A set designer is a person who works in the entertainment industry and creates scenery. These designers work in a variety of fields, including film, television, theater, dance, concerts, and pageants. A set designer is needed for any event that requires the presentation of people on a stage, whether it’s a presidential speech or a daytime soap opera.
Many set designers have traditionally learned their trade from the ground up. They’d start in the scenery department, doing things like painting and carpentry, and work their way up to designing sets as their skills and aesthetics improved. The majority of today’s designers are trained artists, with many holding MFA degrees in art, theater production, or set design. Future designers can work as interns in theater productions and on productions at their own educational institutions while attending art school, university, or college.
The set designer’s job necessitates a great deal of collaboration. To discuss the aesthetic vision and image of the production, the designer frequently meets first with the director and other members of the artistic staff, such as lighting designers and costume designers. Someone putting on a post-apocalyptic Hamlet, for example, is likely to have very specific ideas about how the show should look and feel, which will be reflected in the art design. The artistic team creates sketches and meets on a regular basis to develop a unified look and feel with complementary elements.
Set design is heavily influenced by costuming and lighting, and the results can be stunning when art designers collaborate. The set designer begins work on building scenery, including engineering moving scenery and special effects with scenery, while coordinating efforts. It’s also common for the set designer to collaborate with the props department to create props that complement the show’s look and feel.
During construction, the set designer supervises electricians and carpenters, keeps other members of the creative team informed, and makes adjustments as the sets, costumes, lights, props, and actors all start to come together. The goal is to deliver a finished and functional set on time, with the set designer on call in case any issues arise.