Set Designers Combine a Love of Theater With a Love of Art?

Answer 1

A career as a set designer is a great option for people who love the theater but hate the idea of performing. It’s also a great way to combine a love of theater with a love of art, since set designers are, essentially, artists for the theater.

A set designer designs and creates the backdrops and set pieces used in a theater production. Set pieces may include rooms with walls, doors and windows, building facades, reproductions of outdoor spaces or, in some cases, simple configurations of platforms to create an idea of a space. A set designer works closely with the lighting designer and prop master, since all these elements work together to become what an audience sees as the setting of a play. He also needs to communicate closely with the costume designer, as it’s important for colors of the set and costumes to work together. Of course, a set designer works most closely with the play’s director, as the director expects the set designer to bring his artistic vision for a play to life.

A set designer can come from a background in either art or theater. He needs to have an artistic eye, whether he’s designing a realistic set for a representational play or an abstract set for an avant garde play. He needs to be able to work with others and be willing to cooperate and sometimes compromise his own ideas for the overall vision of the play. In some cases, when the set designer is also the set builder, he needs to have some carpentry background, as well.

There are no specific requirements to become a set designer, though there are degrees available in set design, and this can help a set designer to hone his craft and achieve his goals. A set designer learns by working. He may start by doing volunteer work for community theater to gain experience before he approaches regional theaters about paying positions. Other avenues for set designers include teaching set design, which may also include opportunities for building sets for school productions, both on the high school and university levels.

The salary for set designers varies widely based on the size of theater you work for, but it generally begins at around $30,000 and can top out at $70,000 or more.