design | stage Opportunities
Opportunities
Join the design | stage team and help bring the exhibition to life. We are seeking volunteers across a range of roles, offering opportunities to gain hands-on experience, work with industry professionals and creative collaborators, and contribute to the exhibition, publication, and public programme.
Exhibition Designer
We are seeking a volunteer Exhibition Designer to help shape the physical identity and visitor journey. You will work closely with the creative team to explore layouts and signage placement, and consider how the architectural elements will come together within the spaces.
The role will involve developing spatial concepts, contributing ideas on layout, visitor experience, and display approaches. You will work closely with the Curator, our partner at Coventry University, and collaborators including The Belgrade Theatre.
You will support the design process from initial ideas through to the installation and get-out. This is an opportunity to contribute to a collaborative exhibition project and help create a meaningful experience for visitors.
The schedule is as follows:
- Design Team visit to Coventry in late August.
- Get-in: Monday 8th February – Sunday 14th February, 2027
- Exhibition opens: Monday 15th February, 2027
- Exhibition closes: Sunday 7th March, with Exhibiting Designers beginning to take down their work after the exhibition closes (TBC, but it could be from 1.30pm/2pm)
- Dismantling (Exhibiting Designers): Monday 8th March, with crew simultaneously dismantling infrastructure and technical equipment, and supporting vehicle loading as required
- Buffer day (if required): Tuesday 9th March for any remaining dismantling and loading
Exhibition Design Associate
The volunteer Exhibition Design Associate will work alongside the Lead Designer to support the development of the exhibition setting, assisting in bringing the creative ideas to realisation.
Tasks will include assisting with technical planning, supporting communication between creative teams, and helping coordinate elements during the creation, get-out, and de-rig phases.
(See schedule above)
Publication Editor
We are looking for a Publication Editor to come on board as soon as possible to assist with reviewing designers’ contributions for the design | stage published catalogue. You will support the established Editorial Team. You will be part of an engaging publication, and will have a long lifespan beyond the exhibition itself. Your role will support the publication’s flow, checking and reviewing for consistency and working with contributors to ensure clarity.
Your commitment will begin in July and continue until 31st August.
Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant will play an important role in keeping design | stage organised and connected. You will support the behind-the-scenes coordination that enables creative work to proceed smoothly. You will work closely with the Curator and the Administrator to maintain project records, communicate with Exhibiting Designers, update schedules, and coordinate information across teams.
Your commitment will begin in July/August, and you will be an integral part of the core exhibition team until our exhibition runs in Coventry in February – March 2027.
Press Team
We are looking for at least two volunteers to support the exhibition’s communications and public outreach. You will help build awareness of design | stage and connect the exhibition with audiences, press, and cultural networks.
Your role will be to work closely with the Curator and Social Media Lead Nicola Hewitt-George, to build on the design | stage’s online presence and the Programme of Events, Making Unmaking Remaking (MUR) Lead Xristina Penna. You will connect Exhibiting Designers to conduct interviews with the Press, gather compelling content for promotion, and help communicate design | stage to bring visitors to Coventry.
We wish to capture stories and exhibition moments and share them with the industry, followers, and the general public.
Your commitment will begin in July/August and continue through to the exhibition run, where your role will include contributing to the planning of the Private View.
