PRODUCTION DESIGN: HOW TO | Filmmaking Insights | Watershed

In this BAFTA Crew masterclass event, leading Production Designer Andy Nicholson discusses his approach to production design for film. As a Production Designer, Andy plays a vital role in creating the real or imagined worlds on the screen, and is responsible for the visual concept of a film. Andy has worked on films such as Sleepy Hollow, Muppet Treasure Island and Sexy Beast. His most famed collaboration was with Alfonso Cuarón on 2013's 3D hit Gravity, for which he received Oscar, BAFTA and Art Directors Guild nominations for Production Design. He talks about the steps he goes through when he receives a new script, and how he identifies, develops and designs the spaces for the film, its story and its characters. He also discusses his path into the industry, from draughtsman to production designer, as well as his long‑standing collaboration with director Tim Burton. A Production Designer identifies a design style for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and costumes, working closely with the Director, Producer, Visual Effects Supervisor and Director of Photography. Once the concept is decided, designers usually appoint and manage an art department, which includes a design and construction team, and often form a strong partnership with a particular director, who they may work with on many productions.