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Typical Career Progression

** Wage amounts are to be used as a guide only

Typical accountabilities and responsibilities

As a set designer, you are responsible for the overall look of the stage environment; you will first consult with the directors to understand their ideas and concepts before agreeing on an overall aesthetic concept. All initial presentations of design sets are generally given around 4 weeks. You will be responsible for liaison with technical staff to ensure that all work will be within the scope and scale appropriate to the abilities and resources of the production team. You will also have to work to strict budget amount for the costing of the designs. Any changes to this will need to be agreed upon with directors.

Graduate designers who are just beginning their career will be expected to show they can have a basic ground plan showing all scenic elements, a composite ground plan showing all moving scenic elements, front elevations of every scenic element and any additional elevations. A final presentation is then made to the director of all designs. Once final designs are agreed upon, it is expected that no further changes will be made. Drawings are then given to production team members as needed to complete their work.

Designers will be required at dress rehearsals to ensure that all scenic elements are installed properly and are functioning as intended within the production. This schedule will of course vary from production to production and will be established by the producers and directors.

Career Path & Employment opportunities

Entry level set designers, once you have gained the relevant experience can advance to managerial positions in large firms or the department head in other organisations with multiple sets or exhibits to design. You are most likely to be employed either in theatre, event, film, or television companies and work on a contract basis for the duration of a production. Demand for designers is of course linked to the number of films, television programs, and stage shows that are under production at that time.

You may be engaged by a producer solely on the basis of their reputation within the performing arts; or more usually, by being asked by a director to join a creative team. There is also an option to become lecturers within the schools teaching these courses.