Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Set and Exhibit Designers
Also called: Designer, Display Coordinator, Exhibit Coordinator, Exhibit Designer
US median pay
$75,240
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
2,200
31,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
- Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
- Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
- Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.8/5
- Operations Analysis3.8/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Fine Arts5.0/5
- Design4.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Building and Construction3.5/5
- History and Archeology3.4/5
- English Language3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree33%
- Bachelor's degree33%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.