Awesome, you’re the Production Designer, where do you start?

As discussed in the previous lesson, Production Design 101.3, usually if you’re working
on Film, Television show or other production, an essential first step would be to analyse
your script.

Read your script. Then read it again.

Having a really good idea of what your script is dealing with will help you in creating
an effective production design for your project.

Pay careful attention to any reference to things like locations, objects, colours, mood etc
which might be mentioned in the script. Highlight any important information as this
will give you valuable information regarding some of the design requirements required
for the production.
In discussion with your director and other members of the
team the following questions should be addressed
1. Idea (What is the production about?)
2. Target market. (Who is this Production aimed at?)
3. Which direction are you going in terms of design/aesthetics?
4. Thematic Statement: What are you saying ?
5. Who? Why? How? When? Where?

It’s important to have answers to these questions in order to develop an

appropriate production design for your project.

Even if you don’t start with a script being ready to start with, you can still begin
your research process as the designer if you have this key information.
As Production Designer, your role is to
tell the narrative in a visual format.
Good design fulfils a function and looks good at the same time.

By extension, good Production Design is the making of an

environment with a refined, well considered aesthetic that
enables the story/theme of the production to be told to greatest
effect.
Films, Television shows and other productions ask
viewers to enter a world that is not their own and allow
themselves to be taken on a journey.

2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by Stanley Kubric Alice in Wonderland. Directed by Tim Burton

How does Production Design help to achieve this?

Emotional involvement.
By empathising with some of the characters and thus being emotionally affected by
the events that unfold, viewers become invested in the story.
For this to happen, viewers have to suspend their disbelief and accept that these
characters exist.

Its so important to communicate and do your research

because if there are flaws in any one component, the magic
can be spoiled and the impact of the production lost.

In other words you have broken the suspension of disbelief.

Performers may talk about “bringing a character to life”
Production designers work hard at doing the same thing with the
world around them.
The Production Design is a major contributor to the mood, or
emotional tone of a motion picture production. In order to figure out
how to go about creating a suitable mood or atmosphere for their
production, designers will often start by creating a mood board.
To create a successful mood board, visual research is gathered of
objects, environments, textures, colours etc. that depict the mood or
atmosphere that might best support the story and the themes you are
exploring in your production.
What is a mood board?
A mood board is not an illustration of the narrative. Its purpose is to show the
mood and atmosphere a designer wishes to create. When done correctly, a mood
board is an extremely effective presentation tool.

Typically a mood board takes the form of a type of visual collage which consists of
a variety of images, text, and samples of objects and colours arranged in a dynamic
composition.

What you’re thinking and feeling about a creative idea is limited to how good your
verbal communication skills are. Therefore, mood boards can be really great to use
because they help others to 'get inside our heads' in order for you to visually show
a theme and aesthetic setting/feeling/mood for a design idea.
When assembled, mood or design boards become a highly effective
means for communicating non-literal, visual ideas to producers,
directors and other members of your team.

Successfully using visual design elements such as colour, texture, tone

and contrast are important and can help in being able to effectively
communicate your idea.
If you add text, choose your typography wisely:
The choice of typography should make sense to your theme and help
add to the mood, emotion of your board.
Examples of mood boards
Example showing how a mood board can translate into a realized design.

Mood board for the Gertrude Stein set Final decorated set for Gertrude Stein location by Anne Seibel.
by Anne Seibel.
Directed by Woody Allen
Key points to consider when making your mood board:

• Make the theme/feeling obvious.

• Choose the right format.
• Consider composition.
• Get tactile.
• Choose an appropriate colour palette.
• Aim to spark an emotional response.
• Avoid images that focus on people – This task is for the
design of the environment.
• Remember this is a visual document, don’t rely on written
text to get your point across.
DTC Competencies

Production Design Competencies 8 and 9 build on the research and

previsualization methods you have already begun to explore. These
competencies require you to create a mood board that can be used as a
starting point when figuring out your design for your term project.

8.Source between 10 and 15 images from the internet that reflect the design
and mood for the environment of your term project. Include locations, objects
and textural references (no people)

9. Create a mood board in Microsoft word for the environment of your term
project that demonstrate the use of design principles (composition, balance,
focus, tone, colour, space to be considered)
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-does-production-designer-do/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLTbT2bqsj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEH8OkkxVPs&t=4s

https://milanote.com/guide/create-better-moodboards

https://artclasscurator.com/principles-of-design-examples/