In film and television, a production designer or P.D is the individual responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as a film, TV program, video game, music video or advertisement. Production designers have a key imaginative role in the creation of motion pictures and television.
- reading scripts to identify factors indicating a particular visual style;
- considering the production brief, which may be written or oral;
- meeting the producer and director to discuss concepts and production requirements;
- researching art history, background politics, historical information and producing design ideas;
- planning and monitoring the design budget;
- providing scale drawings or models for studio or theatre sets;
- producing design ideas for costumes, wigs, props, special effects, make-up and graphics;
- identifying and assessing potential studios and locations;
- sourcing appropriate materials and researching effects;
- presenting ideas to others involved in the production, such as actors and camera operators;
- researching, estimating and preparing a property list;
- hiring and managing an art department team or teams (depending on the size of the production);
- instructing the set construction company, scenic artists and special effects specialists, and monitoring their work;
- liaising with the costume designer and the director of photography, as well as the props, lighting and sound directors;
- attending progress meetings, rehearsals and filming to advise on visual presentation.
