Set Design for Screen and Stage with Foundation Year

Why study BA (Hons) Set Design for Stage and Screen at BNU?
Facilities
Our industry standard facilities are here to help you produce your most creative ideas. We will build your confidence in using the latest software, such as Auto CAD, Rhino, Photoshop and InDesign. You’ll also benefit from creating sets within a studio environment, complete with prop stores and workshop facilities for wood, metal and plastic.

Our other specialist resources including;

CNC and laser cutter technology
highly equipped engineering & modelmaking workshops
3D design studios
computer suites
electronics/ control and plastic fabrication labs
3D printing technology.

At every step you’ll be supported by a dedicated team of technicians who will provide you with advice, technical assistance and support to realise your assignment briefs and final project.

Taught by the industry
The BA (Hons) Set Design for Stage and Screen course is led by a dedicated and experienced course team. Benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You’ll get direct access to guest lectures, who are specialists in the sector, and can benefit from project briefs, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other courses such as Costume Design, Hair and Make-up and Acting students.

Career-focused
During your time on the course you’ll lend your hand to a range of techniques and periods - your modules and briefs allow you to develop the skills that employers are looking for, whilst ensuring you have a varied and desirable portfolio.

What will I study?
This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

During you time studying on this set design degree, we aim to develop you into creative, reflective and skilled professionals in the production design practices of theatre, film and television. We do this by providing you with an environment where you can explore your ideas and push the boundaries with set design.

The course material that you will be provided with is rooted in contemporary practice, benchmarked by ongoing input from industry, and contextualised by a historical and theoretical overview. You will learn to respond innovatively to design briefs, to produce high quality outcomes, through rigorous research, analysis, experimentation and development of skills.

We’ll teach you about aesthetics and form, technical skills such as workshop and production techniques and CAD and technical drawing, giving you a well-rounded understanding of design methods. Provided with a broad range of core skills required for the creative industry, you will hone and develop your specialist interests, graduating with a portfolio tailored to suit your chosen profession.

The course also emphasises the importance of cultivating unique, personal entrepreneurial skills to prepare you to work within the professional environment. By being equipped with the right tools to effectively communicate with other departments and professions and produce outcomes that are aimed at international markets you are widening your career prospects.

You'll experience visits to prop stores, sets and set stores, material suppliers and manufacturing professionals, museums, among others, to better prepare themselves for the research activities proposed in the programme. Upon graduation you should be able to solve issues, for film, stage and television, using a range of materials and set design techniques, that bring detailed and creative stories to life.

Foundation Year
Core
Collaboration in Creative Practice
Contextual Studies: Ideas, Concepts, Intro to Research & Writing
Portfolio
Model Making
Technical Drawing
Project - Creative Realisation

Year one
Core
Historical and Contextual Studies
Materials and Processes
Design from Script
Design Communication and Visualisation 1 (Traditionally)
Design Communication and Visualisation 2 (Digital)

Year two
Core
Professional Studies for Set Design
Collaborative Design and Practice 1 (Conceptual Design)
Collaborative Design and Practice 2 (Set Realisation)
The Visual and Spatial Narrative
Contextual studies 2 (Set Design)

Year three
Core
Final Major Project
Professional Practice
Contextual Report on Practice
Creative and Professional Development
Experimental Design and Concepts

The BA (Hons) Set Design for Stage and Screen degree encompasses a wide variety of teaching and learning methods.

Most of this degree is workshop based, here we aim to create the ethos of a professional real-world environment. As set design student you’ll have to complete a series of modules and projects across your time spent studying with us. Projects are designed to present new challenges to you as you progress through the course. By the end of your time with BNU, you’ll benefit from a full portfolio to go to employers with.

We also aim to provide masterclasses and industry brief opportunities for you to apply your knowledge, skills and understanding into real-world contexts, whilst gaining feedback from current industry-leaders.

Individual and small group tutorials led by industry professionals and business mentors, are not only to support you throughout the degree but more importantly to prepare you the professional world afterwards with an outstanding portfolio and a network of employers.

You’ll also be assessed though; 1:1 or small group tutorials, Portfolio and presentations, written assessments, sketchbooks, group critiques and self-directed study.