Otago Museum staff are up against the country's best exhibition designers, in line for a national award.

Annah Taggart and Craig Scott are being recognised for their exhibition on Ralph Hotere's personal ceramics collection.

It's a finalist in the Designers Institute of New Zealand awards, to be announced in October.

The exhibition includes artwork by Hotere and ceramics by local potter Barry Brickell.

Other finalist exhibitions have been put together by top designers at Weta Workshop, Te Papa and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.