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Description

This is an ideal career for creative thinkers. Set designers research, design and supervise the construction of sets and properties required for stage productions, events, and film or television productions. They may also be involved in designing audiovisual components for use in these productions.

Career Advice - Set Designer Career

The supervision of the construction process can involve close working relationships with a wide variety of collaborators including artisans, specialist fabricators, engineers & production staff.

What you do every day

When starting a set design, following detailed discussions with the director, you would firstly draw up sketches, plans working drawings and make scale models. Once you & the director are in agreement, the set design and properties are costed, generally under the supervision of a Production Manager and, following approval, will move onto the construction phase.

Time and budget are key components in determining the course of the design and construction process. You may be required to modify or adapt the design to accommodate these parameters. On a daily basis you will engage in creative problem solving, juggling many projects simultaneously, so time management is a key skill.

Personality that best fit this career

The best set designers will have great communication skills,  creative thinking skills, a naturally talkative nature and friendly disposition and an ability to deal with multiple demands on their time. You must be able to work under pressure at times, and be relaxed with the responsibility to the producers that you will deliver a positive outcome in fulfilling the brief. You will need an outstanding level of artistic flair along with a high attention to detail.

The best designers will have many skills at their disposal including freehand drawing, drafting, and model making, together with strong managerial abilities. Your ability to combine both your practical and artistic skills is extremely important. A designer is a team leader, helping others to realise the design, each time under a unique set of circumstances.

Best thing about this career

You have the opportunity to realise all those wonderful images in your mind. You will get to meet many different people in very different surroundings and work collaboratively with the performers on the productions you are working on. Every production is different, so variety really is the spice in a designer’s life.

Worst thing about this career

Unfortunately the industry runs mainly on a contract only basis for the term of each production. In times of a downturn in productions you may have to find alternative work.