5243-NOC

Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers

(NOC 5243)
Annual Earnings
$45,722
Typical Education Background
Diploma/Certificate Excluding Apprenticeship
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
900

Career Overview

Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers conceptualize and produce designs for film, television, theatre and video productions, garments and textiles, displays and exhibits, and other creative items such as jewellery and trophies.

People in this occupation:

  • May be employed as a theatre designer by performing arts, film and television companies and by festivals
  • May be employed as a fashion designer by clothing and textiles companies
  • May be employed as an exhibit designer by museums and retail establishments
  • May be employed as a creative designer by manufacturing establishments
  • May be employed as an independent designer working for themselves

Duties

Designers:

  • Review and analyze client needs and help develop a concept into an original design
  • Prepare sketches, diagrams or prototypes, either by hand or with the aid of a computer to illustrate designs
  • Perform administrative tasks, such as reviewing catalogues and ordering samples
  • May supervise assistants

There are many areas of design expertise such as designing window displays, jewellery, fabric, toys, trophies and haute couture. Most designers specialize in a particular area, such as those described under Special duties.

Special duties

Theatre designers:

Theatre designers design and create sets, scenic environments, properties, costumes and lighting for theatre, film and video productions, operas and ballets, by preparing sketches or scale models to guide construction. They may specialize in costume, lighting or set design.

Fashion designers:

Fashion designers design and create clothing and accessories. They may specialize in men's, women's or children's apparel or in different lines such as sportswear, footwear or formal wear.

Exhibit designers:

Exhibit designers plan and develop permanent and temporary or moveable exhibits and displays for museum exhibitions, trade shows, conventions, retail spaces and other exhibitions.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$45,722

Provincial Hourly Rate

HighN/A
MedianN/A
LowN/A
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

2,600

% Employed Full Time

45%
Source: 2016 Census

Working conditions and places of employment vary depending on the type of work. Designers employed by manufacturing establishments, large corporations or design firms generally work regular hours in office settings, however, they may have to adjust their work day to suit client schedules and deadlines, meeting in the evening or on weekends if necessary.

Designers in smaller design consulting firms or those who freelance generally work on a contract basis. They may conduct business in their own offices or studios or in client homes or offices. They may also travel to other locations, such as showrooms, design centres, manufacturing facilities and client exhibits.

Fashion designers may be required to travel to production sites across the country and overseas. As well, fashion and interior designers frequently work under deadlines and may be required to work extra hours to complete a job.

Some designers (i.e., set and exhibit designers) may also help to construct and install displays, which may require moving lumber and heavy materials and performing some carpentry and painting. As well, work may be done under pressure to make changes by deadlines.

Career Pathways

Many options are open to designers once they are employed in this group. Individuals often begin as design assistants before advancing to designer positions.

Progression to supervisory or head designer positions is possible with experience. Experienced designers may also choose to become self-employed.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Artistic
Artistic

Job Titles

Co-ordinator, fashion
Couturier - haute couture
Designer, accessories
Designer, crest
Designer, facilities
Designer, fishing lure
Designer, flower
Designer, furnishings / pottery / tile
Designer, memorial
Designer, retail - store display
Designer, show and demonstration
Designer, sound
Designer, swimming pool
Designer, theatre - set design
Designer, toy
Designer, trophy
Heraldist
Merchandiser, visual
Stylist, visual display

Education, Training and Skills

Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers are typically required to complete a certificate, diploma, degree or other professional training program in design. Other requirements may include:

  • Training in the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software
  • Developing a portfolio of work, which demonstrates their creativity and quality of work to prospective clients and employers

Designers should be creative and have good computer skills, and need excellent organizational and communication skills. They should be detail oriented and able to work under tight schedules to meet deadlines.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Design (General)
  • Drama/Theatre Arts Related
  • Metal and Jewellery Arts
  • Fashion Related
  • Fibre, Textile and Weaving Arts
  • Communication Design
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

74%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

74%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

70%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

69%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

67%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

66%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

63%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

63%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

61%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

61%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

2,600
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo N/A 0.8%
Kootenay 30 1.4%
Mainland/Southwest 2,640 85.4%
North Coast and Nechako N/A 0.4%
Northeast N/A 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 90 3.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 250 8.6%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

900
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo N/A N/A
Kootenay 0 2.9%
Mainland/Southwest 790 1.7%
North Coast and Nechako N/A N/A
Northeast N/A N/A
Thompson-Okanagan 0 1.1%
Vancouver Island/Coast 90 1.1%
N/A: Data is not available for this region.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Retail Trade115,500
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Information, Culture and Recreation57,300
Manufacturing49,200
Wholesale Trade33,100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Job openings in upcoming years will arise from a combination of new job growth and the need to replace retiring workers.

In the last decade B.C.'s film and television production activity has expanded rapidly due to a large pool of talented workers, a wide variety of shooting locations and extensive studio and post-production facilities. Currently, B.C. is the third-largest motion picture production centre in North America. This growth will create a strong demand for costume and set designers, which are primarily employed by film and television production companies.

Fashion design in B.C. has also grown as apparel companies focus local efforts on the design and marketing elements of their business, creating more opportunities for fashion designers and design assistants. Job responsibilities for fashion designers have expanded in recent years to include more research into the preferences of target customers, performance of past lines and the development of marketing materials.

Designers with experience in market research and the development of marketing materials are increasingly in demand by employers. As garment manufacturing shifts overseas, fashion designers are also increasingly required to travel to oversee production.

Designers use computer-assisted design and computer-assisted pattern-making software and these skills are now a prerequisite for employment by most companies, depending on the type of design work undertaken.

Resources