BIO
Emilio is an exhibition design leader with over twenty years of experience developing creatively unique and commercially successful exhibitions. Passionate about public engagement and the power of storytelling, he layers typography, scale, textures, lighting, artifacts and spatial elements to create visual experiences that spark meaningful conversation.
As a project manager, Emilio brings exhibition visions to life by working closely with clients to gain an in-depth understanding of scope and goals, guiding the creative process from concept to construction, and providing mentorship to creative teams. In his approach to the exhibition design direction process, he incorporates radical collaboration to leverage the diversity of ideas and advocates for a human-centred design approach that prioritizes the needs of visitors.
Emilio is also an Experiential Design Instructor at Seneca College of Applied Arts and sits on the Advisory Committee for Centennial College’s Museum and Cultural Management Program. He has given a number of talks on the subject of museum exhibition design at the World Design Summit, the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Science Congress, the Canadian Museum Association and more.
WORK
Senior Exhibition Designer at Reich+Petch Design International (2019–present). Leading exhibitions from the concept phase to development as well as managing creative teams, timeline/budget management, and client engagement. Highlights: Massey Hall Revitalization Exhibits (2021), Toronto Holocaust Museum (expected 2023), London Children’s Museum (expected 2023).
Principal at Transmission Design (2011–present). Design services for educational institutions and museums. Clients include Ryerson University, Aga Khan Museum, Canadian Museum of History, and Heritage Canada.
Experiential Design Instructor, Seneca College of Applied Arts (2022–present). Responsible for developing and delivering an engaging curriculum focused on how design elements create enriching visual experiences.
Exhibition Designer, Royal Ontario Museum (2000–2018). Developed innovative exhibition designs with a strong focus on visitor journeys and participatory experiences, which included researching, developing and designing graphics, scenographic assets, wayfinding planning and design elements. Notable projects: Modernism on the Ganges: Raghubir Singh Photographs (2018), Designing Asian Design (2017), A Third Gender (2016), The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors (2014), Observance and Memorial, Photographs from S-21, Cambodia (2012), Maya: Secrets of their Ancient World (2011), The Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army (2010), Book of the Dead (2009), Ancient Peru Unearthed (2007), Eternal Egypt (2004).
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Memberships: Association of Registered Graphic Designers, American Alliance of Museums, Canadian Museum Association
Advisory Committee, Centennial College Museum and Cultural Management Program
Advisory Committee, Seneca College of Applied Arts Faculty of Communication, Art & Design
PUBLIC SPEAKING
‘Experimenting with New Methods in Exhibition Development for Staff and Visitor Engagement’ Canadian Museum Association Workshop
‘Design Thinking and Creativity’ Oakville Museum Workshop
‘Designing an Exhibit about Asian Design’ East Asian Arts Symposium
‘Creative Culture’ Ontario Museum Association Workshop
‘Museum Exhibitions as Dialogue’ World Design Summit
‘Museum Exhibitions as Communication’ Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Science Congress
AWARDS
Social Good Design Award
Awarded by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers in recognition of exhibition design for ‘Observance and Memorial, Photographs from S-21, Cambodia’ at the Royal Ontario Museum
Awarded by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers in recognition of exhibition design for ‘Observance and Memorial, Photographs from S-21, Cambodia’ at the Royal Ontario Museum
