Job Description

Reports to: Director of Narrative Design 

Location: Chicago, New York City, or Seattle (in-studio 3+ days/week)

About the Role

At Luci, we take a story-first approach to designing experiences for museums, visitor centers, and brands. As a Lead Narrative Designer, you'll shape the core storytelling and visitor journey of every project you touch—through scholarly research, interpretive planning, and direct client partnership. This is a senior, client-facing, deeply collaborative role for someone who loves both the craft of storytelling and the hands-on work of bringing exhibits to life.

We're looking for someone who knows the best practices of museology and experience design—and has the curiosity and ambition to push them further.

What You'll Do

• Serve as a primary client contact on interpretive and exhibit development; lead workshops, pitch ideas, and field feedback with clarity and confidence.
• Research wide-ranging topics in depth and distill complex material into clear, compelling messaging for clients and the public.
• Develop and refine storylines, interpretive plans, and content outlines aligned to each project's goals and audiences.
• Champion the "voice of the visitor," ensuring experiences are accessible, inclusive, and meaningful—for clients and the people they serve.
• Collaborate with 2D/3D designers, developers, and media specialists to weave storytelling seamlessly into the overall experience.
• Partner with Creative and Project leads to plan tasks, allocate resources, and meet budgets and deadlines.
• Identify needs for freelancers or subject-matter experts and bring them to project leadership.
• Mentor junior designers—reviewing interpretive plans and content outlines, leading creative reviews, and sharing best practices in storytelling and interpretation.

What You Bring

• 8+ years in exhibit development, museum content creation, or interpretive planning.
• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, History, Education, Design, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• A confident public speaker who can articulate ideas to clients, stakeholders, and teammates in formal and informal settings.
• Experience guiding junior team members with clear, constructive feedback.
• A passion for audience-centered design, storytelling, and alternative learning methods—plus familiarity with Inclusive and Universal Design.
• Adaptability and creative problem-solving when content, timelines, or resources shift.

Logistics

• In-studio a minimum of 3 days/week at our Chicago, New York City, or Seattle office.
• Some travel for client meetings, site visits, installations, and professional development.

Why Luci

You'll have a direct hand in the success of every exhibit and installation you touch—working alongside talented colleagues across disciplines, learning from industry experts, and sharpening your own leadership and interpretive craft along the way.

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