Scenic design refers to the practice of creating scenery for theatre, television, or films. This scenery is very diverse and includes a wide range of imaginative concepts ranging from trees and sunsets to buildings and skyscrapers. Also known as set design, scenic design can be considered an essential part of the production design as it adds visual elements to the content produced and complements the entire artistic goal of the production.
A scenic designer doesn’t necessarily have to come from an artistic background but having one is undoubtedly a help. This is because the scenic designer needs to ensure that the scenic elements are serving their function and are visually pleasing to the audience. Since having an artistic background means that one is acquainted with the creative process and might have a flair for researching and conceptualizing new ideas, it makes such people suitable for the role.
More importantly, though, a scenic designer needs to have the following qualities:
Imagination and creativity: Since a major part of the scenic designers’ work is to conceptualize ideas that add aesthetic appeal to the content of production, they need to be creative and artistic people with a positive attitude toward learning. They require a visual and creative imagination to be able to think divergently and come up with refined concepts that reflect the values of the content being created.
Curiosity: Even the best and most suitable ideas are inspired by the environment. To be able to look for these ideas, find them continuously over time, and research and discover places with a different perspective for these ideas requires one to continue looking around with genuine interest in observing such aspects. As a scenic designer, one, therefore, needs to be curious and inquisitive.
Teamwork: A scenic designer needs to work with a diverse team of creative people and incorporate the director’s vision as they contribute to the development of the overall visual aspect of the production.
Conceptualizing and drawing: A scenic designer also needs to be able to conceptualize the placement of various scenic elements and prepare a thorough set of design drawings that include a basic ground plan with the stationary elements, a composite ground plan with the moving elements, and the stage space being used to incorporate such elements.
