Production Designer Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the production designer job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you will be required to meet to be hired for the production designer role by most employers/recruiters.

What Does a Production Designer do?

The production designer is a person who translates the script and the director’s vision into actual visual elements which complement storytelling.

According to the American Film Institute, a production designer is the head of the Art Department on a film or television show and performs a number of duties, including assessing the script and developing the visual design concept to reflect it.

They are responsible for architecting the visual world of the production through designing and supervising the realization of the sets, props, and general aesthetic that dresses up the story.

A production designer is often directly reporting to a film or television director, where he/she works closely with him/her to understand the creative brief and interpret their vision.

They also liaise closely with other key departments like cinematography, costume design, and visual effects to have a cohesive visual look throughout the production.

You will find production designers working in film studios, TV networks, theatre companies, and even advertising agencies.

Their expertise is invaluable in the conceptualization of environments that transport the audience to places – sometimes other worlds – in movies, television shows, plays, and commercials alike.

A production designer has a strong educational background in art, architecture, or design. Most of them have Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in either Theatre Design or Film Production, or Fine Arts.

However, formal education is one thing, but in this field, hands-on experience and an open portfolio counts a lot.

The primary responsibilities that make up the production designer job description include conceptualizing the set and sketching it out and drafting out the detailed plan with a budget on production.

Others are overlooking the building process or decoration of sets, liaising with other departments for look consistency, managing and sourcing props, and setting dressing.

Production Designers also have to be involved in location scouts, running design teams, working even on marketing items for the production.

While designers differ across countries, it is easy to argue that their role is a significant one, regardless of how varied the film and television industries may be.

In countries with high active entertainment sectors like the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, production designers are treated as highly regarded professionals as they are instrumental in creating iconic productions.

An employer in this field generally looks for a person with a good eye for detail and having an artistic vision, accompanied by excellent communication skills, while demonstrating the ability to work well under pressure.

In-depth knowledge of art history, current design trends, and aesthetics of various cultures is highly valued.

Although there is no specifically accredited controlling body for production designers in the United States, professional organizations such as the Art Directors Guild are very influential in establishing industry standards.

To that end, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees provides additional training programs and certifications to help a production designer be more proficient and therefore marketable.

Production Designer Sample/Example/Template

The production designer job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Analyze scripts to have a deeper understanding of visual elements of every scene
• Do research into historical periods, particular eras, or places for immediacy
• Develop concept art and mood boards as a way to communicate design concepts
• Revise and approve design concepts in collaboration with directors
• Provide a complete set design detail in both traditional sketching techniques and CAD software
• Collaborate with location scouts in finding appropriate filming locations
• Manage the budget of the art department by allocating its resources
• Collaborate with costume designers to ensure the right visual harmony and balance is achieved
• Work with cinematographers on how to make their set design conducive to lighting and camera angles
• Run a team of set designers, art directors, and other creative professionals
• Develop miniatures or models for complex set designs when necessary
• Liaise with visual effects teams in the proper integration of practical and digital elements
• Develop relationships with vendors/suppliers re: materials/props
• Source and then choose props and set dressings appropriate for a shoot
• Oversee the building and painting of sets
• Attend production meetings to discuss design progress and any problems
• Check set safety and to ensure that industry regulations are followed
• Make any last-minute design alterations due to final script tools or budgetary constraints
• Supervise set dressing and any final touches prior to filming
• Attend shoot to troubleshoot on-set design problems
• Oversee set striking following each use
• Maintain continuity in design details throughout multiple episodes or seasons of a television series
• Design archive and record-keeping for future reference to that show
• Contribute to marketing materials with design elements or proffer ideas
• Keep current on the new technologies being developed and evolution of design in the industry.

Production Designer Job Description for Resume

If you have worked previously as a production designer or are presently working in that role and are making a new resume or CV, then you can craft an effective Professional Experience for your resume by applying the above production designer job description.

You can highlight the duties and responsibilities you have performed or are currently performing as a production designer in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones provided in the job description example provided above.

This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful performing the role of a production designer, which can enhances your chances of being hired for the new position that you are applying for, especially if it requires someone with some production designer work experience.

Production Designer Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Career Success

The following is a list of key skills, knowledge, and abilities that are usually required by employers/recruiters when hiring for the production designer role because they help in ensuring success in the career:

• Strong artistic vision and creativity
• Excellent drawing and sketching skills
• Mastery of design software, including AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Good knowledge of fine arts history and the concepts of design
• Knowledge of architecture and construction methods
• Color theory and application of the same on the visual storytelling
• Interpretation of a number of historical periods and aesthetics from different cultural backgrounds
• Project management and organizational skills
• Communicative and presentation skills
• Team leadership and collaboration
• Budgeting and resource management
• Problem-solving and adaptability under pressure
• Knowledge of processes involved in film and television production
• Lighting techniques and how to implement the desired lighting on set
• Current safety regulation compliance and industry standards
• Effective research for historical accuracy and authenticity
• Time management and tight deadlines
• Attention to details coupled with quality control
• Networking ability, in ensuring it makes relevant industry contacts
• Negotiation skills to be able to deal effectively with suppliers and contractors.

Production Designer Employment

The number of production designers in employment currently in the United States of America is given by Zippia, as 58,057.

The private companies provide most of the employments for production designers, with 65% of them working in that sector.

This is followed by public companies and education with 27% and 7% production designer jobs respectively.

Production Designer Jobs by Industry

Survey data on Zippia also shows the following industry-wise employment size for production designers:

• Media: 16%
• Retail: 13%
• Fortune 500: 13%
• Professional services: 11%
• Manufacturing: 10%
• Education: 6%
• Technology: 5%

Other remaining industries vary with 1% to 4%.

The most common industries for production designers are media, retail, Fortune 500 companies, and professional services.

Production Designer Jobs by States

Also, according to report, States with the highest levels of employment for production designers in the United States include California and Texas, with 4,558 and 2,322 jobs respectively.

These states offer the most opportunities for production designers in terms.

Production Designer Salary

According to Zippia, the average yearly production designer salary in the United States is $54,760 while Salary.com reports $56,863.

Geographic location, education, and experience are the three main factors affecting a production designer’s salary.

Production Designer Salary by Industry

The best industries for a production designer to work in are well-paying, with opportunities available in a number of different sectors.

Some of the highest-paying industries in which production designers can find employment include:

• Technology

Most production designers find the tech industry to be a major employer that pays well and allows one to grow.

Companies like Meta and Apple come to mind.

• Retail and Fashion

Companies like Gap Inc. and Nike are known for paying their production designers well, at rates that are dictated by the demand of their industry for high-quality visual and product design.

• Consumer Goods

Companies like Shutterfly pay a good amount for a production designer.

Highest Paying Companies for Production Designers

The companies that pay the highest salaries to production designers according to survey report include:

Highest Paying States for Production Designers

The States that pay the highest salaries to production designers in the U.S. include California   and Washington, with average yearly salaries of $82,683 and $82,334 respectively.

Production Designer Job Satisfaction

There is little direct data on production designers’ satisfaction about their jobs.

However, a look at related profession like the set designer may give us some clues about the production designer job satisfaction.

According to Careerexplorer, set designers have an average rating of 3.8 stars out of 5 in job satisfaction, and are in the top 17% of careers.

They find their work significant and enjoyable, suiting their personality well.

And for production designers, their satisfaction with salary might lie a bit lower, but still, all things considered, they will have above-average job satisfaction compared to other design careers.

This is so because, even though the pay may not be ideal, production designers may find their work quite fulfilling and enjoyable since it is aligned with their interest.

Conclusion

This post is an invaluable guide into the world of production designers, who bring to life visual landscapes in film production.

It is an important resource, especially for aspiring designers in search of the right kind of skills and experience to build a career, and for employers seeking to make effective job descriptions to attract the best candidates for vacant production designer roles.

Having some knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of a production designer is useful to everyone in the entertainment industry to gain some insight on how the fantastic big-screen worlds are produced.

References:

Zippia: Salary, Employment

Salary

Career Explorer: Job Satisfaction