The Production Design Research & Education Network (PD-REN) proudly launched its first-ever international conference, Scene & Unseen: The Invisible Art of Production Design, from 22–24 October 2025 at the University of Westminster, London. Bringing together educators, practitioners, and researchers from across the globe, the event celebrated the creative and intellectual depth of production design, the often “unseen” art that shapes the worlds we experience on screen.

The conference opened with a cinematic flourish on Wednesday, October 22, at the Regent Street Cinema, where Jane Barnwell, Jo Briscoe (PD-REN co-founders) and Jonathan Paul Green (BFDG Chairperson) gave a warm welcome to an excited audience of filmmakers, educators, students and the general public. The screening of The Fountain (2006) was followed by an insightful conversation with James Chinlund (Narnia (2026), The Batman (2022), War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), the film’s production designer, moderated by Jamie Lapsley in partnership with the British Film Designers Guild.

Over the next two days, the program offered a rich mix of panels, talks, and workshops. On Thursday, October 23, PD-REN co-founders Jane Barnwell (UOW) and Jo Briscoe (Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne) welcomed attendees before sessions explored creativity, pedagogy, and visibility within production design. Highlights included Light Bulb Moments - a dialogue between Eli Bo (Norwegian Film School) and Moira Tait (BFDG) on inspiration, chaired by Professor John Wyver (UoW); followed by a stimulating Pedagogical Approaches panel with presentations from Jette Lehmann and Sofia Stål (National Film School of Denmark), Ben Simpson (Leeds Arts University), Noelle C Thomas (DePaul University) and Kerry Bradley (Nottingham Trent University), and Siri Langdalen (Norwegian Film School) chaired by Anna Solic (University of South Wales). Next up the focus shifted to Making the PD Visible, chaired by Geraint D’Arcy (UEA) with presentations from Professor Ian Christie (Birkbeck Institute), Professor John Wyver and Miriam Phelan (Curator of Screencraft, BFI National Archive).

Will Htay (BFDG) followed with a NOOR previs demonstration. The next panel connected beautifully with papers exploring Immersion from Jørgen Stangebye Larsen (Norwegian Film School), Jayne Sayer (University of Salford), Karen Maness (University of Texas) and Richard Whitby (Ravensbourne University) chaired by Jo Briscoe. Day one was rounded off with a conversation between Anna Solic and Jane Barnwell about the Visual Concept Toolkit Jane has developed for both designing and analysing Film and TV, before networking drinks for attendees.

Friday, October 24, continued with forward-looking sessions. Danny Brown (Totom Construction) and PD Russell De Rozario got the day off to a raucous start with candid conversation VP: Tying Worlds Together chaired by Kerry Bradley. Our Teams panel followed highlighting the art department working practices, with presentations from Andoni Iturbe Tolosa (University of the Basque Country) and May Davies (BFDG) chaired by Maria Kavalioti (University of Thessaloniki). Panels, Space and Story (Geraint D’Arcy, Jo Briscoe, Jon Rowlands (University of Lincoln) and Maria Del Rincon Yohn (Universidad de Navarra) chaired by Jane Barnwell); and Future Directions (Angelica Boehm (Film Universitat Babelsberg Konrad Wolf), Sebastian Soukup (International Filmschule Koln) and Mani Martinez (Catalonia Higher School of Cinema) chaired by Boyana Buchvarova (NATFA)) examined evolving narratives and methodologies. An energising round of fast paced poster presentations from Abigail Stephenson (University of South Wales), Alexis Molloy (University of South Wales), Angelica Boehm, Boyana Buchvarova and Elena Trencheva (NATFA), James Frith (University of South Wales), Gage Williams (University of Utah), Nathan Evans (AFTRS), Signe Gerda Landfald (Norwegian Film School), Maria Kavalioti and Jon Rowlands delivered a visual feast with impact. The workshop session, AI in Production Design: Tools for Expression and Exploration, led by Boyana Buchvarova and Elena Trencheva, delved into the creative potential of emerging technologies with entertaining results.

The conference concluded with a glimpse at two forthcoming publications – from PD-REN, Perspectives on Production Design: Practice, Education and Analysis led by Barnwell and Briscoe (Open Access, UoW Press 2026) and CILECT Teaching Production Design in the 21st Century, by Maria Andronikou (Stavrakos Film & TV School). The new website for the network was launched emphasising PD-REN’s mission to build a vibrant global community that bridges research, education and practice in production design.

With over 45 speakers and 200 attendees across the programme, and the mix of screenings, scholarship and spirited debate, the inaugural PD-REN Conference set a strong foundation for the future - a celebration of the imagination, collaboration and research that make the invisible art of production design visible.

A heartfelt thank you to all our attendees, speakers and partners for making this inaugural conference such a success. Your insights, enthusiasm and engagement created an inspiring atmosphere and sparked meaningful conversations.

Special thanks to the Conference Committee - Jo Briscoe, Natalie Beak, Maria Kavalioti, Boyana Buchvarova and May Davies and UoW BA Film and CMP student helpers - Holly Tucker, Eliana Folin, Mika Lippelt, Lois Raulin, Alfia Jane Mullenger, Daisy Warne, Sofia Miretti and Venice Pintea.

We’re grateful for the time, energy and expertise you brought to the event and look forward to continuing the dialogue and collaboration in the months ahead.

Until next time, thank you for being part of our community and helping make this event truly memorable!

Jane Barnwell

Nov 2025