April Johnson
Art Director - LEED Accredited Professional

With a keen eye for detail and the leadership skills to bridge the gap between concept drawings and scenic production, April Johnson is an invaluable member of the BRC team. April manages a team of show set designers whose mission is not just to create clear and accurate drawings of exhibit design elements but to facilitate the integration and interface of all exhibit components within the building and throughout the entire site. Visitor flow, capacity and overall experience structure are all opportunities for April to marry contributions from artists, designers and technicians into one comprehensive plan.

April’s current assignment, the Heineken Visitor Experience, and another recent project, the new Empire State Building – Dare to Dream Tour, have brought a host of challenges for April and her team. While working in internationally recognized historic landmark buildings, April’s team must minimally impact the architecture while maximizing the visitor experience. She deftly provides the organizational and managerial efforts required to work in these high profile, high stakes environments as the projects move from the Design Detail phase towards Production. April interfaces daily with Architects, Engineers, Art Directors, Graphic Designers, and Technical and Fabrication Managers as she puts the complex pieces of show design together. She is the glue that unites each discipline and moves the project forward as she builds a comprehensive exhibit design interface.

Prior to joining BRC, April utilized her multi-disciplined experience on several substantial projects for Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Imagineering including Tokyo Disney Seas and the Animal Kingdom theme park. Here April worked directly with mechanical engineers and art directors developing themed guest interactive equipment. She was also responsible for bringing the Art Director’s vision to life by creating themed interior spaces. In addition, April has an extensive and diverse background working for architects in both commercial and residential settings.

April is a LEED® v2 Accredited Professional and a USGBC member. She presented at the Western Museum Association Conference in 2005 and served on the AIA Committee on the Environment, Architects for Social Responsibility.

April earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture, School of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley and has attended Extension and Graduate School of Design courses at Harvard University and the Boston Architectural Center.

Last updated: 11 February, 2008