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Set and Exhibit Designers

 

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.

 

Interests

The Arts - High scorers on The Arts scale usually:

• prize independence
• enjoy creative activities such as music, writing, entertainment, and art
• appreciate the artistic works of others in museums, theatres, and books
• actively seek opportunities for self expression

Crafts - High scorers on the Crafts scale usually:

• prefer to work with tools and objects rather than with people and words
• like to build things
• want to see practical results from their work
• enjoy mechanical activities
• like work that requires physical strength

 

Tasks

People in this occupation usually engage in these work activities:

1.  Examine objects to be included in exhibits in order to plan where and how to display them.

2.  Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.

3.  Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.

4.  Confer with clients and staff in order to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, and/or promotion requirements.

5.  Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.

6.  Develop set designs based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.

7.  Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities in order to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.

8.  Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications, and satisfactory operation of special effects components.

9.  Plan for location-specific issues such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.

10.  Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.

11.  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.

12.  Select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.

 

Skills

People in this occupation usually describe themselves as having these abilities:

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

 

Knowledge

People in this occupation usually describe themselves as having education or training in these areas:

Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

 

Education / Training

Set and exhibit designers usually have a bachelor’s degree. Many four-year colleges and universities grant the Bachelor of Arts (BFA) degree. In this program, you take courses in art, art history, principles of design, designing, and sketching. In addition, you may take courses specific to individual design fields.

About 200 colleges and universities have approved programs in art and design. Before acceptance you may have to submit sketches or other examples of artistic ability. Most of these institutions award a degree in art or fine art. Some award degrees specifically in set design.

Regardless of your major, you should take classes in computer-aided design (CAD).

Combining a bachelor’s degree in design with further study in a museum specialty is a good way to prepare for exhibit design.

 

Instructional Programs

Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology - A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic, technical and dramatic principles and techniques to the communication of dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through technical theatre methods. Includes instruction in set design, lighting design, sound effects, theatre acoustics, scene painting, property management, costume design, and technical direction and production and use of computer applications to support these functions above.

Design and Visual Communications, General - A program in the applied visual arts that focuses on the general principles and techniques for effectively communicating ideas and information, and packaging products, in digital and other formats to business and consumer audiences, and that may prepare individuals in any of the applied art media.

 

Wages

In 2016, the US annual wage range for Set and Exhibit Designers was between:

$36,690 - $73,330

 

Outlook

It is anticipated that in 2022, employment for Set and Exhibit Designers will number 12,100.

There will be an increase of 70 new positions annually (0.61%). This means that this occupation is growing more slowly than average.

 

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