JOB REPORT / 27-1027 · 27 TASKS

Set and Exhibit Designers.

Can AI do the work of Set and Exhibit Designers?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays
Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time…
Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Set and Exhibit Designers work. It covers the 24 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

24 of 27 tasks reviewed

This job has 27 core tasks. We went through 24 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Set and Exhibit Designers actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays, such as press kits, advertising, publicity notices, posters, brochures, catalogues, and invitations.
AI DOES
Drafts copy, suggests layouts, and generates visual concepts for posters, brochures, and press kits
YOU DO
Steer the creative direction and make sure materials match the exhibit's unique story and audience
TASK 02
Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
AI DOES
Searches and summarizes historical architectural styles, materials, and design details from any time period
YOU DO
Judge which details match the creative vision and build trust with human expert sources
TASK 03
Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
AI DOES
Generates concept sketches, drafts layout options, and suggests material combinations from text prompts
YOU DO
Apply spatial intuition, refine for buildability, and translate a client's vision into something that truly works in real space
TASK 04
Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
AI DOES
Pulls out location mentions, prop lists, mood cues, and setting details from scripts automatically
YOU DO
Trust your creative instincts to turn script details into a real, living visual world
TASK 05
Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.
AI DOES
Drafts cost templates, looks up average material prices, and flags budget gaps
YOU DO
Verify local vendor rates and apply hands-on design experience
TASK 06
Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds.
AI DOES
Generates design concepts, color palettes, layout mockups, and 3D visualizations
YOU DO
Make the final creative call and physically build and install each display
TASK 07
Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
AI DOES
Generates initial concept sketches, suggests layouts, and helps visualize scale relationships
YOU DO
Apply hands-on spatial sense, client vision, and real-world construction knowledge to finalize drawings
TASK 08
Select set props, such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.
AI DOES
Searches databases, generates prop lists, and pulls reference images matching a theme or era
YOU DO
Walk the space and trust your eye for what actually works together
TASK 09
Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.
AI DOES
Generates rough sketches, illustrations, and layout drafts as starting points
YOU DO
Judge which team member's strengths match each creative task and direct the overall vision
TASK 10
Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
AI DOES
Generates reference images, summarizes script themes, and drafts rough layout concepts
YOU DO
Trust your eye for space, story, and what will actually work on a real stage or set
TASK 11
Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
AI DOES
Drafts submission checklists, summarizes budget conflicts, and suggests design adjustments based on constraints
YOU DO
Judge which creative trade-offs best serve the exhibit's purpose and negotiate approvals with real stakeholders
TASK 12
Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
AI DOES
Drafts question lists, summarizes meeting notes, and organizes gathered info into clear briefs
YOU DO
Build trust with clients and read unspoken needs during live conversation
TASK 13
Plan for location-specific issues, such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.
AI DOES
Generates layout options, flags common safety rules, and models traffic flow from floor plan data
YOU DO
Walk the real space and trust your gut about how crowds will actually behave
TASK 14
Arrange for outside contractors to construct exhibit structures.
AI DOES
Drafts contractor outreach emails, summarizes bids, and organizes timelines
YOU DO
Build contractor relationships and make final hiring decisions
TASK 15
Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts.
AI DOES
Suggests camera placements, alarm zones, and traffic flow patterns in digital floor plans
YOU DO
Walk the physical space and make final calls on safety and aesthetics together
TASK 16
Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
AI DOES
Drafts coordination notes, generates shared checklists, and visualizes how lighting angles interact with set layouts
YOU DO
Show up to creative meetings and negotiate live tradeoffs with the lighting and sound team
TASK 17
Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.
AI DOES
Helps track budgets, schedules, and checklists in real time
YOU DO
Stay on-site to make quick calls when things go wrong
TASK 18
Confer with conservators to determine how to handle an exhibit's environmental aspects, such as lighting, temperature, and humidity, so that objects will be protected and exhibits will be enhanced.
AI DOES
Pulls together research on lighting, temperature, and humidity standards for specific object types and drafts discussion guides or spec summaries
YOU DO
Walk the physical space with conservators and make real-time calls about each unique object's needs
TASK 19
Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.
AI DOES
Searches supplier databases, drafts acquisition emails, and compares sourcing options
YOU DO
Build vendor relationships and make final calls on quality and fit
TASK 20
Coordinate the transportation of sets that are built off-site, and coordinate their setup at the site of use.
AI DOES
Drafts shipping schedules, generates checklists, and helps write coordination emails
YOU DO
Manage on-site crews, solve unexpected physical problems, and make real-time calls during setup
TASK 21
Select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.
AI DOES
Generates material lists, compares prices online, and suggests lumber types and hardware specs based on project needs
YOU DO
Walk the lumber yard, judge material quality by sight and touch, and finalize purchases in person
TASK 22
Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.
AI DOES
Suggests layout ideas, references similar exhibits, and flags accessibility or lighting considerations from photos or descriptions
YOU DO
Handle the actual objects and trust your spatial instincts in the real room
TASK 23
Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.
AI DOES
Generates concept sketches, mood boards, and 3D digital previews to speed up the planning phase
YOU DO
Cut, assemble, and refine real physical materials by hand
TASK 24
Coordinate the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions or events are complete.
AI DOES
Drafts removal checklists, schedules crew, and tracks inventory of props and pieces
YOU DO
Show up on-site and direct the physical strike crew in real time

START LEARNING AI

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Use your judgment.

There are 24 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Set and Exhibit Designers
SOC code: 27-1027
Tasks reviewed: 24 of 27

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $75,240 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): Not reported for Colorado
Employed (national): 10,630
Employed in Colorado: 170
Job outlook: +2.3% by 2034 · ~2,500 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays, such as press kits, advertising, publicity notices, posters, brochures, catalogues, and invitations.

Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.

Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.

Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.

Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.

Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds.

Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.

Select set props, such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.

Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation.

Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.

Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.

Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.

Plan for location-specific issues, such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.

Arrange for outside contractors to construct exhibit structures.

Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts.

Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.

Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements.

Confer with conservators to determine how to handle an exhibit's environmental aspects, such as lighting, temperature, and humidity, so that objects will be protected and exhibits will be enhanced.

Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.

Coordinate the transportation of sets that are built off-site, and coordinate their setup at the site of use.

Select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.

Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.

Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.

Coordinate the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions or events are complete.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.