title wall integrating exhibition identity, introductory text, and artist directory.
Entrance gallery introducing thematic artwork groupings.
Entrance gallery introducing thematic artwork groupings.
Salon-style installation balancing artwork of varied scale within a thematic gallery.
Salon-style installation balancing artwork of varied scale within a thematic gallery.
Integrated display of two- and three-dimensional works within a unified gallery composition.
Integrated display of two- and three-dimensional works within a unified gallery composition.
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