About This Career

Designs special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Visual Arts pathway.

A person in this career:

• Develops set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Prepares rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
• Reads scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Prepares preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
• Submits plans for approval, and adapts plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
• Attends rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Confers with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
• Researches architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
• Observes sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
• Collaborates with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Weekend work