A professional designer who works in film, television, or live theater is known as a set dresser. The set dresser is in charge of furnishing sets under the direction of the art director and set designer. A set dresser may have significant or limited control over the selection of items such as wall and floor coverings, furnishings, and decorative elements, depending on the production.
A set dresser’s job can be combined with that of a designer on a small film shoot or theater production to save money on crew members. One person may be in charge of designing and, in some cases, building the set, as well as shopping for furniture and dressing the set or location. For larger productions, each of these functions may be handled by a separate person or even a separate team. A set dresser may only be responsible for physically arranging furnishings and decorative elements on the set during a large-scale shoot or production.
A set dresser’s education can come from a variety of sources. Some people start as interns to gain experience in the field before committing to a full-time job or educational path. Many are working their way up to become designers or art directors by working as set dressers to network and gain insight into the discipline’s art and craft. Some, but not all, have degrees in interior design, architecture, or set design from universities.
The scope of a set dresser’s authority is determined by his or her experience and the scope of each production. Set dressers who are learning to be designers may have limited authority and must adhere to the designer’s or art director’s plan. Professional set dressers, on the other hand, may collaborate with a designer and have a large say in the selection and placement of all dressing materials.
A set dresser’s job is crucial to a film’s, TV show’s, or theater production’s appearance. A room filled with soft floral couches and framed photographs reveals important information about the owner, making it immediately distinguishable from a minimalist room with nothing but a large red circle painted on the wall. The look and atmosphere of a set, while less obvious than the characters’ dialogue or actions, helps to create a rich internal life for both the characters and the world.