What does a set designer do?
Set designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real set designer resumes:
- Develop UNIX shell scripts to automate file manipulation and data loading process.
- Develop marketing and brand awareness initiatives through social media outlets; create and manage company Facebook and Houzz profiles.
- Used PL/SQL for writing procedures and triggers.
- Trouble-Shout, reload and reject records using DTS, SQL scripts.
- Create stored procedures, functions, packages, views and triggers using PL/SQL.
- Project entail building a Halloween store set for the movie team in Cleveland area.
- Institute the transportation, delivery, and installation of custom set pieces, props, and costumes.
- Used rational clear case, clear quest for defect management and version control of the created procedures and UNIX scripts.
- Design, construct and alter costumes
- Prepare and update technical packages in PLM operating system utilizing designers sketch and original sample.
- Use architectural and structural-base external reference drawings files as backgrounds for communication, electrical, HVAC mechanical and structural revisions.
Set designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 36% of Set Designers are proficient in Set Design, Art Direction, and Photography. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Set Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Set Design, 36%
Set Designer/ Photography Assistant- New York CityFinish Carpentry.
- Art Direction, 17%
Provided scenic design consultation, color scheme development and art direction for 4 play productions throughout the year with director.
- Photography, 9%
Coordinated Product Photography, scheduled, purchased and assembled products Supervised temp labor.
- CAD, 6%
Devised and implemented CAD standards for use in set construction documents.
- Graphic Design, 6%
Developed construction documents to implement various concepts in interior design, graphic design, and film sets.
- Concept Development, 5%
Created 3D visualizations and modeling for concept development and presentations.
Most set designers use their skills in "set design," "art direction," and "photography" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential set designer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a set designer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what set designers do 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 set designer resume shows how set designers use analytical skills: "implemented oracle warehouse builder to perform data conversion. "
Artistic ability. Another essential skill to perform set designer duties is artistic ability. Set designers responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Set designers also use artistic ability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "use of communication, creative vision, mathematics, and artistic skills. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for set designers to perform their duties. For an example of how set 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 set designer: "specialized in brand communications and product development in the communications group for an international, interdisciplinary, design firm. ".
Computer skills. For certain set designer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "computer skills." The day-to-day duties of a set designer rely on this skill, as "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what set designers do: "supervised and delegated freelance artist to achieve timely deadlines chief computer artist and trained staff in cad systems. "
Creativity. A commonly-found skill in set designer job descriptions, "creativity" is essential to what set designers do. Set designer responsibilities rely on this skill because "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." You can also see how set designer duties rely on creativity in this resume example: "assisted designing creative and appropriate sets for bugsy malone, jr. Production. "
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to set designer responsibilities. Much of what a set 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 set designers: "developed innovative set designs within budget and deadlines. "
The three companies that hire the most set designers are:
- Stanley Black & Decker2 set designers jobs
- Thinkwell1 set designers jobs
- Pioneer High School1 set designers jobs
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Compare different set designers
Set designer vs. Exhibit builder
Graphic designers are visual communicators who create graphic ideas to deliver a message through art and images which inspire, inform, and motivate consumers with the use of computer software, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or by hand. They have the ability to design stunning illustrations that are easily understood, even without a lot of thinking or based on the demand of their clients. It is very crucial to them as well to be flexible and to stay on top of the design trends. They create websites, posters, packaging, logos, advertising, and marketing materials, depending on the nature of the business.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between set designers and exhibit builder. For instance, set designer responsibilities require skills such as "set design," "art direction," "photography," and "graphic design." Whereas a exhibit builder is skilled in "exhibit structures," "shop tools," "cnc router," and "exhibit components." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that exhibit builders earn slightly differ from set designers. In particular, exhibit builders are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a set designer. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Set designer vs. Set decorator
Each career also uses different skills, according to real set designer resumes. While set designer responsibilities can utilize skills like "photography," "scale drawings," "cad," and "graphic design," set decorators use skills like "feature film," "grip," "film production," and "tv show."
Set decorators earn similar levels of education than set designers in general. They're 1.9% 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 set designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Set designer vs. Show design supervisor
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, set designers are more likely to have skills like "set design," "art direction," "photography," and "scale drawings." But a show design supervisor is more likely to have skills like "a/v," "booth design," "show reports," and "corporate events."
Most show design supervisors achieve a similar degree level compared to set designers. For example, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Set designer vs. Graphic designer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between set designers and graphic designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a set designer might have more use for skills like "set design," "photography," "scale drawings," and "cad." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of graphic designers require skills like "adobe creative suite," "adobe illustrator," "typography," and "brochures. "
Graphic designers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $59,067. For comparison, set designers earn the highest salary in the education industry.graphic designers reach lower levels of education compared to set designers, in general. The difference is that they're 5.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of set designer
Updated January 8, 2025
