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Assistant Art Director

Supports Art Director on drawings, surveys and set delivery — UK Art Department grade; confirm title on the call sheet and deal memo.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Working drawings and surveys
• Chase construction and graphics briefs
• On-set art support
• Research and references

Reports to

Art Director / Supervising Art Director

Works with

Draughtspersons, Construction, Set Dec, Graphics

Career path

Art Department Assistant → Assistant Art Director → Art Director

Day to day

Survey and photograph; update drawings; chase samples; cover set walks; keep paperwork current.

Call times

Prep is office/workshop-led. On shoot days, dress/reset cover is often pre-call; night dress and strike around stages is normal UK studio practice.

What to wear

Smart-casual in prep/office; blacks and boots on set/stage; PPE on construction liaison days.

Tools & kit

Laptop, measuring tools, sample bag, radio on set days; drawing tools for draughting grades.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Vectorworks / AutoCAD
• Photoshop
• PureRef
• Vectorworks / AutoCAD / SketchUp / Rhino
• Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign
• PureRef / Milanote moodboards
• Excel / Google Sheets budgets
• Midjourney / Firefly for early concepts only (IP/clearance)

Related roles

Art Director, Art Department Assistant, Draughtsperson

More Art Department roles