The design of the setting of an animation is a vital element in the telling of the story. A well conceived set design can add richness to any animated film from student short to feature length blockbuster. The set designer must learn to balance the design of the set with the needs of the story. This can be particularly challenging to the novice set designer. Therefore it is beneficial to the novice to understand the process of set design thoroughly before producing an animation of their own, or entering the workforce. There is a vast amount of information available on theatrical set design and on film set design. Currently, there are few examples of discussions of this topic as it relates to CG animation. This information can be a great help to the young set or production designer who must learn both the analytical and practical aspects of the set design process simultaneously. The intent of this study is to present a methodology that will help the novice set designer balance the design of the set with the needs of the story.
The study begins with a brief history of set design to explore its historical significance and how this relates to the contemporary animation set design process. This process is further defined through interviews conducted with animation professionals in the area of production design. The next step incorporates this information and the concepts of design intensities into an educational tool for the pre-visualization of set designs. The educational tool combines creative research methods with the analytical nature of design intensities to help the novice to focus and make design choices that relate to and support the narrative. The educational tool is then explored in the set design process of a short animation as a means of providing an applied example. The prototype of the educational tool is then tested on animation production design students with no previous CG set design experience. Both positive and negative results of the use of the tool are examined in the conclusion, along with suggestions for the next steps in the development of the educational tool.