Production designer, theatre/television/film: Entry requirements

Relevant degree/HND subjects include those related to art and design. The following subjects in particular are most likely to provide relevant skills and knowledge:

theatre/performance design;
creative/performing/technical arts;
interior design;
landscape architecture/design;
3-D design;
graphic design/illustration;
drama/theatre studies;
fine art/visual art;
architecture.

A design qualification is good preparation for work in production design as it will allow you to build up a portfolio, which you can use to demonstrate your imagination, technical ability and strong sense of spatial understanding. Entry without a degree or HND is sometimes possible, but you would usually need an excellent design portfolio and to have worked your way up from a craft-level job in the industry.

A specialist postgraduate qualification in production design or scenography may be useful. Postgraduate courses often provide opportunities to make contacts in the industry.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

a flair for generating original creative ideas and the ability to present them to others;
the ability to communicate ideas through technical drawing and model making;
a good working knowledge of the visual arts and production processes;
a critical view of film, television, or theatre, and familiarity with the work of specific designers;
persistence to follow-up leads and gain work;
the ability to work with others, at all levels, as part of a team;
the ability to manage a design project from start to finish, to tight deadlines;
the capacity to be resourceful and adaptable, and the ability to solve practical and conceptual problems;
the ability to work independently;
the confidence and ability to appoint and supervise a design team or art department.

As with most jobs in the creative industries, competition is fierce. Getting involved with student theatre/film/music societies will enable you to make contacts, gain experience of working on a production and build up your portfolio with examples of spatial design. It is also advisable to enter competitions, such as the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design , as successful entrants have the chance to work with leading British companies on opera, theatre or dance productions. This competition also gives 12 short-listed designers the opportunity to exhibit their models and designs at the Royal National Theatre in London.

It is important to be proactive about making contacts and seeking out opportunities in order to get industry experience and paid work. Industry journals can be a good source of information on what is happening and ideas for networking within the industry. If you are applying speculatively for jobs, a good first approach is to ask if someone would be willing to discuss your portfolio. Try to project a professional, confident image that is not too pushy. A favourable impression can then lead to work opportunities. Another way into this field is to work as an assistant to an established freelancer, who might take on an extra pair of hands for a particular project if timescales are short.

In film, an accepted route to gaining practical experience of the production process is to start as a runner in the art department, progressing through design assistant to art director. FT2 - Film & Television Freelance Training runs a London-based, full-time training course for new entrants called Design First, but places for art department assistants are extremely limited. In theatre, some new entrants assist experienced designers with model-making; but be aware that if you spend a prolonged period of time model-making, you may find it difficult to get a break in design work. Working on fringe productions is a good way into the theatre scene, enabling you to 'showcase' your work to potential employers.

Most designers start with irregular contracts and low wages, and this can be difficult to manage if you have financial commitments. However, a move across from a related area, e.g. interior design or architecture, may be possible mid-career.

For more information see work experience and find courses and research.

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