Narrative Space – Production Design for Film and Media

The course profile Narrative Space – Production Design for Film and Media is aimed at applicants with a visual imagination and a strong interest in the art of designing environments for the moving image. Production design is moving image storytelling using space, place, architecture and objects as narrative tools.  

The production designer of the future will play a vital role in creating visual worlds for all kinds of screens and moving image experiences. The course profile Narrative Space – Production Design for Film and Media develops individual creativity and investigates the methods, processes and the technical skills needed to achieve this.

Effective use of interiors and exteriors, the dynamic quality of moving through a space, period research and the understanding of cultures, the use of props to help an audience understand a character, the impact of computer generated imagery, the opportunities that virtual and augmented realities offer, as well as the appreciation of traditional construction methods, building materials and paint finishes - and ultimately the team-work and leadership skills involved are all areas that are examined on this MA course.

Each of the four terms have a different focus

• Spatial narratives: Storytelling, architecture, place, space and scale. Location - drawing - model making - research.
• Introduction to the film studio: How sets are spatial representations of the characters that inhabit them. Designing – building – experimenting – camera – light.
• Developing drama: Visual ideas development. Storyboards - beat boards - concept design - pre-visualisation.
• Building worlds: Environments for moving image narrative as well as for research communities and networks. World building - exposition.

Valuable prior knowledge

The programme is open to students from a wide variety of visual backgrounds, including theatre, architecture, illustration, video games, costume, fine art, building, interior and 3D design. Our applicants will hold a BA and/or will have had team working experience from film, media, video games, stage or other relevant disciplines. They will apply with a project or research area they wish to explore.

Examples from earlier studio production course

Stills from the studio excersise Salongen. Production design Olivia Asplund.

Stills from the studio excersise Salongen. Production design Olivia Asplund.

Stills from the studio excersise Salongen. Production design Olivia Asplund.

Stills from the studio excersise Salongen. Production design Olivia Asplund.

Stills from the studio excersise Salongen. Production design Olivia Asplund.

Moodboard for the studio exercise Institutet. Production design Karin Weiborg.