Set and Exhibit Designers

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as durable (75%).

• Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
• Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
• Plan for location-specific issues, such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.
• Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.
• Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.

• Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
• Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.
• Select set props, such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.
• Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
• Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
• Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
• Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.
• Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.
• Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special-effects components.
• Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.
• Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
• Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.
• Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
• Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds.
• Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.