What Is a Scenic Designer and How to Become One
Table of Contents
What Does a Scenic Designer Do?
A scenic designer typically works in the set production department for theatrical, film, or television productions. They can also work for museums, zoos, and other industries that produce special exhibits that require background scenery. Your duties and responsibilities in this career are to create scenery that mimics a physical environment, such as backgrounds used on a sound stage or theater stage, in consultation with other members of the art department and the director. From these consultations, you sketch rough drafts and, with approval from supervisors, begin to build the sets or backdrops, adding any props or fixtures necessary to complete the scene.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Scenic Designer?
The requirements to become a scenic designer include postsecondary education or a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Smaller productions may hire people who have not finished an undergraduate degree. This can be a great way to get experience. In college, you should study scenography, photography, painting, and drafting. You should also hone your AutoCAD or other computer-aided design tool skills. In addition to educational and technical qualifications, you should have strong problem-solving and verbal communication skills.
