Set Designer

Job Description:

Design and create backdrops and settings for video productions including TV, film, and theatre.

Job Category:
Tourism, Hospitality & Entertainment

What you will do:

Your day-to-day duties could include:

  • studying scripts and discussing ideas with the director
  • communicating your ideas to costume, make-up, props and lighting designers
  • working out problems like lighting and scene changes
  • researching historical, contemporary or futuristic details to get the right look for the production
  • creating effective designs within the available budget
  • sketching design ideas to produce a storyboard
  • building and photographing scale models

Skills:

You’ll need:

  • knowledge of the fine arts
  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As well as:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use your initiative (drive)
  • the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things (creativity)
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You’ll usually need an HND or degree in a relevant subject, like architecture, fine art, interior design or 3D design.

You could start as a designer’s assistant, art department trainee or a runner in film or TV and work your way up.

A DVD or online portfolio showcasing sets you’ve designed for amateur theatre, school plays or films would be useful.

 

Working Hours and Environment:

Your working hours could be long and include evening and weekend work.

You’ll work in a studio, an office or from home. You may also travel to attend meetings with theatres or film and TV production companies.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience, you could work on larger and more prestigious film, TV and theatre productions.