Production Designer: An Overlooked Important RoleProduction designer may not be a term you hear often when talking about movies. Perhaps many of us are still unfamiliar with this term. In the Indonesian film industry itself, this profession is not as popular as director or scriptwriter. But, did you know that this position is actually one of the main keys in building the visual world of a film? Starting from the look of the sets, costumes, to the atmosphere that makes the audience immersed in the story – all of that is the result of the hard work of a production designer.
In this article, we’ll talk about what a production designer is, what their duties are, and how they work with other creative teams to realize the big vision of a film story.
Who is a Production Designer
It’s rarely seen in the end credits, but the Production Designer is the spearhead of the “face” of a movie. When you’re mesmerized by the details of a magnificent set, precise costumes, or rich props, believe me, it almost all stems from the vision of the Production Designer. This is where the creative journey begins: crafting the script into a visual world that blends with the storyline.
Production Designers act as visual architects, responsible for creating production design-a specific term for the overall concept of a movie’s look. In practice, their role involves a few key things:
- Set Design: Determining the location, layout, background, and decorations that support the atmosphere of the scene.
- Costumes: Choosing the color palette, fabric, and style of clothing so that the characters appear authentic and consistent with the era or genre of the story.
- Props: Arranging the details of small objects worn by actors, from jewelry, communication devices, to furniture.
Pre-production Production Designer Activities
The Production Designer sits down with the director to explore the message and nuances to be conveyed. They compile a mood board of visual references-photos, sketches, magazine pieces-then make rough sketches to communicate ideas. Once the initial picture is clear, the next stage involves the Director of Photography (DoP). This collaboration is important so that the lighting and camera framing align with the design: for example, cold light angles imply tension, or warm color palettes invoke a sense of nostalgia.
Production Designer ≠ Art Director
Although often “side by side” with Production Designers, Art Directors have a different scope. While Production Designers are more engaged in conceptual and planning, Art Directors focus on technical realization. The following is a comparison between the two professions on several aspects:
| Aspects | Production Designer | Art Director |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Visual ideas and concepts of the movie | Technical execution and physical realization |
| Involvement | From the beginning of pre-production | Once the concept is approved |
| Main Task | Create the look and mood of the whole movie | Create the look and mood of the whole movie |
| Role in Team | director’s right-hand man | Daily artistic team leader |
| Budget and Schedule | Recommendation for creative cost allocation | Make sure that everything is within the budget and timeline. |
Read also From Sketch to Screen: The Artistic Team in Film Production.
The position of Production Designer is rare in Indonesian film crews
Actually, the roles of production designer and art director (or artistic stylist) are different. Production designers are arguably the brains of a film’s visual appearance-they decide what the overall look of the film will look like on screen. Starting from the color selection of sets, props, visual patterns, to the color of clothes, makeup, and other supporting elements.
But unfortunately, in the Indonesian film industry, this position is not very commonly used. As a result, we often see the costume and makeup team working separately from the artistic team. Ideally, all of these visual elements should work in the same design direction and connect with each other.
Well, it’s different with artistic stylists. They usually focus more on the set and props. Their job is to design the interior appearance of the set and prepare various props that support the storyline. Usually, these artistic stylists are also often with the director in front of the monitor during the filming process to monitor visual details so that they match the plan.
The world of Pandora in “Avatar”
The most iconic example of the power of production design is Avatar (2009). Director James Cameron engaged production designers Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg to design the immersive and detailed world of Pandora. They conceived the ecosystem, architectural forms, and color patterns of the Na’vi flora and fauna. After the concept was finalized, Nick Bassett-as the art director-translated the sketches into physical sets. As a result, Pandora came alive and mesmerized millions of viewers, paving the way for Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and the next sequel scheduled for 2025.
So, from all of the above, we can say that production designers play a huge role in making a movie come alive. They don’t just think about the visuals, but also how all the elements fit together and make the story stronger. Without them, the movie would feel flat, crisp, and lose its flavor.
Have you ever watched a movie with mediocre visuals, and then felt lazy to follow along? Or vice versa, the movie may have a simple story but the visuals make you feel comfortable watching until the end? Well, it could be because of the touch of the cold hands of the production designer. So, if you’re watching a movie after this, try to take the time to find out who the production designer is. Who knows, you might become more aware of the hard work of the people behind the scenes.
