Studio and Set Design Key Terms

Learn studio and set design key terms to effectively communicate with other industry experts

By Christine Pollock

A set designer is a professional who is responsible for setting up the visuals in a television, theater or film environment. The set designer works closely with the art director, so it's important to understand studio and set design key terms for clear communications.

Understanding studio and set design key terms offers you insight into the many facets of the set designing job. Knowing the terminology also keeps you current with trends and changes in the filming industry.

Graphic panels

Used in newsroom set design, this type of panel provides a colorful background for on-screen display.
Try: Go to oDesk for information on different types of graphic panels you might use for a television studio. Learn the pros and cons of each of the graphic panels through customer reviews and ratings.

Set design

The term set design, also called industry design or a production design, is the creation of scenery for theater, film or television.
Try: The Curators of the University of Missouri describe the way the company updates its set design in its studios. The site offers an image of the newest set design.

Design portfolio

A design portfolio is a set of records demonstrating your talents and creativity in jobs already completed. Most studio designers present their portfolio in a digital format.
Try: Qfolio.com offers examples of online digital portfolios for set designers. It shows images of scenery used for set design.

Art director

The art director works closely with set designers in crafting a visual image for scenes displayed through the camera.
Try: IMDb.com defines many terms used in studio and set design. It discusses the role of the art director, who works closely with the production designer and the set designer.

Acting area

The term acting area refers to the part of a stage that an audience or viewer can see.
Try: Philosophy Webring describes in detail ways to set up your theater design. It gives a rundown on the acting area and ways a set designer can work around it.

Scenographer

The Scenographer is a set and studio designer who is responsible for all production aspects that are visual such as scenery, costumes and lighting.
Try: Steph Stuff offers an in-depth look at a scenographer's duties. It discusses the perception of set design requirements for a scenographer in the United States.