What Do Set and Exhibit Designers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Set and Exhibit Designers design special exhibits and movie, television, and theater sets. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles. They also prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.

Other tasks include:

• Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
• Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
• Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.

We asked Set and Exhibit Designers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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76% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 54% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Set and Exhibit Designers direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements. They develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.

• Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.
• Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds.
• Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special-effects components.
• Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.
• Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.

We asked some Set and Exhibit Designers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	70% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	61% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	14% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	22% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Set and Exhibit Designers also attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets. They may also select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Set and Exhibit Designers Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects. They might also Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.

In addition, they Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.

To some Set and Exhibit Designers, it is also their responsibility to Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Set and Exhibit Designer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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