CURRICULUM VITAE
Monika Lea Jones
Nationality: American
Location: Tartu, Estonia
EDUCATION
2012–2014
Master of Arts (MA), Museum Studies (Curation and Exhibition Emphasis) San Francisco State University, California — USA
Master’s Thesis:
Reuniting Science and Art Through Museum Exhibitions
1998–2002
Bachelor of Arts (BA), History of Art (Religion and Visual Culture Emphasis) University of California, Santa Cruz — USA
Study Abroad: University of Hyderabad, India. June 2000 to Jan 2001
Minor: Earth Science
WORK EXPERIENCE
FEB 2020 – Present
Founder & Decorative Arts Specialist
Hairpin Finishing / Deko Works — USA & Estonia
- Executed custom murals, wallpaper installation, and decorative finishes
- Consulted on interior design, color, and spatial planning
- Collaborated with architects, designers, and clients on visual concepts
- Managed full project lifecycle from concept through execution
Apr 2023 – PRESENT
Creative Director & Strategy Coach
AI Fusion Insights — Remote (International)
- Developed planning systems and visual frameworks
- Translated complex ideas into structured, actionable plans and deliverables
- Produced written, visual, and AI-assisted content to support client projects
- Guided clients through decision-making, and project execution
- Integrated AI tools into creative workflows for research, ideation, and production
Aug 2014 – Jan 2020
Exhibits Specialist
Children’s Creativity Museum — San Francisco, USA
- Designed and implemented improvements to exhibit spaces and visitor experience including pre and post evaluation
- Led troubleshooting, maintenance, and technical support for exhibits
- Trained staff in exhibit operation and maintenance
- Managed documentation, signage, and exhibit equipment
June 2013 – Jan 2014
Museum Educator (Public Programs Intern)
de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco — USA
- Led interactive art activities for diverse audiences
- Supported Artist-in-Residence programming and gallery operations
- Assisted with gallery setup and maintenance
Jan 2008 – Oct 2009
Production Designer / Scenic Painter
Academy of Art University — San Francisco, USA
- Designed and built over 150 set environments for performance classes
- Managed art department workflows and assistants as part of a full film crew
- Constructed and finished sets for film and stage on a fast schedule
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
International Decorative Artisans League (2010-2025)
Museum Studies Special Interest Group – Board Member (2024)
Museum Studies Student Association – Co-President (2014)
The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (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.
SKILLS
LANGUAGE
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
- Exhibit design, building 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
MOJO 