Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Display Coordinator
- Exhibit Designer
- Scenic Designer
- Set Designer
Alternate Job Titles
- Creator
- Designer
- Display Coordinator
- Display Designer
- Event Decorator
- Event Designer
- Exhibit Coordinator
- Exhibit Designer
- Exhibit Preparator
- Exhibit Specialist
- Exhibit Technician (Exhibit Tech)
- Exhibitions Coordinator
- Exhibitor
- Exhibits Manager
- Exhibits Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Fine Arts
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Building and Construction
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Analysis
- Time Management
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Fluency of Ideas
- Oral Comprehension
- Visualization
- Originality
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Achievement Orientation
- Dependability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Access
Tools & Equipment
- Airbrush paint applicators
- All-purpose scissors
- Claw hammers
- Digital still cameras
- Electric arc welding equipment
- Furniture staplers
- General purpose paintbrushes
- Handsaws
- Laptop computers
- Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
- Paint application rollers
- Personal computers
- Pneumatic nail guns
- Portable air compressors
- Portable stepladders
Work Environment
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,990 |
| Median | $66,280 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $129,420 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 10,850
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Graphic Designers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $61,300
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $60,560
Art Directors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $111,040
Craft Artists
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,480
Commercial and Industrial Designers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $79,450
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.