Set and Exhibit Designers

Overview

Set and Exhibit Designers has a national median salary of $75,240 per year, with +1.4% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

Work Values

• Achievement
• Independence
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
• Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
• Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.

Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively
• Getting Information
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Working with Computers
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Scheduling Work and Activities

Detailed Work Activities

• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Set and Exhibit Designers:

Video Resources