WHAT DOES A SET DESIGNER DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What does a Set Designer Do?)

Set Designer Scale Model of Set / Photo Credit: University of South Wales

WHAT DOES A SET DESIGNER DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What does a Set Designer Do?)             

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What does a Set Designer do?            

Set Designer

A set designer is in charge of designing and creating the sets that appear in films, on television programs as well as in the theatre. The role involves working and communicating with directors, producers, costume designers and other members of staff. The role is a slightly unique combination of creativity and practicality, as you have to conceptualize an idea, design it and then do your best to make it a reality with the team of people around you.

Audiences don’t usually spend much time wondering if a particular scene of a film or television show was shot on location or created on a sound stage, and that’s the way it should be. Set designers that create elaborate and visually stunning scenery leave an impression on admiring viewers, but the subtle sets that seamlessly create a believable environment inside of a sound stage are noteworthy for holding the suspension of disbelief.

Duties

Rough drawings and ideas from the production team are taken and turned into realistic builds that include scenery, draperies, furniture, and props. Set designers often work with directors, producers, costume designers and other crew members. The set designer works within the art department under the supervision of the production designer and art director to help realize the director’s vision for the scenery of a film or television show. Based on the script, the director and production designer—often aided by a concept artist or illustrator—go through a process of visualization to design sets that must be built for the production. Through iteration, those design concepts are refined. Following approval of the final sketches, the set designer is responsible for translating production designer’s drawings to architectural blueprints that detail how the sets are to be constructed. He or she must establish the true dimensions of the sets and how multiple pieces must fit together, taking into account structural stability and production requirements for the crew and equipment.

Skills & Education

A set designer working in film and television production requires the same training and skill used by scenic designers in live theatrical entertainment. Expertise in traditional construction methods and those standard within the production industry is essential, as is a firm grasp of basic physics and mathematics. Like residential and commercial architects, set designers typically use computer-drafting software like AutoCAD to aid in drawing construction schematics, or blueprints. A college degree is not always required, though an education in film and television production or theatrical design with a concentration in scenic design is recommended. Set design, like many of the entertainment trades, is a skilled artistic craft that requires an individual with talent and experience.

What to Expect

A set designer will typically read a script many times over, both to get a feel for the style and tone of the script and to make a detailed list of requirements for scenery, furnishings and props. Meetings with the director and the design team are usually scheduled to discuss the details of the set and the director's interpretation of the play. The set designer's main goal is to figure out everything that may be needed based on the dialogue in the script. When all is said and done, the set will hopefully create the correct mood and atmosphere, and be able to give the audience clues as to the time of day, location, season, and historical period.

After reading the script, the set designer will produce plans, drawings and miniature three-dimensional models of the set. Floor plans are drawn to scale showing from above the layout of each set and the placement of the furniture and large props.  Front elevations are also given to show a view of the set from the front and to show details like windows or platforms. These visual aids help to make sure that all involved in the production process understand each other.

Employment opportunities exist within scenic design shops that cater to the entertainment industry and at shops operated on-site at motion picture studios. Set designers often move into freelance work after having trained as an apprentice under a master designer and established their credentials through numerous professional projects. On the job, working conditions will vary greatly, depending on the production schedule. Hours can be highly irregular, dependent on the deadlines set to begin principal photography. The process of a film’s pre-production is different in many ways from that of a television series. In television, the set designer will work on a revolving schedule, repeating his or her design process for each episode that might demand new sets.  He or she must be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances. Most important is the ability to collaborate and work effectively with others to achieve the highest possible quality of product.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Careers Hub, Sokanu, Raindance, Screen Play Scripts, Script Doctor,

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Set Designer Scale Model of Set / Photo Credit: University of South Wales