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Prop Design Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Flex across writing, art direction, visual design and motion guidance--building ideas that live ... Light, compose, prop and art direct your own work * Work within legal requirements, client brand ...

Prop Design information

See Portland, OR salary details

$19

$53

$78

How much do prop design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for prop design in Portland, OR is $53.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.54 and $65.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is prop design?

Prop design is the process of creating and developing objects that actors interact with on stage, in film, or on television. These objects, known as props, can range from everyday items like books and cups to fantastical creations for imaginative worlds. Prop designers work closely with directors, set designers, and other production staff to ensure props meet the story's needs, are safe for use, and fit the visual style of the production. Their work may involve sketching, building, painting, and sometimes sourcing items. Effective prop design helps bring authenticity and depth to a production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prop designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Prop Designer, you need strong artistic ability, spatial awareness, and a solid understanding of design principles, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Familiarity with digital design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, or CAD), model-making tools, and sometimes 3D printing technologies is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are vital soft skills for bringing concepts to life and working within larger creative teams. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling, functional props that enhance storytelling and meet production needs.

What are some common challenges faced by prop designers when collaborating with directors and other creative departments?

Prop designers often collaborate closely with directors, set designers, and costume teams to ensure that props align with the overall vision of a production. A common challenge is balancing creative ideas with practical constraints like budget, materials availability, and time. Effective communication is essential, as last-minute script changes or design adjustments may require rapid problem-solving and flexibility. Building strong relationships with other departments helps streamline the process and ensures that props enhance the storytelling while meeting safety and functional requirements.

What is the difference between Prop Design vs Set Design?

AspectProp DesignSet Design
Primary FocusCreating and sourcing individual props used on setDesigning entire physical environments and backgrounds
Required SkillsProp sourcing, craftsmanship, attention to detailSet construction, spatial planning, scenic design
Work EnvironmentWorkshops, on-location, studioStudio, on-location, construction sites
Industry UsageFilm, TV, theater, commercialsFilm, TV, theater, events

Prop Design focuses on creating and sourcing individual objects that enhance storytelling, while Set Design involves designing entire environments. Both roles collaborate closely but serve different aspects of production design.

How do you become a prop designer?

To become a prop designer, develop skills in art, sculpture, and design, often through a degree in fine arts, design, or a related field. Gaining experience with tools like CAD software and building a strong portfolio are essential, along with understanding the production process and collaborating with set designers and directors.

What are popular job titles related to Prop Design jobs in Portland, OR?

For Prop Design jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Prop Design job openings in Portland, OR as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $111,815 per year, or $53.8 per hour.

Senior Content Creator

Portland, OR • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Lead the creative development of social-first content from idea to execution.

  • Manage and provide feedback to junior and mid-level content creators to hone their skills.

  • Collaborate with teams and clients to develop platform-specific content that drives engagement.


Job description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

Who we are looking for

VML is looking for a conceptually strong, creatively hybrid Senior Social Content Creator to join the Creative Team at VML. This role requires someone who is a seasoned social-first thinker and can concept, write, shoot, edit and understands what will connect with our clients’ audiences on today’s ever-evolving social platforms. This role is for someone who has experience creating influencer-style content in which they star OR this role is for a maker-style creator who can artfully shoot and capture breakthrough, inspiring content.

You’re equal parts creative thinker and hands-on doer—fluent in creation and editing tools, as well as GenAI tools. Your approach is both artful and strategic, creating work that is native to the platform, rooted in cultural and audience insights, attuned to social trends and optimized for the algorithms.

You’re capable of both working independently or partnering with social creative and strategy teams to bring work to life in a fast-paced environment. You’ll be able to lead concepting and execution of always-on social content for brand-owned social channels, paid social advertising, social campaigns and creative storytelling across platforms such as Instagram, X, Threads, YouTube Shorts, TikTok and LinkedIn (depending on the client).

What you’ll do
  • Lead the creative development of content and social-first projects—from idea through hands‑on execution
  • Manage junior and mid-level content creators on projects by providing feedback on their ideas and work and helping them hone their conceptual and executional skillsets
  • Regularly connect with clients to create a partnership that builds trust in our thought leadership and ideas, from presenting work to articulating the “why” behind the creative
  • Flex across writing, art direction, visual design and motion guidance—building ideas that live natively in feed
  • Collaborate with creative teams, strategy, project managers, producers and client leads
  • Help inform strategic briefs in partnership with strategy team to ensure they provide a springboard for strong social creative
  • Craft platform-specific executions that show an understanding of algorithms, community behaviors and what drives engagement
  • Light, compose, prop and art direct your own work
  • Work within legal requirements, client brand guidelines and other guardrails
  • Stay up to speed on new content formats and innovations across social platforms
  • Incorporate learnings and insights about what works and performs well into your work
  • Lead brainstorms and meetings—helping to set and level up the creative bar for content across the agency
What you’ll need
  • Minimum 5 years experience as a content creator within an agency, publisher or in-house team
  • Specific client requirements go here: Experience concepting, writing, capturing and starring in live-action content for formats like Instagram Reels or TikTok. OR Experience concepting, writing, art directing and capturing maker-style content
  • Fluency in creation and editing tools such as Instagram Edits, Adobe Creative Suite, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and/or CapCut, as well as GenAI tools, such as Google Veo and Nano Banana
  • A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking and hands‑on execution
  • Deep understanding of content formats, platform best practices and community behaviors
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills, and an ability to take an idea from concept to finished execution quickly, without sacrificing craft
  • You push others to think more strategically, act more natively and experiment more boldly
What we offer
  • Passionate, driven people| We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
  • Consciously cultivated culture| We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
  • Competitive benefits| What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar‑for‑dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
  • Growth-minded opportunities| We aim to nurture a culture of real‑time feedback, growth‑oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package.

_$60,000—$140,000 USDWe believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information,please visit www.vml.com, andfollowalong on Instagram,LinkedIn, and X.

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