What is the set designer's process?

The set designer's process includes discussion and collaboration, research, and creating a design. The designer first meets with the director to discuss the text, the concept, and how particular staging problems can be solved. During the research portion of his/her process, the designer may collect images that reflect the time, place, or directorial interpretation of the production. The designer translates his/her ideas into concrete visual images, taking into account the director's ideas and practical considerations about the theatre space, budget, and building time. The designer creates sketches and possibly a storyboarda series of sketches showing how the set changes to tell the story through time. He/she makes ground plana drawing that gives a view of the dimensions of the stage and the placement of set pieces, and maybe a scale model. He/she provides construction drawings to the lighting designer and scene shop sometimes and creates a prop list, if necessary. He/she works closely with technical staff to make sure that the set design matches the vision presented in his/her sketches.