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How exposed to AI is a Set and Exhibit Designer?

Of the 27 tasks O*NET lists for set and exhibit designers, 4 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 13 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
DesignerDisplay CoordinatorExhibit CoordinatorExhibit DesignerExhibit PreparatorHistorical Society Window DresserInstallations DesignerProjection DesignerScenic DesignerSet Designer
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
27
tasks rated for this occupation
86%
hold a degree, from a survey of 21
7k
people do this job in the US
25 of 40
least protected in arts, design and media

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

4
  • Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements
  • Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary
  • Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them
  • Provide supportive materials for exhibits and displays, such as press kits, advertising, publicity notices, posters, brochures, catalogues, and invitations

Only with software built on top

10
  • Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations
  • Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed
  • Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting
  • 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
  • Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts
  • Assign staff to complete design ideas and prepare sketches, illustrations, and detailed drawings of sets, or graphics and animation
  • Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations
  • Plan for location-specific issues, such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns
  • 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

Cannot be sped up

13
  • Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets
  • Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles
  • Select set props, such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs
  • Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects
  • Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special-effects components
  • Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits
  • Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds
  • Direct and coordinate construction, erection, or decoration activities to ensure that sets or exhibits meet design, budget, and schedule requirements
  • 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
  • Arrange for outside contractors to construct exhibit structures
  • Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts
  • Coordinate the removal of sets, props, and exhibits after productions or events are complete
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.