Your art director and set designer can't agree on a vision. How do you navigate the conflict?
When your art director and set designer clash over creative vision, it's essential to mediate effectively to keep the project on track. Here’s how to address their disagreements:
How have you managed creative differences in your projects? Share your strategies.
Your art director and set designer can't agree on a vision. How do you navigate the conflict?
When your art director and set designer clash over creative vision, it's essential to mediate effectively to keep the project on track. Here’s how to address their disagreements:
How have you managed creative differences in your projects? Share your strategies.
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When there is a clash between team members, we invoke the time-honored tradition of the Thunderdome. The pre-production team gathers in the dimly lit basement and places bets while the combatants choose their weapons: tangled wired mice, old tablets, broken styluses, expired Pantone books, or a particularly vindictive protractor. There's a hushed silence as the director regally takes his seat beside the executive producer and intones the sacred rules: Not the eyes, not the hands - they are holy tools of the craft. A chant is recited in the name of the Great Lord Adobe and the games begin. An unconventional approach to conflict management, this method resolves disputes quickly with the added bonus of clearing out outdated office supplies.
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Communication is key. As a producer I have hired these two people for their skills and abilities, I trust both of them to execute well. Ultimately the script will have inspired a vision for the director, so a discussion between these three creatives must take place, and they must come to a consensus, with the director making the final call. I would only step in if that wasn't possible, or if their combined vision was not possible due to budget reasons.
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I mediate by focusing on the project’s core vision. For example, on Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve balanced conflicting design ideas by emphasizing the film’s dystopian tone. I’d hold a focused meeting where both pitch their concepts, then integrate their strengths into a unified plan. Visual references or mock-ups help align ideas quickly. Assigning shared ownership of key set pieces fosters collaboration, turning conflict into synergy and ensuring the final design serves the story cohesively.
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Meet in the middle. Take the favorite aspects from both sides and construct something unique that caters to the artistic direction of the project. If that doesn’t work, start from scratch and collaborate on a new vision. If that doesn’t work, flip a coin.
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There is no project worthy of EGO. Every project starts with a purpose and vision. The idea is to navigate the creative process usually set by the client or IP. The art director sets the tone and the set designer is supposed to support the Art director and brand. Folks competing about who's idea or way to go is not part of the work process. Many times attitude is what gets folks fired. True creativity comes from real collaboration and that means supporting those above you like the Art Director. An Art Director not willing to listen to outside creative is also a problem. Always look for what enhances the story or brand. The project's brand is not your EGO. Listen to everyone stick with the best ideas.
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