Studio and Set Design Education and Training

Learn how to get the background you need for a career in TV studio design
By Lesley Graybeal Film and television studio set design requires a specific set of creative and technical skills that you can acquire through a combination of degree and training programs. Most applicants for jobs in set design for TV studios have a college background in theater production, recording, drafting, graphic design, architecture or another art-related form of media.

You can also receive specialized studio and set design education and training from a set design college degree program online or on campus. No form of training for studio set design is complete without training in how to use drawing and drafting software and how to build a portfolio of your work.

When searching for studio and set design education and training, consider the following options:

1. Get a degree in studio and set design from a college or university.
2. Find training in AutoCAD or another drafting program for working on a TV studio set.
3. Learn how to share your TV studio designs with potential employers using a portfolio.
   

Get a college degree in studio and set design

If you don't have an educational background in theater, art or production, a degree in recording or television studio design will help give you the creative skills you need. A number of programs exist online or on college campuses that include coursework in set design, production technology and digital media.
Try:  DArTT Institute offers online programs in digital arts and media, as does the Art Institute of Pittsburgh online division. Columbia Academy's certificate program in studio and sound design offers more technical training in the leading software used in TV and recording studios.

Use training in drafting software to develop competitive skills for TV studio design

The responsibilities of a studio designer are largely to create drawings and set drafts based on production guidelines. Therefore, a TV studio set designer needs to have strong drawing and drafting skills and be able to use leading software programs in the field. Many training programs for AutoCAD and other drawing and drafting programs are available online or by mail.
Try:  Download the ebook Tips and Tricks for Using AutoCAD 2008 for the most up-to-date advice and training for this common drafting software program. The AutoCAD Made Simple program is another solution for people with no background in drafting who aspire to enter a career in television studio set design.

Learn how to showcase your television studio design skills with a design portfolio

When seeking a position in studio and set design, you will need to be able to demonstrate your design capabilities in a comprehensive and easy-to-view manner. Like other creative and artistic jobs, most set designers present their work in a digital portfolio, so your training in set design will not be complete without learning how to create a cutting edge portfolio representation of your design abilities.
Try:  Get tips for how to create a successful design portfolio from Smashing Magazine. You the Designer also offers a simple guide for creating a one-page design portfolio that requires basic knowledge of web design.

• Keep in mind that a career as a set designer often begins with a job as a set assistant on a film or TV studio set. Experience on a set can be just as important for building a resume in TV studio design as having earned a degree in an art or theater related field.