Career as a Production Designer in India: Courses, Entrance Exams and How to Begin

Cinematography & Visual Effects (VFX)Design & Digital Media

Updated 31 Oct 2026

At a glance

A production designer creates the visual world of a film, series or ad, from sets and locations to colour and props, and leads the art department under the director.

A production designer is the person who decides how a film, web series or advertisement looks. They design the sets, choose the locations, pick colours, props and period details, and lead the art department that builds all of it.

The work sits between creative design and practical production. You read the script, sketch and plan with the director and cinematographer, then manage a team of set builders, painters and decorators within a fixed budget and schedule.

This page covers what the job involves, the courses and entrance tests that lead into it, and where to begin. Salary figures are marked as not yet verified until we confirm them from reliable sources.

Minimum Qualification: Class 12 pass; portfolio helps
Typical Degree: BFA or BA in Film, Art or Design
Expected Entry Salary: Not yet verified
Entry-level to Senior: Not yet verified
Job Demand Growth: Tied to film, OTT and ad output
Work Hours: Long, irregular shoot-day hours
Places of Work: Film sets, studios, locations, OTT and ad houses

What Does a Production Designer Do?

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Reads the script and meets the director to agree the film's look, mood and period.
Creates mood boards, colour palettes and concept sketches for sets, locations and props.
Plans and oversees the art department, including art directors, set decorators, props masters, carpenters and painters.
Scouts and approves locations, and decides whether to build a set or dress a real place.
Prepares and tracks the art department budget and schedule with the producer.
Works with the cinematographer on lighting, colour and how each frame looks.
Supervises the build, dressing and removal of sets during the shoot, and coordinates with the VFX team on digital extensions.

Where They Work

Production designers work mainly on feature films, web series and television serials, and on advertisement films, music videos and brand films. Most major film hubs have work for them, including Mumbai (Hindi cinema, with studios in Goregaon's Film City), Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi and Pune, along with regional film industries in other states.

Employers include film production houses, OTT platforms, television production companies, advertising agencies and event or exhibition houses. Many production designers work freelance, taking on one project at a time, so building a network of directors and producers matters as much as formal training.

How to Become a Production Designer in India?

After Class 10

Choose any stream for Classes 11 and 12. Arts, design or humanities subjects help build drawing skills and an understanding of stories, history and culture. Start a sketchbook and watch films with an eye for sets, colour and costume.

After Class 12

Apply to a bachelor's programme in film, art direction, design or fine arts. Many design and film schools hold their own entrance test, and some also ask for a portfolio of drawings and photographs.

Undergraduate

Complete a three- to four-year degree while building a portfolio of sketches, mood boards and set models. Intern or volunteer on student films, ads and theatre productions to see how an art department runs on a real shoot.

Postgraduate and Specialisation

Optional, but helpful for senior roles: a postgraduate diploma or master's in production design, art direction or film studies. Many people also learn on the job as an assistant before taking a specialist course.

First Job

Start as an art department assistant, set dresser or props assistant on films, series or commercials. Over time, move up to art director and then production designer, often working on a freelance basis across projects.

Fashion, Textiles & Apparel Tech

Interior Designer

Design & Digital Media

Eligibility and Subjects Required

Stream and Subject Requirements

Class 12 from any stream is generally accepted for art, design and film courses; check the eligibility of each institute.
Arts, design or humanities subjects are useful for building the research and drawing skills the course assumes.
Some design and film courses ask for a drawing or creative aptitude test, so practise sketching from the start.

Minimum Qualification

Class 12 pass for diploma and undergraduate entry, with a minimum aggregate that varies by institute.
Portfolio review and interview at most design and film schools.
A degree or diploma in film, art direction or design is typically expected for senior roles, although on-set experience can also count.

Courses and Degrees for Production Designer

Undergraduate Degrees	Postgraduate Degrees	Diplomas	Certifications & Short-term Courses
BFA in Art Direction or Production Design, where offered [3-4 years] BA in Film Studies or Film Making [3 years] B.Des in Film and Video Communication, where offered [4 years]	MA in Film Studies [2 years] MFA in Film or Set Design, where offered [2 years]	Diploma in Art Direction or Film Production Design [1 year] Diploma in Set Design and Construction [1 year]	Short course in Production Design for Film [a few weeks to 3 months] Online course in Visual Storytelling and Set Design [self-paced]

Undergraduate Degrees
- BFA in Art Direction or Production Design, where offered [3-4 years]
- BA in Film Studies or Film Making [3 years]
- B.Des in Film and Video Communication, where offered [4 years]
Postgraduate Degrees
- MA in Film Studies [2 years]
- MFA in Film or Set Design, where offered [2 years]
Diplomas
- Diploma in Art Direction or Film Production Design [1 year]
- Diploma in Set Design and Construction [1 year]
Certifications & Short-term Courses
- Short course in Production Design for Film [a few weeks to 3 months]
- Online course in Visual Storytelling and Set Design [self-paced]

Entrance Exams for Production Designer

Exam	Level	Held	For Course
FTII Entrance Examination	Institutional, national-level film school	Usually once a year; check the current notice	Film courses at FTII, including art direction (to be verified)
NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)	National, design	Usually once a year; check the current notice	B.Des and M.Des programmes at NID, including film and video communication (to be verified)
Institutional entrance tests of private film and design schools	Institutional	Varies by institute	Diploma and degree courses in art direction and film design

Exam
FTII Entrance Examination
Level
Institutional, national-level film school
Held
Usually once a year; check the current notice
For Course
Film courses at FTII, including art direction (to be verified)
Exam
NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)
Level
National, design
Held
Usually once a year; check the current notice
For Course
B.Des and M.Des programmes at NID, including film and video communication (to be verified)
Exam
Institutional entrance tests of private film and design schools
Level
Institutional
Held
Varies by institute
For Course
Diploma and degree courses in art direction and film design

Top Colleges for Production Designer

Government Institutes

College	Location
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)	Pune, Maharashtra
National Institute of Design (NID)	Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art	Mumbai, Maharashtra

College
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
Location
Pune, Maharashtra
College
National Institute of Design (NID)
Location
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
College
Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art
Location
Mumbai, Maharashtra

Private Institutes

College	Location
Whistling Woods International	Mumbai, Maharashtra
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology	Bengaluru, Karnataka
AAFT University	Noida, Uttar Pradesh

College
Whistling Woods International
Location
Mumbai, Maharashtra
College
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Location
Bengaluru, Karnataka
College
AAFT University
Location
Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Skills Required to Become a Production Designer

Technical Skills

Sketching and concept drawing
Mood boards, colour palettes and material research
Drafting and 2D or 3D set plans using software such as AutoCAD or SketchUp
Set design, construction and dressing basics
Period, costume and prop research
Budget tracking and shooting schedule planning
Location scouting and filming permissions

Soft Skills

Visual storytelling
Collaboration with directors and cinematographers
Team leadership on set
Negotiation with vendors and suppliers
Staying calm under tight deadlines
Attention to detail

Typical job titles: production designer, head of art department
Work at this level: setting the overall look of a film or series, approving designs and budgets, and managing large teams

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

Art Department Assistant

Supports the art team with props, sets, research and sourcing on films and series.

Art Director

Turns the production designer's plan into sets, locations and dressing, and manages the build team.

Set Decorator

Chooses and places furniture, fittings and objects that make a set feel lived in.

Props Master

Finds, makes and maintains the objects that actors handle on camera.

Production Designer for Films

Sets the overall look of a feature film together with the director and cinematographer.

Production Designer for Web Series and TV

Designs the recurring worlds of OTT series and television serials on tight schedules.

Ad Film Production Designer

Creates sets and looks for commercials, brand films and music videos.

Freelance Production Designer

Takes project-based work across films, ads, events and theatre.

Scope and Future of Production Designer in India

Demand for production designers follows the volume of film, web series, television and advertising work. India has several large film industries, including Hindi cinema centred in Mumbai and regional industries in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi and elsewhere, and the growth of streaming platforms has added steady work for series and documentaries. Official figures on job numbers for this role are not yet confirmed, so treat the outlook as qualitative.

Growth areas include OTT originals with period and fantasy worlds, regional films with strong local design traditions, music videos, brand films and live events staged as productions. Some state governments offer shooting incentives and film policies to attract productions to their locations, which can create work outside the big hubs. Check current state policies before planning a move.

Some Indian designers work on international productions, co-productions and shoots abroad. This usually needs a strong portfolio, experience on large projects, and an understanding of visa and union or guild rules in the country of work. Building a portfolio of short films, ads and student projects remains the most practical step towards both domestic and overseas work.

Is Production Designer
the Right Career for You?

Production Designer can be an exciting career, but the right choice depends on more than academic eligibility.

Interests

What excites you?

Aptitude

What are you good at?

Personality

How do you work?

Work Preferences

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