Design for Film and Television
Behind every film or television production, long before the cameras roll, a design team is shaping the world the audience will inhabit. Design for Film and Television is the discipline concerned with that creative and technical process: developing the visual language of a production through set design, costume, props, lighting concepts, and the overall aesthetic that unifies a moving image work. It sits at the crossroads of fine art, architecture, craft, and storytelling, demanding both imaginative vision and rigorous practical skill.
Studying this subject at Nottingham Trent University, you will explore the full arc of the production design process, from early script analysis and concept development through to the construction and dressing of sets and the coordination of visual elements on screen. You will learn how to read a screenplay as a visual document, translating narrative and character into spatial environments and material choices. Drawing, model-making, digital visualisation, and industry-standard software all form part of the toolkit you will develop, alongside an understanding of art direction, period research, and the management of creative budgets and timelines.
Collaboration is central to the work: you will regularly work alongside students in directing, cinematography, costume, and other production disciplines, mirroring the genuine dynamics of a professional shoot.
The three-year full-time programme gives you time to build a substantial portfolio across multiple projects, progressing from shorter exercises in your early studies to longer, more ambitious productions as your confidence and technical range grow. Nottingham Trent's strong industry connections mean you will have opportunities to engage with working professionals and understand how the sector actually operates across film, television drama, commercials, and streaming platforms.
Graduates from this field move into roles as production designers, art directors, set decorators, prop masters, and location managers, working across feature film, broadcast television, online content, and commercial production. Some go on to specialise further in costume design, scenic art, or visual effects coordination. The skills in visual communication, project management, and creative problem-solving developed on this programme are also transferable to theatre design, exhibition design, and broader creative industries roles.
Further study at postgraduate level in film production, design, or the creative arts is a natural progression for those who wish to deepen their specialism or move into research.