Bryan Ortega-Welch

〒723-0022

広島県三原市鷺浦町向田野浦5005-2
Japan

November 9, 2026

Aaron Smith, Senior Director of Experience

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118

Re: Associate Director of Experience Design

Dear Experience Studio search committee,

I am a teacher, architectural designer, storyteller and communicator who is passionate about increasing empathy* and multi-generational thinking in the realms of design, education and the built environment. I believe that biodiversity** is the treasure of the world, and that the call to align one’s practice with it transcends all disciplines.

I like to build cutting-edge tools that advance the comprehension of vast datasets, so that people can generate their own knowledge of the world they live in. I like working with people (architects, data scientists, children, elders) to create representations that turn complication into expressions of rich complexity that can be comprehended in a single, friendly gestalt.

I believe that storytelling, in all its forms, remains primary and unparalleled as a method for the meaningful transfer of knowledge between generations. I believe I can serve the mission of the California Academy of Sciences by contributing to the effort to tell world-class stories that catalyze and activate the multigenerational celebration of a complex, biophilic, biodiverse earth.

To the Academy’s mission of regenerating the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration, I would like to offer the sum of my embodied knowledge, gained from 20 years of attempting to satisfy a similar directive through my practice:

make the world work, for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time,
through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense
or the disadvantage of anyone.— R. Buckminster Fuller, World Game

* fostering a connection with something that sparks the desire to protect it

** biodiversity as a noun and a verb, a principle, a motivating force, a desired state, a measure of the health of a system

Leadership / Collaboration / Partnership

Over the last 10 years, I have partnered closely with Andrew Witt, to define and uphold a cohesive design vision aligned with Certain Measures strategy, innovation goals, and institutional priorities.

Over the last 7 years, I have partnered closely with XXX to define and uphold a cohesive design vision aligned with The Red Dot School strategy, innovation goals, and institutional priorities.

Within these creative partnerships,

_ I have led and managed a multidisciplinary team of designers (exhibit, interaction/UX, media, graphic design, and related disciplines)

_ I have established and implemented design standards, workflows, documentation practices, and review processes to improve quality, efficiency, and cross-team collaboration.

_ I have overseen external design consultants and creative vendors: develop scopes of work, review proposals, guide creative output, and ensure deliverables meet our standards.

_ I have championed a culture of creativity, experimentation, and collaboration

_ I have ensured that all experiences advance our mission and strategic priorities through engaging, innovative, scientifically grounded, and accessible design solutions.

Design

In my role as architectural designer,

_ I have taken Creative and Design Leadership on exhibition and experience projects, and design/build architecture studios for children, teens, undergrads, and graduates/professionals, from early visioning and concept development through design development, fabrication, and installation.

_ I have developed immersive design strategies that integrate spatial design, interactive systems, digital media, storytelling, and collections of salvaged architectural objects into cohesive visitor journeys.

_ I have collaborated with cross-functional teams including project managers, content strategists, scientists, educators, collections staff, technologists, and key stakeholders to create holistic experiences. multilingual, transcultural

_ I have used storytelling to translate science into compelling physical and digital design, including spatial layouts, interactive strategies, and media integration plans.

_ I have guided the development and review of design deliverables such as concept packages, renderings, floor plans, prototypes, and experience documentation.

_ I have led and participated in prototyping and iterative testing to ensure experiences meet engagement, performance, and accessibility goals.

_ I have integrated emerging technologies and innovative design approaches to create immersive and responsive environments.

_ I have adapted design strategies to accommodate for safety regulations and institutional policies.

Skills

I believe that my experiences across the domains of education, informal learning, and architectural design have helped me to satisfy and add to the required skillset:

_ I have a proven ability to articulate and champion a clear creative vision while aligning with strategic objectives.

_ I have a deep understanding of spatial storytelling, human-centered design, and visitor experience principles.

_ I have strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor designers and foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

_ I have the ability to synthesize scientific, educational, and experiential goals into innovative design solutions.

_ I have experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, balancing creativity with schedule and budget constraints.

_ I have strong visual, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to present effectively to senior leadership and external partners.

_ I have knowledge of prototyping and evaluation practices in informal learning or public environments.

_ I have fluency in industry-standard design and visualization tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Rhino, Figma, or equivalent).

_ I am skilled in using Microsoft Office and Google Apps; fluency in collaboration tools such as Asana, Slack, Box, Miro, and related platforms.

Additional Skills & Interests

...

Relevant Experience

‘future-forward experiences’

Vivarium, 2023 - 2025 Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE, Cloudfill, Futurium Berlin + Expo 2021

‘redefining how science is experienced’

Hydrosphere, 2022 - 2023 Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA, Drought Interfaces, [...]

‘immersive’

The Recombinant Room, 2025 Google, Mountain View, CA, Home is Where the Droids Are,

‘responsive’

The Recombinant Room, 2025 Google, Mountain View, CA, Cloudfill, Futurium Berlin + Expo 2021, Vivarium, 2023 - 2025 Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE, Home is Where the Droids Are,

‘deeply human-centered environments’

The Red Dot School, 2018 - present Sagishima, Japan, Brightworks, San Francisco, CA, Kite’s Nest, Hudson, NY, A Curious Summer, San Francisco, CA

‘spatial storytelling’

Vivarium, 2023 - 2025 Museum of the Future, Dubai, UAE, Cloudfill, Futurium Berlin + Expo 2021, The Model, 2026 Provocations

‘emerging technology’

The Recombinant Room, 2025 Google, Mountain View, CA, Found Object Architects, 2024 - present Berkeley, CA + Sagishima, Japan, The View, 2026 Provocations

‘scientific assets’

Hydrosphere, 2022 - 2023 Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA, The Territory, 2026 Provocations, Found Object Architects, 2024 - present Berkeley, CA + Sagishima, Japan, The Database, 2026 Provocations

+

circular design

Mine The Scrap, 2021 Aiiiii Art Center, Shanghai, Salvage-as-a-Service, The Red Dot School, Sagishima, Japan, Cloudfill

extreme reuse

Kintsugi++, [...], Scrapcrete, 2018 Rieder GmbH, Berlin

geometry

MTS_003, Quilting++, Cloudfill

fabrication

MTS_003, Quilting++, Cloudfill, Home is Where the Droids Are,

ecology

Hydrosphere, Drought Interfaces, The Red Dot School