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The production designer plays a vital role in creating real or imagined worlds on the screen. This MA course in Production Design develops individual creativity and teaches technical skills essential for a career in film and television

Application Deadline: 11 Jul 2013

Course Overview

Uniquely in the UK, our MA Production Design students study alongside students of other filmmaking disciplines, engaging in a series of productions where working methods replicate professional practice.

The advent of digital technology has brought in new design tools and ways of working and this course promotes a lively interface between old and new methods. 3D and 2D computer techniques and Concept Art are taught alongside traditional skills such as hand drawn storyboarding, set sketching, orthographic draughting, design geometry and model-making. The course offers the opportunity to specialise in Concept Art, particularly in the second year. Design students apply their skills to live action and animation films, television programmes and commercials, in the studio and on location, using built sets and green screen. Relevant business and management skills are also taught, equipping students to manage a small art department, its budget, personnel and logistical schedules, studio procedures and set decorating. Studio visits and placements familiarise students with a working art department and inspire them with actual film sets.

All staff, permanent and visiting, are Industry practitioners and students develop close links with the film and television industry while they train.

Tutors

The head of the production design department is Caroline Amies (In The Name Of The Father, Ladies in Lavender). Other key tutors include Moira Tait (a design background with the BBC, working with Stephen Frears, Alan Bennett and Brian Tufano), Andrew Sanders (Sense and Sensibility, Chariots of Fire, The Last Temptation of Christ) and John Fenner (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Shining, Return of the Jedi).

Alumni

Production Designers Tom Conroy (The Tudors, Breakfast on Pluto, Titanic, Blood and Steel, Camelot), Dennis De Groot (The IT Crowd, Little Britain), Art Director Steven Lawrence (W.E., Casino Royale, The Dark Knight) and Paul Kirby (Green Zone, The Brothers Bloom, Love in the Time of Cholera) studied at the NFTS.

Curriculum

Central to the philosophy of the course is the recognition of the production designer’s role as a key player in film & television production while embracing the Creative impact of computer generated imagery and digital design

YEAR ONE

The fundamental strategy in the first year is to provide all students on the course with an intensive foundation in language and grammar for the moving image, including computer skills. The intention is also to include some practical film and video projects and workshops to be realised on screen. The notion of independent learning and research is established, as is that of collaboration and commitment.

  • Take One Painting: set build and green screen workshop with Cinematography and Digital Post Production students
  • Storyboarding, visualisation and model-making
  • Character of Place – pixillation workshop with Animation and Cinematography students
  • Sci-fi and Fantasy - paper design project
  • Construction budgeting
  • First Year Film - design, possible set build, set dressing and location work
  • CAD, Photoshop, MAYA Foundation
  • Measured drawing 

YEAR TWO 

In the second year the 'scaffolding' or 'water wings' are removed and students, now equipped with the necessary skills, are able to undertake work of originality and individuality. The work has to be seen to be showing a progression with an increase in quality and ambition. Students must be able to generate their own briefs and identify the design challenges they pose. Since film is a ‘‘deadline’’ business, time management becomes an essential part of the learning.

  • Film Architecture - paper project with a foreign setting and in a particular period
  • Design for animaiton
  • Final Year Film - design, possible set build, set dressing and location work
  • Personal projects - negotiated subject matter and scope
  • CAD workshop
  • Kodak Commercials workshop
  • MA Dissertation

Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School. In addition you will be given a cash Production Budget. NFTS students are engaged in more productions as part of the curriculum than any of our competitors.

  • Study in a collaborative filmmaking environment Design for live action shoots
  • Use traditional and digital design techniques
  • Work in fully-equipped design studios
  • Work on both fiction and animation films
  • Have opportunities and facilities for set builds
  • Unlike other schools, all production costs are met by the School.

Entry Requirements

Production Design students come from a wide variety of visual backgrounds, including theatre, architecture, illustration, fine art, digital design, interior design and 3D design. Your portfolio submission must demonstrate a strong visual imagination, an aptitude for spatial and 3D design, an awareness of architecture and design for the moving image and exhibit a personal visual language. Experience of film/TV work is not essential but a willingness to work collaboratively and an ability to motivate and lead a team are essential.

Apply With

  • Comprehensive portfolio showing aptitude for spatial and 3D design
  • CAD work on disk or printouts (optional)

How to Apply

You can apply directly to us at the NFTS by clicking on the link below:

When selecting your course, please ensure that you have read the entry requirements and details of the supporting materials that should accompany your application.

Timing your application

Applications are not considered until after the deadline has passed, so there is no advantage to submitting your application very early. Two months before the deadline, or less, is soon enough and making your application at that stage will also allow you to show us your latest work and tell us about your most recent filmmaking experience.