Production Designer

In film production, the production designer is a senior creative position which involves collaborating with other senior staff to create the overall visual style for the film.

Set design is a key part of this process but the production designer must also work in with any other department which may effect the look and feel of the film. Staff which are typically collaborated with include:

• Director, producer and director of photography
• Locations manager
• Wardrobe and costume, hair and makeup
• Special effects
• Set decorators
• Props master
• Art designer, art department and construction staff

History

The term production designer is said to have been first used in the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind (the production designer was William Cameron Menzies). Previously, the term art director was used for this position. Since then the definition of art director has expanded to include anyone who supervises set construction.