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Sadie Anderson

Freelance • Worthing, West Sussex

Sadie Anderson , Freelance (Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom)

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Jane Barnwell

University of Westminster • London

Jane Barnwell , University of Westminster (London, United Kingdom)

Bio:

Jane Barnwell is Reader in Moving Image at the University of Westminster.  Graduating from Leeds University and The Northern Film School she began her career at the BBC, before working freelance in p... Jane Barnwell is Reader in Moving Image at the University of Westminster.  Graduating from Leeds University and The Northern Film School she began her career at the BBC, before working freelance in production. Her research and writing focusses on the impact of visual storytelling through the prism of the production designer.  Jane has authored articles in a range of forms and genres including popular magazines, periodicals and websites, (The Guardian, The Scenographer, International Journal of Production & Costume Design, Journal of British Cinema and Television, The Conversation, Widescreen and The Production Designers Collective). Barnwell is the author of four books, Production Design for Screen; Visual Storytelling in Film and TV (2017), Production Design: Architects of the screen (2004), The Fundamentals of Film Making (2008) and Production Design & the Cinematic Home (2022).    Read more

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Natalie Beak

Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) • Sydney

Natalie Beak , Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) (Sydney, Australia)

Website:https://nataliebeak.com.au

Bio:

Natalie Beak is the Discipline Lead in Production Design at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and a founding committee member of the Production Design Research and Education Netw... Natalie Beak is the Discipline Lead in Production Design at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and a founding committee member of the Production Design Research and Education Network (PD-REN). Her pedagogical practice is grounded in collaborative, interdisciplinary methodologies and integrates real-time visualisation and virtual production technologies into design education. Natalie’s research explores innovative frameworks for world-building, distributed authorship, and the sensory dimensions of production design practice.

A graduate of AFTRS, Natalie has over twenty years’ experience across film and television in Australia and the UK. She was the inaugural recipient of the Thelma Afford Award for Excellence in Costume Design, and her screen credits include Franswa Sharl (Berlinale Crystal Bear, 2009), Black Comedy (ABC, 2014–2020), We Are Still Here (2022), Year Of (Stan, 2023), and Boss Cat (Bus Stop Films, 2026). Read more

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Dirk Behrend

freelance • Berlin

Dirk Behrend , freelance (Berlin, Germany)

Website:http://www.madeye.de

Bio:

20+ Years Graffiti Writer/Artist
10+ Yeas Design/ Interrior Design
now 20+ years PD

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Angelica Boehm

Filmuniversity Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF • Potsdam / Berlin

Angelica Boehm , Filmuniversity Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam / Berlin, Germany)

Bio:

Prof. Angelica Böhm is Professor of Scenography and Artistic Research at the Film University Babelsberg (FUB). She is a member of the German Film Academy due to her successful film work. She has been... Prof. Angelica Böhm is Professor of Scenography and Artistic Research at the Film University Babelsberg (FUB). She is a member of the German Film Academy due to her successful film work. She has been a professor of scenography since 2013 and is currently on the board of the Institute for Artistic Research at the FUB.
Her co-creative transmedia artistic research project www.camillaplasticoceanplan.com has 500,000 visitors and won the State Teaching Award 2022.In 2019 she co-founded the Art For Futures Lab. In 2023, she was invited to Griffith Film School, Brisbane as an artist in residence to carry out a futuring project with the Rivers Institute Australia.
Since 2023 until today she has been researching new teaching formats in the Erasmus+ project ‘Green Eduction in Media’. Her latest projects revolve around Creativity & AI as well as Art & Embodiment. Read more

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Kerry Bradley

Nottingham Trent University • Nottingham, UK

Kerry Bradley , Nottingham Trent University (Nottingham, UK, United Kingdom)

Website:http:/kerrybradley.com

Bio:

Kerry Bradley is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. She is a creative practitioner with over 30 years experience in Film and Telev... Kerry Bradley is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. She is a creative practitioner with over 30 years experience in Film and Television art departments working as an Art Director, Production Buyer and Set Decorator (Sid Gentle, UKTV/AMC, BBC, DNA Films, Warp films, CBBC, Steel Mill Films, Shed TV and Channel 4), as well as a Set & Costume designer for Theatre, Festivals and Exhibitions.She has also lectured at the Northern Film School (Leeds Beckett), run BA Set Design courses at Wimbledon College of Arts and lectured at Goldsmiths University, University of Gloucester, Central St. Martins, Lewisham College and St. Mary’s University, Twickenham. Read more

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Daniel Kofi Brako

University of Cape Coast • Cape Coast

Daniel Kofi Brako , University of Cape Coast (Cape Coast, Ghana)

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Jo Briscoe

Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne • Melbourne

Jo Briscoe , Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)

Website:https://jobriscoe.com/

Bio:

Jo Briscoe APDG is a Production Designer and Senior Lecturer in Design at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (VCA).  She has designed multiple award winning projects with inte... Jo Briscoe APDG is a Production Designer and Senior Lecturer in Design at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (VCA).  She has designed multiple award winning projects with international distribution including the TV series Please Like Me, Little Lunch, Mustangs FC and Nowhere Boys and also has an extensive professional background in theatre set and costume design.  She holds an MFA in Theatre Design from Pennsylvania State University and is a current PhD candidate at VCA, examining production design as a narrative cinematic tool.  Jo is a co-founder of PD-REN. Read more

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Boyana Buchvarova

National Academy of Theatre and Film Art "Krastyo Sarafov" • Sofia

Boyana Buchvarova , National Academy of Theatre and Film Art "Krastyo Sarafov" (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Bio:

Boyana Buchvarova is a production designer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a B.A. in Stage and Set Design, an M.A. in Theatre Arts, and a Ph.D. in Scenography from the National Academy for Theatre... Boyana Buchvarova is a production designer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a B.A. in Stage and Set Design, an M.A. in Theatre Arts, and a Ph.D. in Scenography from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA). Since 2009, she has worked as a freelance designer and art director for over 50 projects across theatre, film, television, commercials, events, and graphic design. Since 2018, she has served as an Senior Assistant Professor at NATFA, where she teaches Film and TV Design within the Screen Arts Faculty. Her academic work focuses on the intersection of film design, digital technologies, and visual storytelling.She is a member of the Production Designers Collective, the Union of Bulgarian Artists, and the international research and education project FilmEU. In addition to her academic and design practice, Boyana is also a performance artist and co-founder of the experimental theatre collective “O3.” Read more

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Eli Bø

The Norwegian Film School •

Eli Bø , The Norwegian Film School

Bio:

Eli Bø is the Head of the Norwegian Film School. She trained at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and as a Production Designer at the National Film and Television School (UK) and combines ex... Eli Bø is the Head of the Norwegian Film School. She trained at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and as a Production Designer at the National Film and Television School (UK) and combines extensive production design experience with over twenty years of academic leadership. She has held senior posts across Scandinavia and the UK, including Pro Vice Chancellor and Professor at Stockholm University of the Arts and Course Leader at the University of the Arts London. Eli has led and contributed to programmes at all degree levels, supervised artistic research, and earned teaching awards.
She is currently the co-editor of the CILECT 21C Books volume on Teaching Production Design for Film, Television and games. Read more

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Luke Cantarella

Pace University •

Luke Cantarella , Pace University

Website:https://lukecantarella.com/dir/

Bio:

Brooklyn-based designer Luke Cantarella chairs the Film and Screen Studies program at Pace University. His work includes design for Film and Television as well as live performance. His recent specula... Brooklyn-based designer Luke Cantarella chairs the Film and Screen Studies program at Pace University. His work includes design for Film and Television as well as live performance. His recent speculative documentary (co-directed with Christine Hegel), Space Junk, explores the future of sustainability made in collaboration with waste pickers in New York City. Read more

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Paola Cortes

Texas State University •

Paola Cortes , Texas State University

Website:https://www.paolacortesdesign.com/

Bio:

Paola Cortés, a Central Texas–based Production Designer born in 1982 in Tijuana, Mexico, discovered her passion for art and architecture under the influence of her grandfather, a modernist architec... Paola Cortés, a Central Texas–based Production Designer born in 1982 in Tijuana, Mexico, discovered her passion for art and architecture under the influence of her grandfather, a modernist architect. She began mural painting at 16, trained as a Set Designer in San Diego, and worked in theater and opera before transitioning to film in 2007. Early in her career, she contributed to films such as Tree of Life, The 33, and Little Boy, and Art Directed European features like Americano and Miele. After relocating to Texas in 2015, she's built a commercial portfolio of over 80 projects and now teaches at Texas State University while developing a prop house in Austin. Read more

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Daniela Cruz Rodríguez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) • Mexico City

Daniela Cruz Rodríguez , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (Mexico City, Mexico)

Website:https://www.danycruzarte.com/

Bio:

Daniela Cruz Rodríguez is a production designer, film professor, and student in the BA in History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UNAM. She graduated in Film with a specialization in Art Di... Daniela Cruz Rodríguez is a production designer, film professor, and student in the BA in History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UNAM. She graduated in Film with a specialization in Art Direction from ENAC (UNAM). Her work includes the feature film Mente Revólver (2017), part of UNAM’s Ópera Prima program, and the design of over 150 sets for audiovisual productions. She has served as a jury member at the Guadalajara International Film Festival and attended international forums such as The Gathering (Spetses, Greece, 2024). Her academic work bridges historiography, visual semiotics, and production design as interpretative practice. Read more

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Geraint D'Arcy

University of East Anglia • Norwich

Geraint D'Arcy , University of East Anglia (Norwich, United Kingdom)

Bio:

Geraint D’Arcy is Associate Professor in Media Practice at The University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He is author of Mise en Scène, Acting and Space in Comics (Palgrave, 2020) which looks at the ... Geraint D’Arcy is Associate Professor in Media Practice at The University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He is author of Mise en Scène, Acting and Space in Comics (Palgrave, 2020) which looks at the crossover of production design theory from film, and theatre, into comics, and of Critical Approaches to TV and Film Set Design (Routledge, 2018) which established theories of production design. Geraint is on the organising committee of the International Graphic Novels and Comics Conference (IGNCC), has had extensive experience in professional theatre, film and television production and has been a practicing scenographer for over twenty years.  Read more

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May Davies

British Film Designers' Guild • London

May Davies , British Film Designers' Guild (London, United Kingdom)

Website:https://mayjenniferdavies.com

Bio:

May Davies is a production designer and art director originally from Cumbria and based in London. Recent feature films include Learning to Breathe Under Water (in post), Witches (BIFA Best Documentary... May Davies is a production designer and art director originally from Cumbria and based in London. Recent feature films include Learning to Breathe Under Water (in post), Witches (BIFA Best Documentary 2024 Winner, premiered at Tribeca Festival 2024); and Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders (premiered at BFI London Film Festival 2023). Art direction credits for feature film and tv drama include Black Mirror S7 Ep2 ‘Plaything’ (2024), The Critic (2023), and Landscapers (2021) which won a TV BAFTA for best production design.May has 10+ years experience in community engagement for underrepresented people in the industry through her work at leading film and arts charity, Signal Film and Media in Barrow-in-Furness. She remains committed to sharing the craft and encouraging new faces into the industry through mentoring with BFI Film Academy, UAL and BAFTA, as well as guest lecturing in higher education when schedules allow, most recently at Ravensbourne University. Read more

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vca University of Melbourne • Melbourne

— , vca University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)

Website:https://karenandy.com

Bio:

Karen ann Donnachie works with Andy Simionato as an artist duo in the expanded fields of computational art and design. For over 30 years, beginning with their first theatre company “The Hungry
Thea... Karen ann Donnachie works with Andy Simionato as an artist duo in the expanded fields of computational art and design. For over 30 years, beginning with their first theatre company “The Hungry
Theatre” (Perth, Milan, Paris 1989—1993) to their current Melbourne based multidisplinary studio and
“The Center for Computational Unknowing” in which they produce custom-built automated-art-systems,
driven by A.I. and machine-learning, in order to uncover and explore new feelings in an age of computation. Their work is concerned with the shared futures of language, literature, and emerging
technologies like AI and machine-learning.
They have won the highest international awards and critical recognition in the fields of graphic design &
typography, electronic art, independent publishing, including the Tokyo Type Directors Club Grand Prize,
2024, Tokyo Type Directors Club Prize, 2019 & 2020, Cornish Family Prize & the Robert Coover award
for Electronic Literature; their works are exhibited in solo and group exhibitions internationally and in
collections such as the German Museum of Books and writing (DNB, DE).
The duo are based in Melbourne, Australia where they are also design editors for the open-access
platform Art+Australia, Australia’s longest running art journal;The Brett Whiteley Catalogue Raisonné,
The Center For Computational Unknowing; and Atomic Activity Books Read more

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Nell Hanson

Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne • Melbourne

Nell Hanson , Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)

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Riham Hilal

Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) • Alexandria

Riham Hilal , Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST) (Alexandria, Egypt)

Website:https://www.linkedin.com/in/riham-hilal-3241652ab/

Bio:

Riham Hilal Associate Professor , Short Biography
Assoc. Prof. Riham M. Hilal is an Associate Professor of Film Production Design and Scenography at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technolo... Riham Hilal Associate Professor , Short Biography
Assoc. Prof. Riham M. Hilal is an Associate Professor of Film Production Design and Scenography at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Alexandria, Egypt. She previously served as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, and at the Faculty of Art and Design, Pharos University. Her academic and creative work spans film production design, scenography, interior architecture, and theater and costume design. Dr. Hilal has an expanding research profile in integrating artificial intelligence and immersive digital tools into film and stage design, with several publications in international journals and conference proceedings. She is a reviewer for multiple international journals and a member of global professional and academic bodies, including the Production Designers Collective and the International Society for Engineering Research and Development (ISERD). Her work is grounded in bridging artistic practice with emerging technologies to support innovative cinematic and theatrical environments. Warm Regards Assoc.Prof / Riham Hilal Associate Professor at Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology ( E-just ) Riham.hilal@ejust.edu.eg +21001730311 Read more

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Duncan Howell

Nottingham Trent University • Manchester

Duncan Howell , Nottingham Trent University (Manchester, United Kingdom)

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Tainá Xavier

Escola Superior de Propagando e Marketing • Rio de Janeiro

Tainá Xavier , Escola Superior de Propagando e Marketing (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

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Juliet John

Deakin University •

Juliet John , Deakin University

Website:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424185/

Bio:

Juliet is researcher and educator with 25+ years of industry experience as an art director and production designer. Her research centres around the visual concept and production design as a storytelli... Juliet is researcher and educator with 25+ years of industry experience as an art director and production designer. Her research centres around the visual concept and production design as a storytelling tool. Since 2003, Juliet has taught and mentored filmmakers at VCA- University of Melbourne, Swinburne University, Deakin University, Curtin University and WAAPA. She is a co-founder of PD-REN. Read more

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Maria Kavalioti

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki • Thessaloniki

Maria Kavalioti , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Bio:

.
Maria Kavalioti is a production, set and costume designer based in Greece, working in
projects varying from installations and dance, to music and film. She is currently doing her
PhD in the Arist... .
Maria Kavalioti is a production, set and costume designer based in Greece, working in
projects varying from installations and dance, to music and film. She is currently doing her
PhD in the Aristotle University, studying space in the works of Samuel Beckett and is
teaching Production and Costume Design in the School of Film of the same university. Read more

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Tomi Lauri

Aalto University •

Tomi Lauri , Aalto University

Bio:

Tomi Lauri is a visual artist, production designer for film and television, and a University Teacher. He heads the BA program in Film and Television Production Design at Aalto University, Finland. Lau... Tomi Lauri is a visual artist, production designer for film and television, and a University Teacher. He heads the BA program in Film and Television Production Design at Aalto University, Finland. Lauri holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts from Aalto University, specializing in Film and Television Production Design. Lauri is interested in exploring the interrelations of film and other screen-based artistic media. He is passionately engaged with all aspects of teaching and learning in production design.. Read more

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Mani Martínez

Catalonia's Higher School of Cinema and AVs (ESCAC) • Barcelona

Mani Martínez , Catalonia's Higher School of Cinema and AVs (ESCAC) (Barcelona, Spain)

Bio:

A Production Designer & Art Director with 25 years of experience in national and international productions, Mani holds a background in Fine Arts from the UK and has worked across all departments relat... A Production Designer & Art Director with 25 years of experience in national and international productions, Mani holds a background in Fine Arts from the UK and has worked across all departments related to production design.

His work on service productions in different countries, in both roles, has given him a creative and technical perspective that has shaped his vision for more efficient workflows in the audiovisual industry.

His most recent work includes production design for Lucky Luke (Federation & Disney). He has also contributed to high­profile productions such as Perfume (Constantin Film) as Props Buyer or Black Mirror (Netflix) as Local Art Director. 

He designed and leads the Design Film_lA, an EU-funded course exploring Al applications in production design at E.S.C.A.C. (Catalan Higher School of Cinema and Audiovisuals).

As co-founder and artistic director of the startup Keynema, he develops Al-powered tools to support production teams, facilitating the information flow and logistics of departments - especially within the art department.  Read more

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Jon Rowlands

University of Lincoln •

Jon Rowlands , University of Lincoln

Bio:

Jon Rowlands is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, specialising in production design for television and film, and live television production. Jon's interest in production design and telev... Jon Rowlands is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, specialising in production design for television and film, and live television production. Jon's interest in production design and television stems from a lifelong love of sci-fi, namely Doctor Who and Star Trek. A career highlight are his regular interviews with industry production designers, including Dave Blass of Star Trek: Picard fame. For five years he was Director of Teaching and Learning within the Lincoln School of Film, Media and Journalism, leading on curriculum development, pedagogy and the student learning experience. Jon is a BAFTA Albert certified trainer, ensuring that his students centre their production design work on environmentally sustainable methods. He has written on several topics, including his experiences of neurodiversity, and how creating welcoming spaces for neurodiverse people can (and should) be celebrated and developed within the higher education sector. Read more

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Jayne Sayer

University of Salford • Manchester

Jayne Sayer , University of Salford (Manchester, United Kingdom)

Bio:

Jayne Sayer is a lecturer in Film Production at the University of Salford, and an Art Department specialist with a particular focus on the integration of digital processes into film design and aesthet... Jayne Sayer is a lecturer in Film Production at the University of Salford, and an Art Department specialist with a particular focus on the integration of digital processes into film design and aesthetics. Drawing from over 10 years of corporate and broadcast industry experience, Jayne’s current practice is centred on how audience experiences in immersive theatre and art installations can be translated into the cinematic form, specifically within the fields of Production Design and Expanded Cinema, alongside developing new smart technology and Virtual Production solutions. Most recently, Jayne has been a co-investigator on the Nested Cinema research, also contributing as a production designer and creative technologies practitioner to the practical realisation of the project. Jayne currently acts as an advisor on a research project developing responsive costume lighting and projection techniques for live music performance, funded by the Arts Council England. Read more

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Anne Seibel

La Femis • Paris

Anne Seibel , La Femis (Paris, France)

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Adriana Serrano

University of Texas at Austin •

Adriana Serrano , University of Texas at Austin

Website:https://www.adriana-serrano.com

Bio:

Adriana is a Production Designer, recognized for her versatile and strong aesthetic work in the narrative world. She has designed numerous features, shorts, commercials, music videos, and new media co... Adriana is a Production Designer, recognized for her versatile and strong aesthetic work in the narrative world. She has designed numerous features, shorts, commercials, music videos, and new media content.

Her films have been shown in major film festivals like Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, and Toronto, and have streamed in platforms like HBO, Netflix, ABC, and Amazon.

Her credits as a production designer include, among others: “Afternoon Delight,” directed by Jill Soloway (Best director in Sundance), “Arcadia” (Best film at the generation K in Berlin), and “Entre Nos” (Honorable mention at Tribeca).

Her latest film collaboration, “The Obituary of Tunde Johnson,” directed by Ali Leroi, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, 2019.

Adriana was trained as a visual artist at Universidad de los Andes in her native Colombia and received her MFA in Set Design at Brooklyn College in New York. Read more

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Ben Simpson

Leeds Arts University •

Ben Simpson , Leeds Arts University

Bio:

Ben Simpson, a.k.a Doctor Simpo, is a seasoned educator and creative, serving as the MA Course Leader for Worldbuilding with Creature Design and Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons.) Animation. A self-identi... Ben Simpson, a.k.a Doctor Simpo, is a seasoned educator and creative, serving as the MA Course Leader for Worldbuilding with Creature Design and Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons.) Animation. A self-identified "Sequential Narrative Specialist," Simpson has expertise in 2D sequencing, influenced by notable figures from Glasgow's Hope Street Studios. He honed his skills at institutions like the Glasgow School of Art, the Pratt Institute and The Royal College of Art. Simpson has authored the book "Bring Stuff to Life" and created popular gag-based picture books. His work has been internationally exhibited alongside major artists like Dali and Picasso. Known for his long-running ‘underground-kids-comic’ Space Dork, Simpson has expanded his portfolio into children's TV, co-creating the animated series SnotDog. He has directed various award winning animated projects, including Derek the Sheep, and continues to develop innovative visual storytelling content. His current research involves re-imagining WOKKER for an upcoming exhibition in 2025. Read more

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Dawn Snyder

IATSE Local 800 Los Angeles, CA, USA •

Dawn Snyder , IATSE Local 800 Los Angeles, CA, USA

Website:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0811436/?ref_=fn_t_2

Bio:

With a degree in graphic design, my film career began as a set designer on feature films including Caddyshack II, Back to the Future II, The Nutty Professor, Van Helsing and Armageddon. For the next 1... With a degree in graphic design, my film career began as a set designer on feature films including Caddyshack II, Back to the Future II, The Nutty Professor, Van Helsing and Armageddon. For the next 10 years I art directed lower budget films; Mighty Ducks 2, Candyman and TV series Roswell.
As a Production Designer for 20+ years, I designed indie movies & TV series, including Dancer, Texas pop 81, Arrested Development, Psych and Netflix’s Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever!
Academically, I’ve taught at SCAD, AFI and am currently employed as Director of Education for the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, Los Angeles. Read more

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Anna Solic

University of South Wales • Cardiff

Anna Solic , University of South Wales (Cardiff, United Kingdom)

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Sebastian Soukup

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Sebastian Soukup , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Bio:

Sebastian Soukup, whom David Cronenberg referred to as “a full production designer at heart” after working together on A Dangerous Method (2010) has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as J... Sebastian Soukup, whom David Cronenberg referred to as “a full production designer at heart” after working together on A Dangerous Method (2010) has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Jordan Scott on Berlin Nobody (2022), Wim Wenders on Anselm (2023), Palermo Shooting (2007), Volker Schlöndorff on Return to Montauk (2016), Larry Charles on Army of One (2015), Julie Delpy on My Zoe (2018) and Lulu Wang on Posthumous (2012).He received nominations for Best Production Design at the German Film Academy Awards in 2023 for Der vermessene Mensch // The Measures of Men (directed by Lars Kraume) and in 2020 for Narziss & Goldmund (directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky).  His storyboards for Palermo Shooting were showcased in the exhibition “Between Film and Art: Storyboards from Hitchcock to Spielberg” at the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen in 2011. Since 2023, he holds a professorship in Scenography / Production Design at the Internationale Filmschule Köln. Read more

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Noelle C. Thomas

DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts • Chicago

Noelle C. Thomas , DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts (Chicago, United States)

Website:https://www.designnoelle.com/

Bio:

Noelle C. Thomas is a Production Designer and Set Designer whose work spans film, television, opera, and theater. Her approach to design emphasizes storytelling, collaboration, and the thoughtful inte... Noelle C. Thomas is a Production Designer and Set Designer whose work spans film, television, opera, and theater. Her approach to design emphasizes storytelling, collaboration, and the thoughtful integration of visual and spatial language across different forms of media.

Her production credits include work on Chicago Med (NBC Universal), Reservation Dogs (FX/Hulu), Night Sky (Amazon Studios/Legendary Television), South Side (HBO Max), Empire (20th Century Fox Television), and Fargo: Kansas City (FX). She has also designed independent and short films including Stronghold, Tensile Strength of Air, and The Lagoon, as well as commercial projects for Barstool Sports, IKEA, and Accenture. In addition to her screen work, she has designed opera and theater, including a Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated scenic design for Awake and Sing!

At DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, Thomas serves as Assistant Professor and Head of Production Design. Her teaching brings together traditional design practices, digital modeling, and virtual production tools, encouraging students to develop strong visual design foundations while exploring new technologies shaping the industry. She is a Journeyman Member of IATSE Local 476 and draws on her professional experience to connect classroom learning to current production practices.

Thomas’s research and teaching focus on production design, art direction, set design, and virtual production, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and global collaboration. She has collaborated with Nottingham Trent University to develop shared learning projects that connect students internationally through design and storytelling. Her ongoing research examines global storytelling, AI-assisted visualization, and the evolving role of the production designer in virtual and hybrid production environments. She contributes to the upcoming CILECT Production Design Anthology and is a member of The Production Design Research and Education Network (PD-REN). Thomas holds an MFA in Stage Design from Northwestern University and a BFA in Scenic Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Read more

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Elena Trencheva

National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) • Sofia

Elena Trencheva , National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Bio:

Elena Trencheva is a professor in Production design at NATFA, Bulgaria. As the Head of the BA programme in Production design she has taught courses in Costume Design for Film, Previsualization and Sto... Elena Trencheva is a professor in Production design at NATFA, Bulgaria. As the Head of the BA programme in Production design she has taught courses in Costume Design for Film, Previsualization and Storyboarding, and Visual Design since 2003.Elena actively works as a production designer and costume designer in numerous Bulgarian feature and documentary films, web series, and sitcoms. In 2007, she defended her doctoral dissertation Semiotics of Costume in Science Fiction Film, which won a competition for scientific research by the National Culture Fund. From 2013 to 2015, as a postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland, she conducted research on the Representations of Finnish Identity in Early Finnish Cinema 1919-1929 and in 2016, she presented her habilitation thesis Violating Accuracy or Costume Verisimilitude in Historical Film, further establishing her expertise in the nuanced relationship between history, narrative, and visual storytelling. As a member of the Steering Committee of FilmEU she contributes to shaping the future of film education and collaborative research across Europe. Read more

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Fleur Whitlock

London Film School, London Film Academy, Central Film School • London

Fleur Whitlock , London Film School, London Film Academy, Central Film School (London, UK)

Website:https://fleurwhitlock.com/

Bio:

I am a freelance film & TV art director and production designer. I am also a visiting lecturer in Production Design to BA and MA courses in film making.

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Jakob Ion Wille

The Royal Danish Academy , Institute of Design and Visual Interaction •

Jakob Ion Wille , The Royal Danish Academy , Institute of Design and Visual Interaction

Website:https://adk.elsevierpure.com/da/persons/jakob-ion-wille/

Bio:

Throughout my professional career, I have focused on narrative and how it can be
translated into visual stories and universes - exploring how visual universes shape
our concepts of both the current ... Throughout my professional career, I have focused on narrative and how it can be
translated into visual stories and universes - exploring how visual universes shape
our concepts of both the current world and potential future worlds. At the same
time, stories and games serve as a means for humans to engage with and
comprehend complex issues or wicked problems within spaces that allow for both
emotional and playful interaction. As Head of the Visual Game & Media Design
program, I have also worked on how issues related to climate change can be
addressed through themes in eco-fiction and video games combining methods
from world building, speculative design, and experimantal futures. Read more

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Gage Williams

University of Utah • Utah

Gage Williams , University of Utah (Utah, United States)

Bio:

Gage Williams is an award-winning Art Director with over 50 network and cable television design credits. He received a 1990 CableACE Award for Showtime’s Mastergate, written by Larry Gelbart, and co... Gage Williams is an award-winning Art Director with over 50 network and cable television design credits. He received a 1990 CableACE Award for Showtime’s Mastergate, written by Larry Gelbart, and contributed to HBO’s Def Poetry Jamon Broadway, winner of the 2002 Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event. His work spans sitcoms, comedy and musical specials, and variety shows. Williams holds an MFA in Stage Design from Southern Methodist University and is Professor of Theatre at the University of Utah. A 2000 John R. Park Fellowship supported his creation of a Production Design curriculum. And providing him advanced study with Production Designer Lawrence G. Paull (Academy Award Nominee, Blade Runner). Read more

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Petra Maria Wirth

Internationale Filmschule Köln gGmbH - Germany • Cologne / Germany

Petra Maria Wirth , Internationale Filmschule Köln gGmbH - Germany (Cologne / Germany, Germany)

Bio:

As a scenographer, Petra Maria Wirth explores the invention of visual worlds as a stage and costume designer in theater and as a concept artist and illustrator in German and international film product... As a scenographer, Petra Maria Wirth explores the invention of visual worlds as a stage and costume designer in theater and as a concept artist and illustrator in German and international film productions.

Her career in theater has led her to municipal theaters such as Schauspiel Köln, Staatstheater Hannover, Volksbühne Berlin, Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Theater Dortmund, Heidelberg, Bonn, Mainz, Lucerne, Lüneburg …, as well as independent theater groups such as Theater Collective “Futur 3” Cologne, FFT Düsseldorf, the International Wow Company / New York City, Theatro Praga / Lisbon, kobalt.works / Brussels, selma 45 / Lausanne, Teatr Lesi / Lviv, Ukraine etc.

For feature film productions, she enjoys collaborating with the production designers Uli Hanisch and Volker Schäfer, for example, on Tom Tykwer's "Perfume" (illustrator), Sönke Wortmann's "The Miracle of Bern" (illustrator), and Hans Steinbichler's "The Diary of Anne Frank" (concept artist). She has also worked with international production designers on Jim Jarmuch's "Only Lovers Left Behind" (set designer), David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" (drawing artist), and Sherry Hormann's “Desert Flower” (art director), or with Christina Friedrich on “Sons of Whores – a Requiem” as production designer, to name just a few.

At the International Film School Cologne, Petra Maria Wirth heads the BA Film Production Design. Read more

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