Career Overlap Occupation record
RecordJob

Where a sound designer can go next

5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a sound designer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.

Sound designers develop a sound design concept for a performance and supervise the execution of it. Their work is based on research and artistic vision. Their design is influenced by and influences other designs and must be conform with these designs and the overall artistic vision. Therefore, the designers work closely with artistic directors, operators and the artistic team. Sound designers prepare audio fragments to be used in a performance, which can involve recording, composing, manipulating and editing. Sound designers develop plans, cue lists and other documentation to support the operators and production crew. Sound designers sometimes also work as autonomous artists, creating sound art outside a performance context.

Also known as music and sound artist, sound designer and composer, sound designer and engineer, sound designer & composer, composer & sound designer, audio designer, composer and sound designer, audio engineer and sound artist, sound engineer & designer, sound designer and audio engineer, audio engineer & sound artist, sound designer and music composer.

Technicians and associate professionals 75 skills on file 5 career moves 5 above 60% overlap Closest: performance video designer, 80%

Fig. 2 · Career map 5 nearest · ESCO v1.2.1
sound operator 80% covered costume designer 78% covered performance video designer 80% covered set designer 73% covered tent installer 68% covered sound designer You are here
  • 70% and above · short step
  • 50 to 70% · real move
  • Below 50% · substantial retraining
The 5 nearest destinations from sound designer, each one a link to that move’s record. Distance from the centre is how much retraining the move takes; the figure on each is how much of that role a sound designer already covers. All 5 are listed in the tables below.
Table 1

Table 1 · Within reach

Table 2

Table 2 · What the job itself asks for

A sound designer needs 44 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.

Required skill Area
  • mix multi-track recordings working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • mix sound in a live situation communication, collaboration and creativity
  • program sound cues working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • operate sound live working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • conduct costume research information skills
  • coordinate audio system programmes working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • plan audiovisual recording management skills
  • research new ideas information skills
  • verify feasibility information skills
  • analyse the artistic concept based on stage actions information skills
Table 3

Table 3 · Jobs that lead here

The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a sound designer does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.

Index

Look up another occupation

Sound designer is filed under Technicians and associate professionals, ISCO major group 3. The full index lists all ten groups.

Note

How these figures were compiled

Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a sound designer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.