Senior Exhibition Designer

THE ROLE

The Senior Exhibition Designer plays a key role within Sotheby’s in-house Exhibition Design Team in New York. The position is responsible for the creative development and execution of exhibition designs, from concept through to installation, ensuring innovative, functional, and engaging visitor experiences in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.

This role covers a wide range of projects that shape the physical experience and embodiment of Sotheby’s brand across our New York headquarters and wider North American regional offices and galleries. It requires working on-site 4–5 days per week to cover location-specific projects and collaborate in person with colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate closely with the in-house Exhibition team in New York and other senior leads to create building activations that bring to life Sotheby’s major sale series campaigns for fine art and luxury categories, as well as key standalone sale events, including single-owner auctions and brand partnerships.
• Develop full exhibition design concepts, including 2D and 3D design work, conceptual ideas, technical drawings, renderings, elevations, and detailed
• Provide creative direction and oversee design tasks delegated to other team members, ensuring alignment with project vision and standards.
• Assist in the completion of comprehensive design packs to support smooth project delivery.
• Organise and lead design kick-off meetings with specialists and other departments to align on scope, requirements, and deliverables.
• See multiple projects through from initial brief to final installation, collaborating with department leads, art directors, and marketing partners.
• Present designs and ideas to a wide range of stakeholders, including senior management, and define creative direction in collaboration with specialist
• Work jointly with Sotheby’s Operations team, in-house colleagues and external vendors to estimate projects ensuring adherence to budgets and work in collaboration with the exhibition design manager to manage the contracts with relevant suppliers.
• Approve technical specifications, construction methodologies, and oversee installation planning to ensure feasibility, quality, and timely
• Maintain regular collaboration with the London Exhibition Design studio to implement evolving layouts and visual displays across auction, retail, and Buy Now locations.
• Extend Sotheby’s premium aesthetic across all client-facing spaces and elements, including lobby, reception, wayfinding, signage (print and digital), and other enhancements that impactfully communicate key building activities.
• Oversee the design of Sotheby’s salesrooms for select auctions, including room layout, elevations, build-outs, furniture, artwork placement, and finishing details such as vinyls and florals.
• Ensure adherence to exhibition process and design guidelines, maintaining a meticulous archive and record of work through project management

IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

In this role, the Senior Exhibition Designer is expected to demonstrate:

• Broad experience in exhibition design and production, ideally across museums, design studios, spatial design, trade shows, or retail pop-ups, with a strong understanding of built environments and the use of space.
• Strong collaboration skills with a positive, adaptable, and flexible approach that supports productive working relationships across teams.
• A confident grasp of typography and an awareness of current design trends in exhibition and digital media.
• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Vectorworks, SketchUp, Rhino and CAD tools.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present ideas effectively to a variety of stakeholders.
• High levels of motivation, organization, proactivity, and
• The ability to balance and manage multiple projects at once while maintaining a strong focus on quality and detail.

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $80-$100,000. In addition to base salary successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, as well as a competitive benefits package. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered.