hi

Simran Agarwal

How to get into designing production sets for movies

I recently came across this career where one gets to design sets for the movies. I wished to know how could get into that profession?


by Simran Agarwal
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2 answers

RE: How to get into designing production sets for movies

Meghna Mukherjee
Meghna Mukherjee
Verified Career Expert
Counselor at Adaptive Minds
  • Mumbai

This is an age old line. Mainly related with media whether it is film production or theaters or stage shows.

Someone needs to design the sets as per the script.
The entire set needs to give a feel of what the script is talking about and hence we needed Stage artists or set artists to do the work.

Earlier the work was done by localities and no much educational qualifications were needed.

The person with good designing skills,artistry work would be involved accordingly.

Now also the field remains open. But in case you looking out for a qualification, then a BFA program could be advantageous. .Bachelors in Fine ART(BFA) exposes you to the intricate detailing of sets. It is a 3 years program, after 12th any stream, you would have to clear an entrance exam.
There is also a Designing course called Product design, whereby you get to modify a product. It is called a Bachelors in Product designing. After 12th, you would have to clear Designing entrance exams and then a 4 years course.

Also there are institute or Academy opened by Media industry which trains you in this area of cinematography,production,.set designs etc. After Graduation, you can opt for those certificate programs and they have placements too.
You could also do an Event manager course and get into Set designing.
As a Set designer, you need good reasoning capacity,an eye for details, understanding of scripts and work of artists, good communication skills, good mental and physical health and please note there would be no fixed timings as such,it is round the clock job.

Just a suggestion, since Media is a very fluctuating line, new artists with good ideas,you may loose your job, and no set artists are permanent employees they work under contract,why don't you take it up as a part-time employment,. You may open up your own studio and work on the basis of contract,whereby you attend only when the show needs you.
Rest of the time you can take up a full time employment elsewhere.
Depending on your interests you could work as a Production designer with FMCG or pharma or electronic company. As a BFA professional you could find jobs in ART galleries, museums or arts houses.


Get yourself also certified as a web designer or animator or graphic designers.

If you are particularly interested in Media ,then after 12th,you could opt for BMM, and opt for courses like Film production, journalism, photography,voice over artists and so on.

Choice is yours. Take a wise decision.

All the very best....

RE: How to get into designing production sets for movies

Erik Roy
Erik Roy

To break into designing production sets for movies, you'll typically need a strong background in architecture, interior design, or fine arts

. Start by building a portfolio that showcases your design skills, including sketches, 3D models, and previous work on smaller projects like theater or independent films. Networking is key in the film industry, so attending industry events and joining film production groups can help. You can also gain experience by assisting established set designers or working as a production assistant on film sets. For a creative outlet, you could explore visual design using the Castle music app, where artists share unique creations that could inspire your set designs.

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RE: How to get into designing production sets for movies

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Caching Date: 2/10/2025 9:14:40 PM