Set Designer

Be it a school play or a Broadway show, Set Designers are responsible for the artistic design and presentation of a stage. Your job as Set Designer includes charting out which scenery, props, and construction are necessary to complement a planned production, then working with Designers, Directors, and construction teams to make that vision a reality. You typically work on theater, television and movie productions, though on the last you are referred to as a Production Designer.

Your work environment is hectic as you are bringing together a lot of moving parts. In a given hour you could oversee Carpenters, rearrange furniture, and repaint the forest background because the Director hated it. So if you want to be a Set Designer, be prepared for long hours. A cool head is important too, you don’t lose it if the Carpenter built Juliet’s balcony a foot above the ground. No matter what happens, you need to stay collected and make sure the job gets done. By weaving together all these pieces, you create a scene of art that complements and enhances the performance it surrounds.

On the whole, being a Set Designer is pretty awesome. So awesome, in fact, that many people do it on a volunteer or low-paid basis. But if you want to make this your bread and butter then aim for professional productions.