What does a production designer do?
A production designer is responsible for monitoring the visual presentation of a media or theatre production, ensuring the set's adherence to the theme, and presenting visual elements according to the production requirements. Production designers research the current industry trends for creative ideas that would attract the audience, creating outstanding visual pictures throughout the production. In most cases, production designers also operate software systems and tools to suggest graphic effects and support the artistic team for deliverables. A production designer develops all visual plans within the budget goals and discusses adjustments to the production management team as needed.
Production designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real production designer resumes:
- Manage website redesign including copywriting and updating all website content.
- Migrate HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML content from outside sources into content management system.
- Edit existing PowerPoint slides to enhance the corporate message.
- Create 3D files and renderings for packaging using SolidWorks and KeyShot.
- Hire by Collins as a design liaison between Collins and Facebook design teams.
- Develop and maintain company website and social presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and other networks.
- Design new web pages and follow standards of HTML, that include images, logos, usability and accessibility.
- Work with sales to meet customers' needsGenerate new cad drawings using ScoreOperate cad tableMeet with customer's to discuss their needs
- Create and format PowerPoint presentations.
- Design custom mold packaging using Solidworks software.
- Use ArtiosCAD packaging software for designing primary and secondary corrugate containers.
- Design corrugated packaging for a variety of consumer and industrial products using ArtiosCAD software.
- Design posters for trade shows for the telecommunications community graphically describing the products DSET offer.
- Provide editorial work and on-screen graphics, graphical animation and effects for the acclaimed feature documentary.
- Create promotional fliers and posters for community centers and local businesses in both Nevada and Georgia, greatly increasing attendance/revenue.
Production designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Production Designers are proficient in Sketch, Graphic Design, and Adobe Creative Suite. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Production Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Sketch, 11%
Research, Design, Sketch, Sew, and Create looks based upon century.
- Graphic Design, 10%
Provided interpretation of concepts and information developing it into a compelling presentation utilizing graphic design standards.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 9%
Organized annual training and wrote summaries on Adobe Creative Suite, ensuring optimal productivity using core tool set.
- Digital Marketing, 4%
Designed email newsletters and digital marketing materials, managing accuracy and quality control across all project stages.
- HTML, 4%
Created intuitive interface designs for HTML and Flash driven websites which targeted multiple demographics and increased revenue Queue, Inc.
- Adobe Indesign, 4%
Designed and formatted newspaper pages using Adobe InDesign
Most production designers use their skills in "sketch," "graphic design," and "adobe creative suite" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential production designer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a production designer to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Additionally, a production designer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "develop design concepts by gathering information and data to clarify design issues through discussion with project management. "
Artistic ability. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling production designer duties is artistic ability. The role rewards competence in this skill because "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." According to a production designer resume, here's how production designers can utilize artistic ability in their job responsibilities: "produced several monthly newsletters by following precise artistic limitations and strict style sheets. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for production designers to perform their duties. For an example of how production designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a production designer: "worked as a 1099 freelance graphic and production designer for janson communications as well as several other small businesses. ".
Computer skills. A big part of what production designers do relies on "computer skills." You can see how essential it is to production designer responsibilities because "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical production designer tasks: "trained a lot of people in using apple computers and graphic softwares: quarkxpress, photoshop. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a production designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what production designers relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to production designer duties can be seen in an example from a production designer resume snippet: "transformed my one-man creative production process into a system that is now shared by six production designers. "
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to production designer responsibilities. Much of what a production designer does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of production designers: "work closely with project management and print production teams to maintain project schedules and meet multiple overlapping deadlines. "
The three companies that hire the most production designers are:
- Uline17 production designers jobs
- iHeartMedia13 production designers jobs
- Apple9 production designers jobs
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Compare different production designers
Production designer vs. Designer/art director
An art director collaborates with the design and art staff for books, public relations firms, advertising agencies, or newspaper publishers. Art directors create designs and layouts that embody the organization and send the message they want the audience to get. They work with producers and directors of theatres, television, and movie productions to oversee set designs. Being an art director also includes critiquing people's work, working to reach deadlines while still following the budget allocated for a certain project, and (on occasion) disciplining designers who are slacking off on the job.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, production designer responsibilities require skills like "digital marketing," "adobe indesign," "project management," and "production design." Meanwhile a typical designer/art director has skills in areas such as "photography," "creative concepts," "product design," and "website design." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Designer/art directors earn the highest salaries when working in the media industry, with an average yearly salary of $100,319. On the other hand, production designers are paid more in the internet industry with an average salary of $91,521.The education levels that designer/art directors earn slightly differ from production designers. In particular, designer/art directors are 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a production designer. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Production designer vs. Graphic designer/production
A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that production designer responsibilities requires skills like "digital marketing," "project management," "production design," and "animation." But a graphic designer/production might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "signage," "brochures," "product photography," and "posters."
On average, graphic designer/productions earn a lower salary than production designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, graphic designer/productions earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $59,531. Whereas production designers have higher pay in the internet industry, with an average salary of $91,521.graphic designer/productions earn similar levels of education than production designers in general. They're 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for production designers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida
Production designer vs. Design director
A design director spearheads and oversees design projects in a company or organization. They typically have the authority to lead the creative and design teams, make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities, set goals and schedules, manage budgets and resources, and direct the project's cycle from planning to execution. They also coordinate with clients and solve issues when any arise. Additionally, a design director leads and encourages teams to reach goals, all while implementing standards and policies, developing new ones when necessary.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from production designer resumes include skills like "adobe creative suite," "adobe indesign," "adobe photoshop," and "production design," whereas a design director is more likely to list skills in "human centered design," "product design," "user experience," and "architecture. "
Design directors make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $155,570. On the other hand, production designers are paid the highest salary in the internet industry, with average annual pay of $91,521.When it comes to education, design directors tend to earn higher degree levels compared to production designers. In fact, they're 5.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Production designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
Types of production designer
Updated January 8, 2025
