The types of production designer jobs available often depend on the skills and experience of the job seeker. The job title can sometimes be used to refer to a graphic or web designer, but more often indicates a design position in theater and film production. While many theater and film design professionals aspire to become production designers, they must often work their way through the ranks of lower-level design jobs before finding work at the top of the field. Some of the production designer jobs that a theater or film designer may take include production assistant, set dresser, art director, and fully fledged production designer.
Entry-level production designer jobs are often at the assistant level. Production design assistants may work as helpers and general laborers for the production design department. If a young designer has a specific talent, such as model making or constructing, he or she may be assigned to a specific sub-department for the duration of the project. Many young designers use these jobs as an opportunity to gain skills across the whole field of production design, and may bounce from area to area, learning new design abilities and making professional contacts. Design assistants may work as unpaid interns, volunteers, or paid workers, depending on the project.
A set dresser works under the direction of the set decorator, ensuring that sets are correctly outfitted for a film or television production. Set dressers may need some construction and sewing skills, as well as general design abilities. Dressers help ensure that sets are properly returned to their exact starting position every time a scene is shot, so that continuity can be maintained. Dressers may also assist the decorator in locating, building, or renting furniture and soft items for the sets. Working as a set dresser is another relatively low-level position, that can lead to eventual positions as a production designer.
One of the most common high-level production designer jobs is the art director position. Art directors work directly below the head production designer, and are often responsible for overseeing construction and demolition, managing the design budget and work teams, and carrying out the plans of the production designer. Art directors need to be both creative and well-organized, and frequently work in close contact with the production designer. In some regions, the term “art director” is interchangeable with “production designer,” but on large studio productions they are often two distinct jobs.
Film, television, or theater production designer jobs are highly sought after by most design professionals. Young designers may be able to gain experience as head production designers on independent features, regional plays, or student productions, but may have to work for many years in the studio system before landing a head designer position on a big-budget film, television show, or large-scale theatrical production. Responsible for the visual tone and aesthetic of a project, the production designer must also be able to communicate with the creative team as well as his or her department workers.
