In short: An art director turns the production designer's concept into a practical set, producing drawings or models and working to a budget and schedule. They lead the art department team, brief the assistants and hand the sets over to the standby art director once shooting starts.author: james
An art director turns the production designer's concept into working sets, drawings and budgets, and manages the art department team that builds them. They are the person who makes the design buildable, and they keep the schedule and costs in check while the sets come together.
What an art director does on a shoot day
Most of an art director's work happens before the cameras arrive. The day-to-day work involves checking drawings, watching the build and keeping the team briefed. Once shooting starts, the sets pass to the standby art director, who looks after them during filming.
The main tasks are these:
- Interpret the concept. They take the production designer's and director's concept, research references and suggest improvements.
- Produce the drawings. They make models, working drawings and digital files using CAD or hand drafting, and check the drawings are complete.
- Control the budget. They work to a budget, justify the costs and keep proposals inside the allocation.
- Run the schedule. They plan the design, construction and dressing schedule, in studio and on location, and advise on how changes affect it.
- Brief the build. They give the construction team reference folders for colour and texture finishes, and monitor the build as it progresses.
Who they work with
The art director works with the production designer, the supervising art director and the construction manager. ScreenSkills says the role realises the production designer's vision and liaises with the production designer, the supervising art director and the construction manager.
They also work with construction, set decorators, props and the special effects and visual effects teams. The art department assistants handle issuing and storing drawings.
For the design side, see what a production designer does and what a set decorator does.
Kit and skills
The tools are drawing software or a drawing board, models, reference material and a clear budget. ScreenSkills lists the role-specific skills as research and evaluation, modelling, CAD and hand drafting, and knowledge of construction techniques. The transferable skills it lists are these:
- Communication and teamwork across the art department and the build.
- Problem solving, resilience and flexibility when the design meets a real site.
- Professional ethics and integrity, especially with budgets.
- Ongoing professional development through networking and learning.
If a set is to be built, the cost is part of the design. Granary has an in-house set-building team, and set builds are quoted per production.
How to become an art director
There is no single route. Most art directors work up through the art department, starting as a trainee or assistant, then moving through draughting and assistant art director roles. ScreenSkills' Trainee Finder lists entry-level art department places, and the ScreenSkills skills checklist for the role shows what is expected at each stage. Bectu is the union for people working in screen. It publishes an art department rate card, which is worth reading before you agree a rate, and membership is worth considering once you are working.
A portfolio of drawings, models and set photographs from any work you do, even small productions or student films, is the most practical thing to build.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A talking head or interview: no. A simple backdrop does the job.
- A one-day product or content shoot on an existing set: usually not. A producer or a set dresser can handle the dressing.
- A drama, a music video or a production with a built set: yes. Someone has to turn the concept into drawings, control the build budget and run the team.
The film crew hire page covers crew. Set builds are quoted per production, so send your drawings or brief when you ask for a quote.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Art director skills checklist, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does an art director do on a film set?
The art director turns the production designer's concept into practical sets. They produce drawings or models, work to a budget and schedule, lead the art department team and hand the sets over to the standby art director once shooting starts.
What is the difference between an art director and a production designer?
The production designer sets the overall visual concept for the production. The art director realises that concept as working sets, drawings and budgets, and manages the art department team to build it.
Do you need an art director on a small shoot?
Not for a talking head or a one-day product shoot. An art director earns their place on a drama or a production with a built set, a budget for construction and a team to brief.
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