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Make-up Designer

Designs make-up looks; may split from hair on larger UK shows (or combine as HMU Designer).

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Design make-up looks
• Supervise make-up artists
• Hero tests and continuity
• Budget kits and prosthetics liaison

Reports to

Director / Producer (may share with Hair Designer)

Works with

Make-up Artists, HMU Assistants, Costume, DoP

Career path

Make-up Artist → Make-up Designer / HMU Designer

Day to day

Design and test make-up; lead make-up artists; budget SFX make-up if needed; approve continuity.

Call times

HMU call is driven by cast ready-times — often well before unit. Prosthetic/ageing and crowd days need long early prep.

What to wear

Blacks; clean hygienic kit clothes; hair tied back; soft shoes; PPE/gloves for prosthetics as needed.

Tools & kit

Personal kit (common), brushes, hygiene consumables, continuity camera/phone.

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

• Face charts (Procreate/PDF)
• Continuity photo folders
• ShotDeck refs
• Face chart apps / Procreate
• Photoshop / PureRef boards
• Labelled continuity photo folders
• ChatGPT for period/reference research (Designer verifies)

Related roles

HMU Designer, Make-up Artist, Prosthetic Make-up Artist

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