Some books to consider include: Stage Design: A Practical Guide by Gary Thorne, The Backstage Handbook by Paul Carter, What is Scenography? by Pamela Howard, and American Set Design by Arnold Aronson. Good set designers are always learning, and they need a wide knowledge base. So read and study about not only set design, but also about art, history, architecture, and interior design, too.
Read Designing and Drawing for the Theatre by Lynn Pecktal and Drafting for the Theatre by Dennis Dorn and Mark Shanda, which are comprehensive textbooks on how to design and draw sets for the theatre. Take drawing classes either online (such as through Udemy), at your high school, or through a local community college or art store.
Keep a sketchbook with you wherever you go. Draw both what you see in your mind and what you see around you in your physical surroundings every day.
For those who thrive in a more traditional classroom environment, check to see if your high school or nearby colleges offer courses in theatre set design.
Enroll in classes in computer aided design and drafting online (for instance, through Udemy) or through your high school or local community college.
Take shop classes at your high school or in your community to learn basic construction skills. Read the Stock Scenery Construction Handbook by Bill Raoul and Mike Monsos and Scene Design: A Guide to the Stage by Henning Nelms to learn basic construction and painting skills specific to the stage.
Two quality books that you can read to learn how to make models for the stage are Model Making for the Stage: A Practical Guide by Keith Orton and The Handbook of Model-making for Set Designers by Colin Winslow.
Also listen to advice from stage carpenters, painters, and other theatre folk who likely have valuable insights into how to bring your set design ideas to life. Theatre is a very small world and is all about who you know and who knows you. Avoid leaving bad impressions because your good reputation is valuable.
You can volunteer to work with high school theatre, community theatre, and/or summer theatre productions designing and building sets. [6] X Research source
To work as a set designer with a larger, established theatre company, you will usually need to have experience in lower-level positions and smaller theatres. Some designers begin by working as carpenters, scenic painters, or even as deck hands or “run crew. "
While some people may choose to major in theatre or obtain a M. F. A. (Master of Fine Arts) in order to learn the required artistic and technical skills necessary for theatre set design, college degrees are not necessary to excel in set design or to obtain work in the field. Your portfolio, previous work in set design, and who you know will likely be more important than a college degree. [7] X Research source
Summer theatre companies tend to recruit at regional conferences such as the “Southeastern Theatre Conference” (SETC) where they can interview en masse for their summer season. There are also companies, like Disney and Carnival Cruise, at conferences that hire set designers for longer contracts.
