The Production Designer is the head of the art department and works closely with a Director to bring the vision of a production to life. They are responsible for the whole of the visual style of the production. This vision is produced by the members of the art department through concept visuals, scale models and construction drawings. The course aim is to provide students with a confident understanding of these pre-production design processes of professional art departments, and also provide an invaluable practical experience of art directing short films, this combination makes the step into industry on graduating a very small one. 

Technical drawing, visualizing and model making underpin the role of the designer and Year 1 starts with a series of modules which provides students with an understanding of all these core principles of concept visualizing, storyboarding, scale model making and construction drawing. All these are taught manually and digitally, so students will understand the process and also learn key software to support the process. AutoCAD, Photoshop, Vray and Sketchup are currently used, and also supported by Technical Demonstrators who are at hand to provide additional support. First Year students will also understand scenic construction materials and processes through practical workshop sessions, also essential to support design understanding. 

TV & Film Set Design Project Modules in Year 1, 2, and 3 develops students design skills over a wide range of genres, and these production design projects become more ambitious and challenging over each project and each year. Students will understand the specific design challenges required to design for all aspects of drama design, including fantasy, science fiction, period drama, contemporary TV, and also non drama and light entertainment.  

In Year 2 the design process and understanding is also supported by practical art direction and professional work experience.  

Working with BA (Hons) Film on two short films gives students the opportunity to work collaboratively with final year film students. The whole process simulates industry practice, students work in production teams, take responsibility to work with a limited budget, attend weekly production meetings, sourcing and making props when required, dressing locations. These opportunities provide students with a practical understanding of the challenges of filmmaking and an understanding of the demands of art departments and production etiquette.  

Theory and critical analysis is embedded within all three years and supports the practical nature of production design and gives students an opportunity to analyse and critique production design.  

The 3rd Year of the course requires students to use their acquired skills and knowledge to produce ambitious and sophisticated design schemes. The briefs and outcomes of the designs will always need to reflect ambition, originality and current industry practice.  

A very high standard of work is expected throughout the course, particularly from the final year when the end of year Degree Show is the focus. This launches each student into industry and is a celebration of their knowledge, aspirations, and ambition.    

Year 1

• Visual Studies TV and Film Design  

Students will address the core principles of producing mood boards, concept visuals and storyboarding for film and TV. Software provision of Photoshop and Vray runs alongside this module.    

• Scenic Construction Principles and Practice  

Through practical workshop instruction and exercises, students will understand materials and techniques used in scenic construction for film and TV. 

• Surveying and Recording Spaces  

Students will understand scale and the core principles of construction drawing and model making. Through practical instruction, students will produce location surveys, produce construction drawings manually and also use AutoCAD, and then produce physical white card model and also digital models using Sketchup.  

• TV and Film Set Design Projects 1   

Students will design for a series of multi camera light entertainment briefs. Understanding how to design from a brief for a specific studio. 

• Histories and Contexts in TV and Film Set Design 

This module will introduce TV and Film Set Design students to the historical, theoretical and artistic contexts that their practical design work will draw upon throughout their course. 

It will provide students with the research, writing and information presentation skills necessary to communicate theory and design concepts.  

Year 2

• Production Design for Period Drama 

Students will break down a short story or script, source a building appropriate for the period and produce a design scheme, which reflects period accuracy. 

• Production Design for Contemporary Television Drama 

This brief requires students to analyse current ongoing drama and produce a design scheme, which reflects current industry practice for multi camera drama.  

• Production Design for Feature 

Students will design for fantasy/ science fiction and produce a production design, which reflects the scale and ambition of high-end TV drama. 

• Professional Practice TV & Film Design 

Students develop their CV and will seek work experience in art departments on professional productions. Students will also work on two short films over the course of the year, and gain practical experience Art Directing short films with 3rd year film students from BA (Hons) Film(Opens in a new tab).   

• Critical Analysis for Production Design 

Following on from the module ‘Histories and Contexts in TV and Film Set Design’, this module aims to engage students in a critical analysis of their own work and of produced work. This module will begin by applying questions of analysis to film and TV productions and to the students own practical design work. 

Year 3

• TV and Film Set Design Minor Project 

Final year students will design for a non-drama brief, typically a high-end TV light entertainment production. An analysis of current TV industry and popular culture is essential for this module.  

• TV and Film Set Design Major Project 

Final year students will adapt from a text and produce a production design scheme for a high-end TV/feature film. 

• TV and Film Set Design Dissertation 

Students will produce a Dissertation which reflects critical analysis of a subject of their choice. This may be from wide-ranging areas of film and TV production design or from a wider design context.  

Subject to revalidation
This course is subject to revalidation, this means it is under review as part of the University’s standard quality assurance and enhancement processes. Course and module content is indicative and may change through the revalidation process. As soon as the course is revalidated, the details will be confirmed and published on the University website.
In the unlikely event the course does not go ahead as planned, or is significantly amended, we will write to inform you. If this happens, we’ll help you to find a suitable alternative course, either at USW or at another provider.

There are strong industry links running throughout the whole of the course, through module and assignment content, written and delivered by a core teaching team with significant industry experience. There are also opportunities for members of art departments to step in and input into many modules.  

Through the varied nature of our course, the main focus for our teaching will be in our designated design studios, but we also use the fabrication workshop as a facility and also the multi camera TV studio. This gives students not only a wide range of facilities, but also the support and expertise from the technical support team for those areas. Software is also taught within specific computer labs by technical demonstrators.  

The combination of design projects delivered in our designated design studios, is also supplemented with studio visits and Masterclass events where Production Designers or members of art departments deliver specific lessons on site in our studios, or virtually or on set combined with a set visit. Masterclass events are always a really exciting part of the course and bring everyone together.

Every module will have its own assessment criteria. As a design based course the majority of our assessments are design based coursework, with submissions reflecting this. There will be a range of other types of assessments including presentations, written submissions, evaluation reports. All of which are designed specifically for you to achieve your best outcome.