CURRICULUM VITAE
Monika Lea Jones
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Nationality: American
WORK EXPERIENCE
Feb 2020 – Present
Founder & Decorative Arts Specialist
Hairpin Finishing / Deko Works — USA & Estonia
- Deliver custom murals, wallpaper installation, and fine decorative finishes for residential and commercial interiors.
- Collaborate with architects, designers, and cultural clients to develop historically informed and site-responsive visual solutions.
- Manage full project lifecycle: client consultation, concept development, digital mockups, budgeting, material sourcing, execution, and quality assurance.
- Apply restoration-sensitive techniques in heritage and public-facing environments.
Apr 2023 – Aug 2025
Chief Creative Officer & Product Designer
AI Fusion Insights — Remote (International)
- Directed creative strategy for AI-driven visual content and interdisciplinary digital storytelling projects.
- Designed structured workflows and formatted research documentation for distributed teams.
- Produced AI-generated visual packages and detailed descriptive annotations for training and branding use.
- Integrated design thinking principles with emerging technologies.
Aug 2014 – Jan 2020
Exhibits Specialist
Children’s Creativity Museum — San Francisco, USA
- Designed and fabricated interactive, hands-on exhibit components to enhance visitor engagement.
- Led exhibit evaluations and visitor studies to improve interpretive clarity and usability.
- Maintained A/V systems, exhibit infrastructure, and troubleshooting protocols.
- Trained floor staff in exhibit operation, maintenance, and visitor interaction strategies.
June 2013 – Jan 2014
Museum Educator (Public Programs Intern)
de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco — USA
- Facilitated interactive gallery programs for diverse audiences.
- Assisted Artist-in-Residence with program coordination and installation support.
- Led art-making workshops connecting historical collections to contemporary practice.
Jan 2008 – Oct 2009
Production Designer / Scenic Painter
Academy of Art University — San Francisco, USA
- Designed and built over 150 unique stage environments for film and performance classes.
- Managed art department logistics and coordinated student assistants.
- Applied scenic painting and fabrication techniques to support narrative environments.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2012–2014
Master of Arts (MA), Museum Studies (Curation Emphasis)
San Francisco State University — USA
EQF Level 7
Master’s Thesis:
Reuniting Science and Art Through Museum Exhibitions
1998–2002
Bachelor of Arts (BA), History of Art; Minor in Earth Science
University of California, Santa Cruz — USA
EQF Level 6
Curatorial Projects
• Music of Life — Children’s Creativity Museum (2020)
• California Jewels — Tilden Park Environmental Education Center (2012)
• The Orientalia Collection — Sutro Library (2012)
• Stillwell (Lost Letters) — Fine Arts Gallery, SFSU (2012)
Publications
• Jones, Monika Lea. Reuniting Science and Art Through Museum Exhibitions. MA Thesis, San Francisco State University, 2014.
• Illustrator, I…am…Cheetah!: The Gift, 2014. By Stephanie J. Teer, 2014.
• Jones, Monika Lea. Photography Contributor, fotolog.book: A Global Snapshot for the Digital Age, 2006.Edited by Andrew Long. Thames & Hudson, 2006.
PERSONAL SKILLS
English — Native
Estonian — A1 (Basic; currently learning)
Hindi — A1 (Basic)
Spanish — A2 (Elementary)
Communication & Collaboration
- Visitor-centered interpretive communication
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration across art, science, and technology
- Public engagement facilitation
- Client consultation and stakeholder coordination
Curatorial & Project Development
- Exhibition planning and implementation
- Research and evaluation methodologies
- Curation and interpretive development
- Project lifecycle management
- Staff training and team coordination
Fabrication & Installation
- Scenic painting and decorative finishing
- Exhibition fabrication and installation
- CNC machining and digital fabrication workflows
- Laser cutting and precision material processing
- 3D printer operation and prototyping
- Wood and metal shop production
- Aerial work platform operation
Technical & Digital Skills
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- SketchUp and Autodesk (3D design)
- CNC, laser cutting, and 3D printing workflows
- Microsoft Office and WordPress
- AI-driven visual systems and digital content development
Monika Lea 