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Set designer

Set designers create the settings and backdrops for commercials, television, theatre and films.

Annual Salary

£0 to £0

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

40 to 42 variable

You could work: freelance / self-employed; managing your own hours

0.5%
Future employment

There will be 0.5% more Set designer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a set designer, you could:

  • read scripts and discuss the director's vision for the production
  • research details that will go into the set design
  • work closely with costume, make-up, props, camera and lighting teams
  • design scale models to show how sets will look, and make refinements
  • oversee the building of sets by your team
  • create digital scenery to project onto stage and set backdrops
  • make sure sets are built on time and to an agreed budget

Working environment

You could work in a theatre, in an office, on a film set, at a film studio or in a creative studio.

Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors some of the time.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
University

You can study for a higher national diploma or degree in a relevant subject, like:

  • fine art
  • interior design
  • architecture
  • 3D design
  • theatre design

You could also do a course in performing arts production or design for film and television at some universities, colleges and drama schools.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College

You could do a creative course at college to learn some of the skills you'll need to get a trainee position.

Courses include:

  • production arts practice
  • art and design
  • photography
  • interior design

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Scenic Artist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This can take around 2 years to complete and is a mix of workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You could get a junior position with a company and work your way up through training and promotion.

For example, you might start as a:

Volunteering and work experience

You'll find it useful to build a portfolio of your design work to show potential employers what you can do.

You can use examples from being involved in:

  • student theatre or film
  • local amateur or community theatre
  • low budget independent films

More information

Career tips

If you're aged between 16 and 30 and want to learn more about backstage careers in theatre, you could attend workshops and talks run by organisations like TheatreCraft.

Further information

You can find out more about working in television, theatre and film from:ScreenSkills; Get Into Theatre; Get Into Film

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With experience, you could become a senior set designer or production designer. You might also move to working on larger film, TV and theatre productions.

Set designers often work freelance, so making and developing good contacts in your particular field is important for career progression.

Creative Skillset and Creative Careers has more information on relevant courses and becoming a set designer.

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Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • knowledge of the fine arts
  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
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