When you enter a theatre to see a show you are brought into another world. A set designer can make you feel like you're in Paris, France or in a housewife's kitchen in the 1950s. You could also see a very realistic set that shows you exactly what the landscape would look like in real life or you could see an original design that uses an old central heating boiler to depict the inside of a spaceship or could view a minimalist set to showcase a Shakespeare play. Being a set designer means being both creative and resourceful. Here are some tips if you're thinking of becoming a set designer.
There are many university and college degrees throughout North America that offer different programs that can train you to work in set design or set construction. Most of these are going to be Bachelors of Arts or Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees and could be called something like Theatre Design, Theatre Arts, Theatre Production, or Technical Theatre. Most will teach you the basics of all of the different elements of backstage theatre production from learning how to work the lights to using industrial insulation as a building tool.
When you're choosing a school you should make sure that there is a good combination between class work and practical study. When pursuing a career like set design you definitely will want a blend between learning the history of theatre and gaining hands-on experience. This could mean working with used woodworking equipment in the carpentry lab while you're still writing essays on Commedia Dell'Arte and Moliere.
While your degree will teach you all of the theories and history behind set design, the best way to learn is to participate in theatre productions. You could work as part of the set construction team and find out some creative techniques for creating a set on a budget or could work on getting the perfect daylighting as part of the lighting crew. In the theatre industry it's extremely important to build your resume and work your way up to a position like set designer. Working any job backstage should help you get there.
Once you have experience as a set designer in theatre you might want to branch out and work in film and television as well. You could get some extra money for a week designing the set for a commercial about Bahco tools or could find a steady career working for a popular comedy series. But, if you want to work in this sector you are likely going to need to live in New York, Toronto, or California to find a steady paycheck.
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