production designer Career Path | See the Career Paths People Really Take

designer

graphic designer

set decorator

art director

production manager

production designer

set designer

social media intern

The Art Director creates the visual aspects of a specific campaign and oversees a staff to produce the related designs.  Their role is to provides work direction to a team, assign schedules, coach employees, and meet art department work standards by following production, productivity, quality and customer assistance regulations.  Their responsibilities are to resolve operational queries, identify work process changes, meet art department cost measures by monitoring expenses and implementing cost-saving actions, formulate art concepts, select and secure illustrative stock by forming basic layout design concepts and conducting research, produce layouts for printing by marking-up, pasting-up, and finishing layouts, obtain client approval by offering final layouts, storyboards and models, and improve the results by studying, evaluating and re-designing processes.

Audrey shares her career journey as a successful associate creative director. She shares how to get into a design field and tips for advancing your creative career while staying inspired and fulfilled.

<h2>My Career Path to Associate Creative Director</h2><p>I started out working on a magazine as an intern, and I learned a lot on the job as we do. And then from there, I became a graphic designer. And from there, I became a junior art director. And from there, I became an art director, a senior art director, and now I'm an ACD—associate creative director. So maybe next, I'll be a creative director. But that's kind of like the path.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Pros and Cons of a Creative Leader</h2><p>I think some of the pros are being able to work professionally as an artist. That's a huge pro. And some cons are, you know, you have to be willing and able to understand that you're doing this for a client. So it's not going to always be the work you think it should be.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Creative Environment</h2><p>Creative direction is a job that can often be done totally remote, and that can be a pro and a con. I think going into an office is great because, as an artist, I really need to collaborate. I really need people to balance things off of, and I just need to not be in the same place every day.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Salary</h2><p>I feel really privileged to have a full-time career as a designer. I think salary depends on where you work, every job, not only where you work regionally, but the company you work at. Because, for example, a lot of tech jobs have bigger budgets, smaller companies have smaller budgets. So I think it's good to consider where you want to work, if you want to work at a really big company, if you want to work at a really small company, and then how much is it important to you to make a lot of money? Is it important to you to live in a place where cost of living is low and make enough money? I would look online to really check out—there's a salary guide done every year by maybe the AIGA, and so every year I think it's good to check on that and see where salary guidelines have upped or improved.</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Power of Exposure</h2><p>I think that as an artist, as a creative, getting exposure to different work processes, tools, creative directors, different clients, different types of creative you're working on, different asks is super crucial. If the opportunity comes up to move around, move around often, not only for the creative opportunity but also because they say that the best way to get a raise is to get a new job.</p><p><br></p>

A Designer creates visual trends through media like typography, illustration, photography and layouts.  Their role is producing excellent visual work, generating a host of ideas, selecting the best ones, and selling them to other members of the team and to clients.  Their responsibilities are staying up to date with industry trends, encouraging others to share their ideas, communicating productively with management and clients to keep them up-to-date with project milestones, creating a direction for projects, and guiding team members.

The Graphic Designer uses hand tools or computer softwares to create posters, websites, logos, pamphlets, magazines and other materials to communicate opinions and information.  Their role is planning concepts by studying relevant information and materials, demonstrating concepts, and preparing finished art by operating necessary equipment and software.  Their responsibilities are coordinating with outside agencies, art services, web designers, marketing, printers and co-workers as needed, contributing to team efforts by performing tasks, communicating with clients about layout and design criteria, creating a wide range of graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos and websites, and reviewing final layouts and advising on changes.

Audrey shares her career journey as a successful graphic designer. She shares the importance of a strong portfolio, how to showcase your skills with performance metrics, and tips for advancing your creative career while staying inspired and fulfilled. 

<h2>Graphic Design Necessary Skills</h2><p>Color theory, drawing, and a sense of composition. I think a college or a vocational program just gives you the opportunities and the teachers to help you learn how to do that and to have the opportunity to practice it.</p><p><br></p><h2>How to Start in This Role</h2><p><br></p><p>To get into this role, I would say have a strong portfolio. Whether the portfolio is actual client work or work that you've created on your own, like case studies or made-up brands, having design examples is key. It’s important for whoever's looking at your book—whatever prospective employer that might be—to see your design sense, your skill level, and what you excel at.</p><p><br></p><h2>Portfolio Tio</h2><p>One thing I wish I’d done more in my own portfolio is include numbers. For example, showing how an ad got a certain number of views or how a social post received a particular amount of interaction. Those numbers really tell the story people want to see. It’s not just about making great visuals but demonstrating performance.</p><p><br></p><h2>Pros and Cons</h2><p>Working professionally as an artist is a huge benefit. Some cons, however, include understanding that the work is for a client, which means it won’t always be what you personally envision. I feel privileged to have a full-time career as a designer. Salary varies based on location and the company. Tech companies, for example, often have bigger budgets compared to smaller ones.</p><p><br></p><h2>Graphic Designer Salary</h2><p>As a graphic designer, you can expect a wide range of salaries—anywhere from $50K to $70K, depending on the market. I started as an intern at a magazine, learned on the job, and then became a graphic designer. From there, I moved up to junior art director, art director, senior art director, and now associate creative director. Perhaps a creative director role is next.</p><p><br></p><h2>Career Advice</h2><p>The biggest piece of advice: don’t stay in one job too long. When opportunities arise, move around for both creative and financial growth. They say the best way to get a raise is to get a new job.</p><p><br></p><p>For inspiration, I need to get out and see things. It’s essential to put myself in a place to be inspired so I can do my best creative work. It’s easy to check the box and fulfill the job, but true creatives want to feel creatively fulfilled. You don’t want to end up unsatisfied with the work you’re doing.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

A Production Designer creates and leads the visual features of a film, television or theatre production.  Their role is to work closely with the director and producer to create the design style for aspects such as assets, graphics, props, lighting and costumes, and direct and manage the team responsible for producing these visual elements.  Their responsibilities are to identify which visual style is most appropriate, provide sketches to communicate their concept to the director and art team, produce scale drawings of sets, draw up ideas for costumes, props and make-up, research locations, and manage the art department throughout the process by instructing them on direction and vision.

A Production Manager make sure products are produced safely, within the budget, and are completed on schedule, as well as ensuring they meet quality standards. Their role is to create a production schedule, and oversee all production activities and operations.  Their responsibilities are to train new employees, schedule the regular maintenance for equipment, discuss budget expectations with clients, purchase the required materials, and ensure that health and safety protocols are adhered to.

A Set Decorator is responsible for researching, procuring and placing all of the furniture, props, artwork and other decorative items used to create a believable environment in films, television shows or commercials. They work closely with Production Designers to ensure that the set looks exactly as desired. They must also have an eye for detail when it comes to selecting appropriate pieces according to time period and budget constraints. The job involves frequent communication with Prop Masters and Producers to acquire items on a tight schedule; they must also be able to source unique objects from antiques stores or auctions if needed. Finally, they are responsible for ensuring that sets remain safe and organized throughout production.

A Set Designer create sets for theatre, television and film.  Their role is to work closely with the director and set builders to conceptualize, design and develop the overall look of the production.  Their responsibilities are developing time schedules, ordering required materials for the set, researching historical, architectural and cultural details and incorporating these into the set, supervising the set construction and communicating with set builders, selecting lighting, furniture, wall and floor coverings and all other props used on set, producing models for the director’s approval, implementing changes as required, providing cost estimates and negotiating with vendors to secure the best deals, inspecting stage entrances and exits to ensure the set is positioned correctly, performing quality assurance on all aspects of the set, and briefing crew and actors on set safety and how the set operates.

A Social Media Intern works alongside management to develop and implement the Social Media strategy for a team, division or company, in order to increase the online presence and improve the marketing and sales efforts. Social Media Interns are often directed to specific tasks related to the creation of social media postings.  They use the information directed  from their team on the best actions to take to promote the brand and create buzz on social platforms.

If you like to create, and understand social and market trends, content management might be a great fit. See how one person jumped careers from an unrelated field into content management.

<h2><strong>How I Got Into This Field</strong></h2><p>I knew somebody that was starting a small business and I reached out to them while having a full-time job offered to set up their social media. During this time I started taking online courses and I learned all about marketing, social media management, and just everything under the Sun. I got enough knowledge that ended up being switched over (hired) to full-time.</p><p><br></p><h2><strong>Skills for Content Creation</strong></h2><p>It's important to know about different platforms like social media platforms and different forums that your company may use for content writing, learning about how different blog programs or software work, writing, editing, learning about SEO and what drives traffic, how to post, how to tag, hashtags, all of that, and setting up a strategy on how to engage and interact with users.</p><p><br></p><h2><strong>Education Requirements</strong></h2><p>For getting into a field like this, especially if you're willing to start lower, you know, at the bottom, you don't necessarily need a formal education. I was self-taught. I think the benefits of having an education is that you can work into these… more of a niche area like SEO or maybe paid marketing, advertising, revenue operations, you know, where you can make a lot of money….you can make more money faster.&nbsp;</p><h2><br></h2><h2><strong><span class="ql-cursor">﻿</span>Pros of Content Creation</strong></h2><p>I really love all the creativity that's involved in this role. I really like that I can not only think of ideas, but I get to design them too and I think that's really fun.&nbsp;</p><h2><br></h2><h2><strong>Challenges of Content Creation in a Startup</strong></h2><p>There's a lot of figuring things out on your own, which can be really exciting and rewarding, but you know, most jobs I've had in the past, I've kind of walked into a well-managed system, you know, marketing system or communication system that's already, you know, set up. But in this case, I'm setting up myself.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><h2><strong>Tips for Changing Career Fields</strong></h2><p>I highly recommend, you know, if you're interested in getting into this field or even switching careers, try to shadow somebody. Really tap into your network. You just never know who might, who's looking for a little extra help and if you can, you know, pick up an internship or just even work on some side projects, you'd be surprised what you can learn and whether it be something you want to get into or maybe it's something that you don't want to get into, but any kind of knowledge is beneficial.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Production Designer Career Path