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    Set Designers in India: Famous Designers, Career, Salary & Courses
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    • Set Designers in India: Famous Designers, Career, Salary & Courses

    Set Designers in India: Famous Designers, Career, Salary & Courses

    Tekumalla AvinashramUpdated on 19 Oct 2026, 12:55 PM IST

    Set designers in India are in high demand in the visual arts sectors. Set designers create and design visually appealing surroundings for films, television shows, theatre, advertisements, and other events. A set designer mainly focuses on layout, props, and set appearance, which are needed to bring a scene or concept into a visual format. There are multiple colleges that offer set designing specialisations, such as National Institute of Design, Whistling Woods International, and many more. To learn indeepth about set designing, candidates are advised to persue B.Des or M.Des courses in visual communication design, production design, art direction. Read the complete article to know the famous set designers in India, the life of a set designer, career scope, salary, and courses to become a set designer.

    Set Designers in India: Famous Designers, Career, Salary & Courses
    Famous Set Designers in India

    Set Designers in India: An Overview

    Set designers are the creative people who handle the complete shoot location of any film, television show, advertisement, or any other event to bring visually appealing concepts. They work closely with directors, art directors, and production teams to create engaging sets which matchs the director's vision, story, and production requirements. Check the below sections to get a detailed overview of set designers in India:

    Particulars

    Details

    Role

    Set Designer

    Workplaces

    Film, television shows, advertisements, web series, or any corporate event.

    Skills Required

    Creativity, visualisation, drawing, team handling, space planning, and colour & shape knowledge.

    Courses

    • Bachelor of Fine Arts

    • B.Des Set Design

    Famous Set Designers in India

    Check the top set designers in India who have worked in some of the prominent projects in India:

    Set Designers Names

    Known For

    Nitin Chandrakant Desai

    Lagaan, Devdas, Jodhaa Akbar, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

    Sabu Cyril

    Baahubali series, Robot (Enthiran), and Om Shanti Om

    Narendra Rahurikar

    Dilwale, Chennai Express, and OMG 2

    Thota Tharani

    Nayakan, Dasavatharam, and Ponniyin Selvan.

    What Does a Set Designer Do?

    Set designers convert any location into a visually appealing set based on the director and production team’s vision. They mainly focus on the concept, sketching, space planning, material selection, and visualisation. They work closely with project leads such as directors, architects, and the production head. They work closely with directors & production teams and analyse the scripts to create engaging backdrops and sets.

    How to Become a Set Designer in India

    Design aspirants and film enthusiasts who want to become a set designer should know the required skills, have a good educational background, and have practical experience. To become a set designer in India, a candidate must have a design or architecture degree and build a strong portfolio through full-time jobs or internships. Check the section below to know the eligibility criteria of a set designer, required skills, and educational background:

    Particulars

    Details

    Eligibility Criteria

    Candidates should complete their 10+2 education from any recognised board and complete their undergraduation from design programme.

    Skills Required

    Students should have knowledge of AutoCAD, SketchUp, Blender, Adobe software, sketching, 3D modeling, and basic construction techniques

    Education Qualification

    • B.Des

    • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

    • Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)

    • B.Des Interior Design

    • Theatre Design

    • B.Des Production Design

    • Diploma/Certificate courses

    Set Designer Salary in India

    The average salary package for a set designer in India varies based on the level of experience. Compared to freshers or entry-level set designers, most of the set designers get paid based on the project work rather than a monthly salary. Entry-level or mid-level set designers in India secure a salary range of between 3 to 10 LPA depending on their skills and knowledge. Know the salary breakdown of set designers in India:

    Job Level

    Estimated Salary Package

    Entry level

    3 to 5 LPA

    Mid-level

    4.5 to 8 LPA

    Experienced

    Above 10 LPA / Project basis / Freelance work

    Skills Required to Become a Set Designer

    Candidates should have various creative skills to become a set designer. Set designers will have to have detailed knowledge of colour and shape theory, space planning, and should know well about the materials. Check the points below to know the skills required to become a set designer:

    • Drawing/sketching

    • 3D visualisation

    • Space planning

    • Creativity

    • Knowledge of materials

    • CAD/3D software

    • Budget management

    Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

    Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 18 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2026

    IBSAT

    Gateway to IBS Hyderabad & 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR

    Best Colleges/Courses for Set Design in India

    There are multiple institutions that offer set designing and production design courses in India. Candidates are advised to prefer film and theatre schools to get a detailed and industry-standard curriculum. Below are some of the best colleges that offer courses related to set designing in India:

    Best Set Design Colleges

    Courses Offered

    Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)

    Art Direction and Production Design

    National School of Drama (NSD)

    Diploma course in Dramatics

    Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI)

    MFA in Cinema with specialisation in Producing for Film and Television

    Whistling Woods International (WWI)

    National Institute of Design (NID)

    B.Des. in Film and Video Communication

    MIT Institute of Design (MIT ID)

    B.Des. Film and Video Design

    JD Institute of Fashion Technology

    Career Scope for Set Designers in India

    Set designing aspirants are in high demand in the current entertainment market. Students can opt for various careers after completing their set designing specialisation from any recognised institution. Check the table below to know the job roles offered after completing a set designing course:

    Career Scope

    Job Roles

    Film & OTT Production Houses

    • Set Designers

    • Art director

    • Assistant Art Director

    • Production designer (assistants)

    Live events / Concerts

    • Stage Designers

    • Corporate Set Designers

    Upcoming Design Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    ADEPT Application Date

    1 Sep'26 - 20 Dec'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    GLS DAT Application Date

    2 Sep'26 - 21 Jan'27 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    MIT WPU CET Application Date

    2 Sep'26 - 4 Dec'26 (Online)

    Questions related to Design

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    Hello student!

    If you are preparing for NIFT 2027, it is important to know the syllabus and understand which subjects and areas you need to prepare. You can find the NIFT syllabus and preparation-related information through the resource below.

    Given below are the links to access:

    https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus-2027

    https://design.careers360.com/download/ebooks/nift-syllabus-of-ug-pg-programme

    Study Materials:

    Hello, you can stay updated on upcoming application forms for engineering and B.Des entrance exams through official exam websites and admission portals. You can also follow the latest exam notifications and application updates here:

    Hello there!

    If you are inquiring about Interior Design at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the university offers a 3-year Diploma in Interior Design through the University Polytechnic.

    • Course:  Diploma in Interior Design
    • Duration: 3 years
    • Intake: 20 seats

    The curriculum covers various aspects of interior design, including CAD, furniture design,

    Hi Student,

    You can practise previous-year UCEED, NIFT and NID questions and check the correct answers or solutions after attempting them. For UCEED, Careers360 provides previous-year papers with answer keys, while NIFT papers are available with solutions. NID previous-year papers with solutions are also available for practice.

    You can start

    Hey there,

    B.Tech in Game Design Technologies at Dr. YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University is a good option for students genuinely interested in gaming, animation, graphics, and interactive design. The course includes game development, 2D/3D art, animation, and programming, with admission through AP EAPCET . Success depends on your