Theatre Production: Set Design 2


Learn to communicate your scenic design ideas with clarity and creativity using both traditional and digital tools.

This four-week course deepens your understanding of scenic design as part of the theatre production process. You’ll expand your skills in visual storytelling through sketching, rendering, drafting, and model building while exploring how period styles and production needs inform your design choices. From paper and pencil to digital platforms, you’ll refine your ability to develop and present a cohesive scenic design. 

Hands-on practice and demonstrations will guide you through using SketchUp, Photopea, and other design software, while reinforcing the value of hand-drawing techniques. You’ll learn how to organize your workspace, prepare your materials, and use visual tools like paint elevations and drafting views to present your ideas. 

By the end of the course, you’ll have a stronger grasp of how to take a design from concept to presentation, integrating sketches, models, and renderings into a compelling final product. You’ll also be introduced to the professional expectations of scenic designers and how to effectively use your design work to communicate with directors, collaborators, and production teams.

What you will learn:

Create and refine scenic designs using SketchUp and hand-drawing techniques
Produce sketches, renderings, and drafting views that visually communicate design ideas
Identify and apply period style elements in the development of scenic concepts
Create a complete scenic design package that includes initial ideas, ground plans, and presentation-ready documents

Prerequisite Skills:

Next Session

Jan. 12 - Feb. 8, 2026

Teen and adult sections

VIEW ALL DATES

Tuition

$299

Rates increases Jan. 1

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: 18+

Expert guidance
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.
Learn on your own schedule
Explore meaningful instruction in about five hours a week, over four weeks.
Collaborate
Work with your instructor and peers through messaging or optional real-time weekly classes.
Real growth
Develop artistic skills and projects that are important to you in 30 days.
  • Computer or mobile device with Internet and camera. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school.
  • SketchUp for Students
  • Graphic design software: GIMP (free software), Photopea (free software), or Adobe Photoshop (paid subscription)
  • Google Account, specifically for the use of Google Drive and Google Slides
  • Measuring tools: 20’ to 25’ measuring tape and 12” ruler
  • Writing tools: pencil, pen, marker, and eraser
  • Paper: copy, sketch, and tracing

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Interlochen Online certificateThis is one of three courses needed to complete the Theatre Production: Set Design certificate program.

Our online arts certificate programs are perfect for...

Adults looking to boost their creative résumé and LinkedIn profile

Teens who want to earn high school credit for their passion

Interlochen Online's Learning Experience

World-class. Inspiring. Flexible.

Kevin Nelson

Instructor of Theatre

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

How does it work? Start a free course demo.

Expert Faculty
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.

Real Growth
Develop artistic skills that are important to you in 30 days.

Collaborate
Connect with peers and instructors on your projects—or just for fun.