Production Design

The Production Design Certificate prepares students for careers as Production Designers in theater, film, television, or animation. Students develop a strong foundation in 2D and 3D visual design, storytelling, and collaboration, learning to conceptualize and create environments that enhance narrative and character. The program integrates classroom instruction with hands-on experience using industry-standard tools, materials, and software.  

Graduates will demonstrate the ability to interpret scripts visually, communicate design concepts effectively with directors and cinematographers, and produce professional-quality design materials for portfolios.  

There are no formal prerequisites; however, strong creative, visual, and collaborative skills are recommended. Students should be aware that production design are highly competitive fields, and most entry-level opportunities begin with freelance or assistant positions that may offer modest pay until professional experience is established.  

Completion of this certificate provides students with the technical and artistic skills, industry awareness, and portfolio necessary to begin professional work or pursue advanced study in production design and art direction for theater, film, television, or animation. 

Enrollment trends across the collaborating departments demonstrate consistent growth and strong student engagement in production-related programs. Between 2024 and 2025, Cinema/TV enrollment increased from 1,196 to 1,391 students, Theater from 762 to 822, and VAMA from 1,662 to 1,848, reflecting steady demand for creative media and design coursework. Certificate completion rates have followed this upward trend: from 72 to 81 in Cinema/TV, 44 to 46 in Theater, and 26 to 36 in VAMA over the same period. 

Specialized certificate programs completions between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 within these disciplines —such as Cinematography (20 completers), Post Production (10), Technical Theater (3), Costume Design (12), Animation (11), and Arts Graphic Communication (17)—show sustained interest in focused creative pathways. Given this data and the interdisciplinary nature of the proposed Production Design Certificate, which integrates coursework across Cinema/TV, Theater, and VAMA, it is reasonable to project annual completions comparable to these specialized certificates, averaging 10 completers per year once the program is fully established. 

The Certificate in Production Design at Los Angeles City College is a Career Technical Education (CTE) program designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the art and design departments of film, television, and live event production. The program’s primary goals are to (1) provide interdisciplinary, hands-on training in scenic, costume, and lighting design; (2) develop the technical and collaborative skills required of production designers and art-department professionals; and (3) support equitable access to creative-industry careers in the Los Angeles region. 

Students completing the certificate will demonstrate competencies in visual design, drafting and rendering, model building, digital graphics, budgeting, and set construction. They will also develop collaborative problem-solving skills by working across Cinema/TV, Visual Arts/Animation, and Theatre disciplines. Graduates will be prepared for employment as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors, Set Designers, or other entry-level positions in production design and art departments. 

The program operates appropriately at the community college level, emphasizing applied design principles and technical skills rather than graduate-level theoretical or research study. It embodies the mission of California Community Colleges under Education Code §66010.4 by providing accessible, workforce-oriented education that responds to regional industry demand. 

In alignment with the LACCD Educational Master Plan, the certificate complements existing programs in Theatre, Cinema/TV, and Visual & Media Arts while addressing a gap in affordable, design-focused training. Rooted in Los Angeles’s creative economy, this program expands opportunities for diverse student populations to enter one of the region’s most vital employment sectors. 

The Production Design Certificate at Los Angeles City College provides students with a structured, interdisciplinary pathway that integrates film, television, theater, and digital design. 

During the first year, students build a foundation in the creative and technical principles of design. Coursework introduces Film Genres, 2D and 3D Computer Design, Scenic Design for Theater, and Design for Theater, Film, and Television, giving students a broad understanding of visual storytelling and design fundamentals. 

In the second year, students apply this knowledge through hands-on projects as they identify an area of focus—Film, Television, Theater, or Animation. Courses in 3D Animation, Film Production, Theater Lighting, Set Design, and Episodic TV Production help students strengthen practical skills while working in collaborative production environments. 

In the final semester, students complete a Directed Study or Cooperative Education internship within their chosen discipline, serving as a Production Designer on a film, stage production, television episode, or animated project. Upon completion, graduates will possess a professional portfolio of design work, demonstrating creative and technical proficiency, collaboration, and job readiness for careers as Production Designers, Assistant Art Directors, or related design roles across Film, TV, Theater, and Animation. 

Certificate of Achievement: Production Design 

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