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Stage Designers

Descriptions & Duties

  • Stage Designers design and create the overall look of a theatre, television or film production. They are responsible for studying scripts and discussing ideas with the director to establish an overall visual concept and stage environment for production; developing a complete set of design drawings, including floor plans, scenery, and props to be constructed; creating stage designs based on the evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations; collaborating with lighting designers, costume designers, and sound designers so that other production aspects can be coordinated with stage designs; conducting historical research, and developing stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted; gathering information about exhibit space, proposed themes, timelines, budgets, materials, and promotion requirements; overseeing and coordinating construction, erection, or decoration activities in order to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements; coordinating the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions are complete; arranging the transportation of sets, and coordinating their setup at the site of use.

Generic Competencies

Physical Abilities

Physical abilities

  • Physical strength
  • Eye hand coordination / precision / dexterity

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Technology Skills

Technology skills

  • Computer literacy
  • Application of technology

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities

  • Creativity
  • Visualisation
  • Logical thinking

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Comprehension And Expression

Comprehension and expression skills

  • Reading comprehension
  • Oral / written expression

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Social Skills

Social skills

  • Communication
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Organisation And Execution Skills

Organisation and execution skills

  • Planning
  • Organising
  • Judgement
  • Decision making

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Problem Solving Skills

Problem solving skills

  • Ability to solve simple and complex problems effectively and efficiently

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Management Skills

Management skills

  • Leadership
  • Management of finance / time / people / other resources

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Trade Specific Competencies

Stage design knowledge and skills

Stage Designers should have a comprehensive understanding of the various categories of stage design, including scenery, lighting, sound, props and dressing and so on, in order to effectively coordinate and integrate all aspects in coordination with the overall design style of the stage.

Script analysis skills

Stage Designers must be able to analyse the content of the script, study the theme of the story, historical background, plot, characters and the relationship between characters, and find out any original elements that can help the creation from the lines of the script, so that the smooth moving line and performance area can be planned, and a reasonable space scene can be designed. The director conveys the idea in the play to the audience.

Drawing and model making skills

Stage Designers must understand how to draw different drawings and production models to express the design concept, from sketches to floor plans, work models, section drawings, perspectives, front views, and colour scene diagrams, to complete the stage colour model so that it can be viewed from all angles. They observe the expected effect of the stage.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills

Stage Designers must know how to use computer aided design tools to draw more elaborate stage plans or 3D three-dimensional designs.

General Requirements

Academic qualification

  • typically have a certificate or a higher diploma in stage design, set design, lighting design, theatre and entertainment arts, or related disciplines

Experience

  • usually 3-5 years of relevant experience is required

Career Path & Salary

Private Sector

Monthly Salary $15,000-$35,000

Monthly Salary $30,000-$70,000

Monthly Salary $40,000-$90,000

Monthly Salary $50,000-$110,000

Government Sector

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 3-13

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 14-27

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 28-33

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 34-39

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 40-44

*For more details on Civil Service Pay Scales, please visit website of the Civil Service Bureau.
http://www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/pay/952.html

Related Education & Training

Work Environment

  • Stage Designers normally work long hours, especially when production deadlines approach. They may work evenings or weekends. They could work in studios or backstage, in theatres, or on film sets and on location.

Tools

  • Air compressors - Portable air compressors
  • Alternating current AC arc welder - Electric arc welding equipment
  • Art airbrushes - Airbrush paint applicators
  • Audio mixing consoles - Sound mixing boards
  • Claw hammer - Claw hammers
  • Nylon fabric sling - Synthetic web slings
  • Paint brushes - General purpose paintbrushes
  • Paint rollers - Paint application rollers
  • Platform step ladder - Portable stepladders
  • Pneumatic nail drivers - Pneumatic nail guns
  • Power saws - Rotary saws
  • Power staple guns - Furniture staplers
  • Saws - Handsaws
  • Scissors - All-purpose scissors
  • Sewing machines

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