Description
Design sets for film, television, video, and theater productions. Read scripts, collaborate with creative and technical teams, produce drawings and models, and oversee fabrication to deliver sets that meet artistic, budget, schedule, and safety requirements.
- • Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- • Develop set concepts and designs based on scripts, research, budgets, and available locations.
- • Prepare rough drafts, CAD drawings, and scale plans, including floor plans, elevations, and properties.
- • Create preliminary renderings and material and specification documents, including lighting and special-effects diagrams.
- • Design and build scale models or digital models, and create miniatures for backgrounds or special effects.
- • Confer with directors, production designers, and department heads to align on themes, budgets, timelines, and materials.
- • Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share set-related information.
- • Observe rehearsals and camera tests to ensure sets support blocking, sightlines, and camera angles.
- • Estimate costs for materials, construction, rentals, and locations.
- • Submit designs for approval and revise to meet creative, budget, and fabrication constraints.
- • Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the period and setting, consulting experts as needed.
- • Select and procure lumber, hardware, and finishes required for set construction.
- • Select set props and dressings such as furniture, artwork, lamps, and rugs.
- • Direct and coordinate set construction, scenic painting, and decoration to meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.
- • Collaborate with lighting, sound, VFX, and camera teams to integrate technical needs with set designs.
- • Plan for stage and location constraints, including space limitations, traffic flow, rigging, access, and safety concerns.
- • Inspect completed sets for conformance to specifications and functionality of special-effect elements.
- • Arrange for outside shops or contractors to fabricate set elements.
- • Coordinate transportation, delivery, and on-site installation of off-site-built sets.
- • Coordinate the strike and removal of sets and props after production wraps.
- • Assign and oversee assistants in producing sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings.
- • Dress on-location environments and streetscapes to match design intent.
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Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
