Production Designers
Visionary production designers creating immersive worlds informed by New York's iconic brownstones, Art Deco landmarks, and varied borough streetscapes.
Here is how this works in practice. The production designer is the head of the art department, responsible for creating the entire visual environment of a film or television production. In New York, this role draws on one of the world's most filmed cityscapes — from the Statue of Liberty and Grand Central Terminal to Brooklyn Bridge's Gothic arches, Central Park's designed landscapes, and the Hudson Valley's historic mansions. Our designers know how to translate these iconic New York settings into compelling screen worlds.
Here is the short of it. We connect you with production designers who bring deep local knowledge and global-level craft to each project. With access to Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard — the largest studio complex on the US East Coast — Silvercup Studios, and Kaufman Astoria Studios, our network makes sure your production's visual world is built with the right resources, leveraging New York's up to 30% film tax credit.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete Production Design Services
From initial concept through final wrap, our production designers build the visual worlds that bring your stories to life.
01
Visual Concept
- World-building design
- Visual language creation
- Color & texture palette
- Period research
- Style guide development
Creative Vision
02
Set Design
- Set construction plans
- Technical drawings
- Model making
- Stage layouts
- Location adaptation
Physical Design
03
Department Leadership
- Art director supervision
- Set decorator coordination
- Props department
- Construction management
- Scenic artists
Team Management
04
Budget & Schedule
- Art department budgeting
- Resource allocation
- Schedule coordination
- Vendor management
- Cost tracking
Production Control
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Production Designers
01.
New York Location Expertise
Deep knowledge of New York's architectural diversity from Manhattan's Art Deco towers and brownstone-lined streets to Brooklyn's industrial waterfront, Queens' ethnic neighbourhoods, and the Hudson Valley's Gilded Age estates. Our designers know how to capture and boost New York locations.
02.
International Experience
Production designers with credits on major features and prestige television including projects filmed at Steiner Studios and across the five boroughs. They know the expectations of studios, streamers, and advertising agencies working in the North American market.
03.
Construction Resources
Set up relationships with Steiner Studios' 30 stages on 50 acres, Silvercup Studios, and Kaufman Astoria Studios. Access to New York's unmatched scenic construction workforce, union craftspeople, and specialized fabrication shops.
04.
Creative Problem Solving
Innovative ways that boost visual impact within budget constraints. Our designers find creative solutions that put each dollar on screen, leveraging New York's $700M annual film tax credit programme.
On Location
Production design from IATSE Local 829 NY and Steiner Brooklyn Navy Yard
Here is how the work lines up. New York production design carries a deep prestige pedigree. Mark Friedberg (Bridge of Spies, Wonderstruck, Joker), Judy Becker (Carol, The Fighter, American Hustle), Adam Stockhausen on Wes Anderson and Spielberg's NY projects, Nelson Coates, Tom Foden, and Kalina Ivanov anchor the IATSE Local 829 / USA chapter that staffs HBO Hudson Yards, Netflix NY, Apple TV+ NYC, and the prestige slates at Steiner Studios Brooklyn Navy Yard, Silvercup Long Island City, Kaufman Astoria, York Studios in the Bronx, JC Studios in Midwood, and Broadway Stages across Brooklyn and Queens.
Here is how the work shapes up. Our network reaches into that designer pool and the supporting art-director, set-designer, draftsperson, model-maker, and graphic-designer crews that come up through NYU Tisch's Design for Stage and Film programme, Pratt's interior-and-scenic-design tracks, and the SVA and Parsons design pipelines. Designers are matched against checked credits in the key register — Gilded Age opulence in the Mrs. Maisel and HBO Gilded Age mould, 1920s Boardwalk Empire and Prohibition-era Manhattan, 1960s Mad Men corporate, 1970s Scorsese grit, modern glass-tower Hudson Yards, and the borough-exact brownstone, walk-up, and project-housing vocabularies that NY storytelling demands.
Here is how it adds up. The construction and sourcing pipeline behind these departments is the city's strongest asset. Steiner Studios' thirty stages on fifty acres at the Brooklyn Navy Yard — the largest studio complex on the US East Coast — sit alongside Silvercup, Kaufman Astoria, York Studios, and Broadway Stages, with scenic construction handled by IATSE Local 52 (East Coast studio mechanics) and graphic, scenic-painting, and standby-painter work covered by Local 829's scenic-artist roster.
Here is the run-down. Designers move fluently between studio builds and practical NYC locations — covered landmarks like Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the brownstone districts of Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, and the Upper West Side — lining up with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, NYPD Movie/TV Unit, MTA, NPS, and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Productions filming under the $700M New York State film tax credit get bilingual Local 829 key crew, full Local 52 construction crews, and complete art-department scaling from a single production designer through art directors, set designers, draftspeople, scenic artists, and graphic designers sized to the build and the call sheet.
ACT 03
FAQ
Production Design Expertise
What's the difference between a production designer and art director?
Here is the breakdown. The production designer is the head of the art department, responsible for the overall visual concept and working directly with the director. The art director reports to the production designer and oversees the execution of that vision — managing construction, setting up the team, and handling day-to-day operations.
How do production designers work with New York's landmark buildings?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Our production designers have extensive experience working with New York's covered landmarks. This includes the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, and Brooklyn Bridge. They know NPS, MTA, and NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission permit needs for filming at these iconic locations.
Can you handle both studio builds and locations?
Here is how the picture comes together. Yes, our production designers excel at combining studio construction at Steiner Studios, Silvercup, or Kaufman Astoria with practical locations across the five boroughs and upstate New York. They design sets that match location work and adapt real spaces to serve your story's visual needs.
What about period productions in New York?
Here is what we have to work with. Our production designers have extensive experience with historical periods, from Gilded Age mansions to 1920s speakeasies, 1970s grit, and everything in between. New York's varied build style spans centuries. Our designers have access to research archives, museum collections, and period pros.
Do you provide the full art department?
Here is the layout. Yes, we can staff complete art departments scaled to your production. This has art directors, set decorators, prop masters, construction coordinators, and all supporting roles sourced from New York's top-tier union and non-union crew base.
How do production designers work with other departments?
Production designers work closely with cinematography on lighting needs, costume on visual palette, VFX on digital extensions, and locations on practical considerations. They're the visual hub setting up all design elements.
Related Services
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ACT 04 — On Set
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