Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+2% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Set and exhibit designers create the physical environments where stories unfold on stage and screen, or where museum visitors and trade show attendees experience information and artifacts. They translate concepts into three-dimensional spaces by sketching designs, building scale models, and selecting materials, furniture, and props that support the narrative or educational goals. In theater, they might design a 1920s apartment or a fantasy landscape, while in museums they could create interactive exhibits that engage visitors with historical content. Film and television designers work closely with directors and cinematographers to ensure sets look authentic on camera and accommodate lighting and camera angles. Trade show and corporate event designers focus on creating branded environments that attract attention and facilitate visitor flow.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Design and Applied Arts(masters)Carnegie Mellon University, PA
$120,888
Design and Applied Arts(certificate)Gnomon, CA
$80,221
Design and Applied Arts(masters)Maryland Institute College of Art, MD
$70,027
Design and Applied Arts(masters)Norwich University, VT
$68,135
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Carnegie Mellon University, PA
$66,274
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)University of Southern California, CA
$64,846
Design and Applied Arts(masters)University of Baltimore, MD
$63,652
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$63,449
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)University of California-Los Angeles, CA
$57,615
Design and Applied Arts(certificate)Miami Ad School, FL
$56,833
Design and Applied Arts(certificate)Miami Ad School-Atlanta, GA
$56,833
Design and Applied Arts(masters)Marymount University, VA
$55,169
Design and Applied Arts(masters)George Washington University, DC
$54,222
Design and Applied Arts(masters)North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC
$52,950
Design and Applied Arts(associates)Interior Designers Institute, CA
$52,768
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA
$52,694
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, OH
$52,526
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Utah State University, UT
$52,431
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Interior Designers Institute, CA
$51,188
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Wentworth Institute of Technology, MA
$50,599
Design and Applied Arts(masters)Liberty University, VA
$50,570
Design and Applied Arts(masters)George Mason University, VA
$50,570
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
$49,780
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Northeastern University, MA
$49,727
Design and Applied Arts(bachelors)Boston University, MA
$49,254

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