Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Miniature set designer to prop maker

A miniature set designer already meets 35% of what the prop maker role asks for. The move turns on 15 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From miniature set designer
35 % overlap
Distant match
To prop maker
16 You already bring
15 Still to learn
45 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

70.4/ 100

1 How much of what a prop maker is expected to do is already part of a miniature set designer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the prop maker role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A prop maker role treats 8 of its required skills as things a miniature set designer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • adapt props
  • finish project within budget
  • follow work schedule
  • translate artistic concepts to technical designs
  • use personal protection equipment
  • work ergonomically

What stands in the way is 15 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 16 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A prop maker role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a miniature set designer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held hand props to actors assisting and caring
  • already held adapt props communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held work with the camera crew communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held work with the lighting crew communication, collaboration and creativity
  • already held lighting techniques arts and humanities
  • already held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems assisting and caring

All 16 carried skills, including the 8 the prop maker role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 29 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 communication, collaboration and creativity 6 required, 7 supplementary
  • still to learn adapt to artists' creative demands required
  • still to learn build props required
  • still to learn develop prop effects required
  • still to learn interpret artistic intentions required
  • still to learn maintain props required
  • still to learn understand artistic concepts required
  • optional, not held define prop materials optional
  • optional, not held draw prop sketches optional
  • optional, not held purchase props optional
  • optional, not held support a designer in the developing process optional
  • optional, not held work safely with stage weapons optional
  • optional, not held collaborate on costume and make-up for performances optional
  • optional, not held develop professional network optional
02 management skills 3 required, 5 supplementary
  • still to learn define prop building methods required
  • still to learn maintain workshop space required
  • still to learn prepare personal work environment required
  • optional, not held set up props in a timely manner optional
  • optional, not held manage technical resources stock optional
  • optional, not held organise workshop space optional
  • optional, not held plan workshop activity optional
  • optional, not held manage personal professional development optional
03 assisting and caring 2 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn prevent fire in a performance environment required
  • still to learn work with respect for own safety required
  • optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
04 information skills 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn keep up with trends required
  • optional, not held keep personal administration optional
05 constructing 1 required
  • still to learn maintain theatre equipment required
06 handling and moving 1 required
  • still to learn build devices into props required

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a prop maker role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 16 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held adapt props skill
  • already held finish project within budget skill
  • already held follow work schedule skill
  • already held translate artistic concepts to technical designs skill
  • already held use personal protection equipment skill
  • already held work ergonomically skill
  • already held work safely with chemicals skill
  • already held work safely with machines skill
  • already held attend rehearsals skill
  • already held ensure safety of mobile electrical systems skill
  • already held hand props to actors skill
  • already held lighting techniques knowledge
  • already held manage consumables stock skill
  • already held photography knowledge
  • already held work with the camera crew skill
  • already held work with the lighting crew skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required
  • still to learn work safely with mobile electrical systems under supervision required
14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held set up props in a timely manner optional
  • optional, not held define prop materials optional
  • optional, not held draw prop sketches optional
  • optional, not held manage technical resources stock optional
  • optional, not held organise workshop space optional
  • optional, not held plan workshop activity optional
  • optional, not held purchase props optional
  • optional, not held support a designer in the developing process optional
  • optional, not held work safely with stage weapons optional
  • optional, not held collaborate on costume and make-up for performances optional
  • optional, not held develop professional network optional
  • optional, not held keep personal administration optional
  • optional, not held manage personal professional development optional
  • optional, not held perform first fire intervention optional
22 held skills the prop maker role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adapt sets skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse a script skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse the need for technical resources skill
  • not needed by the target role build miniature sets skill
  • not needed by the target role change over props skill
  • not needed by the target role cinematography knowledge
  • not needed by the target role consult with production director skill
  • not needed by the target role create set models skill
  • not needed by the target role design miniature props skill
  • not needed by the target role design miniature sets skill
  • not needed by the target role draw up artistic production skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure visual quality of the set skill
  • not needed by the target role film production process knowledge
  • not needed by the target role graphic design knowledge
  • not needed by the target role health and safety regulations knowledge
  • not needed by the target role manage supplies skill
  • not needed by the target role model sets skill
  • not needed by the target role preset miniature sets skill
  • not needed by the target role preset props skill
  • not needed by the target role prevent technical problems with scenic elements skill
  • not needed by the target role work safely with pyrotechnical materials in a performance environment skill
  • not needed by the target role work with the director of photography skill
Index

Other moves recorded from miniature set designer

Full index of moves from miniature set designer

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a miniature set designer become a prop maker?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A miniature set designer already covers 35% of what a prop maker is expected to do: 16 skills carry over, 8 of which the prop maker role treats as required.

What skills does a miniature set designer need to become a prop maker?

15 required skills are missing, plus 14 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is adapt to artists' creative demands.

How hard is the move from miniature set designer to prop maker?

Its learning distance is 70.4 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.