South West Heritage Trust

Job Description

Job Title / Design Assistant
Reports To / Head of Design
Responsible for / Graphic Design
Team / Museums
Job Purpose / The purpose of this post is to assist the South West Heritage Trust Museum Design and Digitisation Team with the Somerset Rural Life Museum re-development project and design and production of exhibitions for the Trust museums across Somerset. To create associated interpretation and marketing materials and ensure that all audiences can access, learn about and enjoy their heritage.
Working Relationships / Internal: There is daily contact with the Design and Curatorial Team, Marketing and Communications Officer, the Learning Team, the Curatorial Team and the Visitor Services, and regular contact with all other staff in the South West Heritage Trust , including the Chief Executive.
External: There is daily contact with a wide variety of suppliers regarding museum design, exhibition and promotion, eg. Printing, advertising and publishing companies and specialist exhibition equipment and material suppliers. There is regular contact with members of the public (e.g.local artists) to advise when designing, producing and installing temporary exhibitions.
Additional Information / The ability to travel across the county of Somerset and a current driving licence are essential.
The post requires some out-of-hours working, eg to help set up and/or attend outreach and community events at weekends or on public holidays.
The post requires regular manual handling of awkward, heavy loads.
There are potentially hazardous and noisy working conditions when operating printing equipment and power tools.
Job Description – Key Responsibilities and Tasks
  • Assisting with the design of graphics and interpretation using a variety of media including written, oral, virtual and interactive, to meet the needs of varied audiences and in accordance with the requirements of organisational policies.
  • Use computer-aided design and digital imaging, and produce and finish graphics within existing templates.
  • Design public information materials about, and to promote the South West Heritage Trust, its collections (eg. new exhibitions, displays and public events) including signage, display and interpretation boards, banners, advertisements, posters, books and leaflets
  • Assist with the Design and production of content for the project websites.
  • Provide advice and guidance to Heritage Service colleagues on the design and production of materials to ensure they meet appropriate standards, eg. SWHT Corporate Publications Protocol.
  • The job holder is required to follow and comply with all policies and procedures of the Trust which includes the Trust’s Health and Safety procedures in the workplace, ensuring personal safety and the safeguarding of the interests and safety of all staff, trainees, visitors, and others at the Trust.
  • To uphold the working values and expectations of the South West Heritage Trust.
  • To carry out other duties relevant to your post as reasonably required by your line manager.

Person Specification

PERSON SPECIFICATION
To succeed in this role you will need to demonstrate:
Essentials / Desirables
Qualifications / NVQ 3 or equivalent in a relevant design subject.
Experience / Previous workexperience in graphic design.
Experience of working with other professionals in the design sector including graphic vendors and printers. / Previous relevant experience in the culture and heritage sector.
Skills/Knowledge / Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign and Photoshop [The Design team use Apple computers exclusively].
Experience and skill in design, layout and production of a variety of interpretation and promotional material from existing templates.
Good communication skills
Awareness of disability and equality issues. / Proficiency with the use of Apple computers.
Attributes / Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team to plan workload efficiently and effectively to meet tight and fixed project timescales.
Creative and innovative
Able to travel across Somerset and to undertake the regular carrying and movement of materials and equipment, some of which may be awkward and heavy.
Able to work evenings, weekends and BankHolidays as required. Time off in lieu will be given.