Will “Set Designer” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 27-1027.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 57,600.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 27.00
• Currently, there are 12,060 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Set and Exhibit Designers”.

Also Known As…

• Set and Exhibit Designers
• Show Design Supervisor
• Set Decorator
• Scenic Designer
• Production Designer
• Exhibit Preparator
• Exhibit Designer
• Display Coordinator
• Designer
• Design Chief
• Theater Set Production Designer
• Stage Set Designer
• Set Designer
• Scenic Arts Supervisor
• Room Designer
• Presentation Specialist
• Museum Exhibit Designer
• Miniature Set Designer
• Food Stylist
• Exhibit Specialist
• Event Designer
• Event Decorator and Designer
• Display Designer
• Design Supervisor
• Art Director
• Art Coordinator

Tasks for “Set Designer”

• Develop set designs based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Attend rehearsals and production meetings in order to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays, such as press kits and advertising, posters, brochures, catalogues, and invitations and publicity notices.
• Plan for location-specific issues such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.
• Arrange for outside contractors to construct exhibit structures.
• Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.
• Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.
• Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
• Select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.
• Confer with conservators in order to determine how to handle an exhibit's environmental aspects, such as lighting, temperature, and humidity, so that objects will be protected and exhibits will be enhanced.
• Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.
• Examine objects to be included in exhibits in order to plan where and how to display them.
• Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
• Read scripts in order to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Select set props such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.
• Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
• Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities in order to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.
• Confer with clients and staff in order to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, and/or promotion requirements.
• Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects and/or lighting.
• Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations such as streets and fairgrounds.
• Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications, and satisfactory operation of special effects components.
• Coordinate the transportation of sets that are built off-site, and coordinate their setup at the site of use.
• Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts.
• Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information as necessary.
• Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.
• Coordinate the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions or events are complete.
• Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.

Related Technology & Tools

• Digital still cameras
• Claw hammers
• Rotary saws
• Laptop computers
• Furniture staplers
• Personal computers
• Portable stepladders
• Paint application rollers
• Synthetic web slings
• Portable air compressors
• Tablet computers
• Electric arc welding equipment
• All-purpose scissors
• Handsaws
• Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
• Airbrush paint applicators
• Sewing machines
• Pneumatic nail guns
• Sound mixing boards
• General purpose paintbrushes

• Adobe Systems Adobe Director
• Google SketchUp
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Autodesk Maya
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Word
• Act-3D Quest3D
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
• Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
• Autodesk 3ds Max
• Figure 53 QLab
• McNeel Rhino software
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Nemetschek Vectorworks Spotlight