Robert McCusker

Exhibits Specialist I Digital Production & Asset Management @ Smithsonian Institution

About

Digital collections and media production specialist with over fourteen years at the Smithsonian developing digitization workflows, visualization tools, and digital asset systems supporting exhibitions and public engagement. My work focuses on the intersection of scientific research, museum storytelling, and emerging digital technologies. I design workflows that transform physical specimens, scientific research, and educational narratives into accessible digital media used across exhibitions, conservation programs, and public learning initiatives. Throughout my career I have worked across the full lifecycle of digital content—from capture and 3D digitization to asset management, visualization, and multi-platform deployment. This includes managing thousands of digital assets, advising stakeholders on production technologies, and building sustainable workflows for long-term digital preservation and reuse. I have contributed to several notable Smithsonian initiatives including the development of 3D scanning workflows used in the creation of a prosthetic beak for an Abyssinian ground hornbill, the production of coral reproduction visualizations for conservation education, and the fabrication of tactile learning models used in public exhibits. My professional interests focus on the future of digital collections: how museums can leverage digitization, visualization technologies, and structured digital asset systems to expand research access, support conservation, and deepen public engagement with cultural and scientific collections.

Country

United States

City

Manassas

Industry

Museums & Institutions

Skill

Experience

Exhibits Specialist I Digital Production & Asset Management

Smithsonian Institution

2014-11 - Present · 11 yrs 11 mos

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Digital collections and media production specialist with 14+ years at the Smithsonian supporting digitization initiatives, digital asset workflows, and technology infrastructure for exhibitions and public access. Early contributor to institutional 3D digitization programs with expertise in developing workflows for capture, processing, preservation, and multi-platform delivery. Proven ability to manage complex digital ecosystems, advise stakeholders, and translate scientific and collections knowledge into accessible public engagement. SELECTED PROJECTS & KEY INITIATIVES Karl’s New Beak — Digitization & Fabrication Initiative Led 3D scanning and modeling workflows supporting development of a prosthetic beak for an Abyssinian ground hornbill, collaborating with veterinarians and curators to translate digital capture into a functional prosthesis. Coordinated with the National Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Libraries for comparative research and contributed to public interpretation through educational media including a children’s book and video storytelling. Saving Species — Elkhorn Coral Digital Visualization Developed 3D models and animated visualizations illustrating the reproductive life cycle of endangered elkhorn coral for a Smithsonian conservation initiative. Collaborated with scientists and media teams to translate esearch into accessible digital storytelling supporting public awareness of coral restoration. Horseshoe Crab Day Interpretive Initiative Conceived and executed a visitor engagement project integrating interpretive content and tactile learning tools. Designed educational media and produced fossil replicas through 3D modeling and fabrication to communicate evolutionary history and conservation messaging.

Exhibits Specialist I Digital Production & Asset Management

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

2014-11 - Present · 11 yrs 11 mos

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

• Lead digital media production and visualization workflows supporting exhibit development and public engagement programs • Manage lifecycle of thousands of digital assets from capture through deployment across exhibitions, digital signage, and interpretive systems • Administer digital content infrastructure including asset libraries, publishing workflows, and multi-endpoint media delivery • Integrate 3D scanning, modeling, and fabrication technologies into exhibit development and educational media production • Advise curators, scientists, and project managers on visualization technologies and digitization methodologies