Jennifer Meakins
E: j.meakins@gmail.com

Professional + Academic Experience

QLT Studio, Chicago, IL
Owner and Designer, Current
Surface and textile designer, fiber art, object design and construction

Visiting Studio Design Lecturer
2018–Present
• UCLA, Architecture + Urban Design
• Woodbury University, Interior Architecture
• Cal Poly Pomona, School of Architecture
Guide students through design and conceptual development.

Yazdani Studio at Cannon Design, Los Angeles, CA, 2016–2018
Exhibit Designer and Coordination
• Design direction for Museum of Tolerance (MOT) Words as Weapons and MOT Jerusalem Showcase exhibits
• Develop and prepare design concept documents including client presentations, models, renderings, and architectural drawings
• Oversee design production from artifact display to environmental graphics
• Coordinate with fabrication, audio visual, and lighting consultants
• Collaborate with Museum client to translate the institutional goals into innovative and impactful exhibits

University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Architecture, Chicago, Illinois
Graphic and Events Designer, Marketing and Brand Manager, Publications Editor
• School of Architecture brand management, social media and print marketing
• Plan, design, and execute School of Architecture programs (admissions, recruiting, lectures, conferences, and exhibitions) including graphic design and marketing
• Manage programs and publications staff, work directly with Director
• Co-edit School publication, aX
• Exhibition and Event design including presentation and planning drawings, images, and photo editing using Adobe Creative Suite and Rhino 3D
• Faculty and Student exhibition curator

Visiting Teaching Associate and Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Instructor for First and Second Year undergraduate design studios
• Coordinator and Co-Instructor for HiArch Pre-College Architecture Workshop

Ania Jaworksa Studio, Chicago, IL, 2015
Designer and Project Collaborator, exhibition and furniture design
• Design and fabrication coordination for Outside Design, temporary exhibition
• Developed design prototype documents, space planning, plans, elevations and 3d
renderings
• Conduct extensive research and testing of fabrication techniques and materials
• Reviewed shop drawings for design intent, mock-ups, materials, and finish
samples, material sourcing

University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2014–2015
Barack Obama Presidential Library Bid, Architecture and Urban Design Team
• Developed architecture and urban design proposal for North Lawndale and UIC sites (with Morphosis Architects, PORT Urbanism, CAMES/Gibson)
• Designed final presentation document graphics (with Marcia Lausen, StudioLab)
• Compiled, formatted, and analyzed Chicago GIS data including building information (footprint, history, use), community resources (public safety, parks), demographics, and transportation using ArcGIS 10
• Assisted with project team coordination

Art Institute of Chicago, Department of Architecture and Design, Chicago, Illinois
Exhibition Research and Design Intern, May 2012-August 2012
• Assisted curatorial staff for Building: Inside Studio Gang
• Exhibition construction document review
• Participated in design meetings with exhibition curators and exhibitor
• Research and content creation for exhibition text and book

Community Studio, Salt Lake City, Utah
Architecture Intern, June 2011 - August 2011
• Produced drawings and executed building code research for agency submittal and client presentations for both new construction and building re-use projects
• Prepared drawings for schematic, design development and construction documents
• Participated in design and construction client presentations and contractor meetings
• NCARB Intern Development Program (IDP) in progress

Additional Design Experience
The Pliable Plane
Faculty Exhibition, Octagon Gallery, UIC School of Architecture, Chicago, IL, 2016
Design, coordination, and fabrication of large-scale textile-based installation (with Antonio Torres, Aura Venckunaite, and Nick Rummler)

Outside Design
Sullivan Galleries, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2015
Exhibition and furniture design and construction coordination (with Ania Jaworska)

A Performed Memoir, a war memorial for T.E. Cames
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Chicago, IL, 2015
Design and fabrication of large-scale architecture installation

Education
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Master of Architecture 3-year, August 2009-May 2012

Colgate University, Hamilton, New York
Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Geography, August 2001-May 2005

Skills
Adobe Creative Suite [Photoshop ▫ Illustrator ▫ InDesign]
ArcGIS
ArchiCAD 14/15
AutoCAD Drafting Software
Maxwell Studio Visualization Software
Maya 3D Modeling Software
Microsoft Office [Word ▫ Excel ▫ Access ▫ Powerpoint]
Model Building (wood, acrylic, paper, foam); 3D model, laser cutter and wood shop experience
Revit
Rhino 3D Modeling Software
Sketchup Pro
V-Ray Visualization Software

Additional Work Experience
Terracon Consultants Inc., Chicago, Illinois
Environmental Scientist, February 2007 - July 2009, May 2010 - August 2010
• Performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for a wide array of clients including real estate developments, gas stations and automobile service, commercial and residential
• Served as sustainability coordinator for the Chicago Office

GaiaTech Inc., Chicago, Illinois and Irvine, California
Environmental Consultant, October 2005 - January 2007
• Performed Phase I ESAs, Phase II ESAs, Desktop Real Estate Risk Assessments, and historical research