What does a Set Designer do?

A set designer is an entertainment professional who designs scenery. These designers work in film, television, theater, dance, concert, and pageant production, as well as in other areas. Any event which requires the presentation of people on a stage will involve a set designer, whether it's a speech from a head of state or a daytime soap opera.

Historically, many set designers learned their craft by working from the ground up. They would start in the scenery department with tasks like painting and carpentry, and gradually develop more advanced skills and aesthetics until they could work designing sets. Most designers today are trained artists, with many having MFA degrees in arts, theater production, or set design specifically. During their training in art school, university, or college, future designers have an opportunity to work as interns in theater productions and on productions in their own educational institutions.

The work of the set designer involves a great deal of cooperation. The designer often meets first with the director and other members of the artistic staff such as lighting designers and costume designers to discuss the aesthetic vision and image of the production. Someone doing a post-apocalyptic Hamlet, for example, would probably have very specific ideas about the look and feel of the show which would be brought out in the art design. The artistic staff make sketches and meet on multiple occasions to develop a unified look and feel with elements which will complement each other.

Set design is very much influenced by costuming and lighting, and when art designers work together, the results can be stunning. While coordinating efforts, the set designer also starts work on building scenery, including engineering moving scenery and special effects with scenery. It is also common for the set designer to work with the props department, developing props which will mesh well with the look and feel of the show's design.

The set designer supervises crews of electricians and carpenters during construction, keeps other members of the creative team advised about progress, and works to make 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 remaining on call in case problems develop.