[Commlist] CFP: Scene & Unseen: The Invisible Art of Production Design

The Production Design Research and Education Network (PD-REN) is pleased 
to announce their inaugural conference, hosted by University of Westminster.
Scene & Unseen: The Invisible Art of Production Design
University of Westminster, Regent Street Campus, London W1B 2HW
23-24 October 2025

About PD-REN
Production design plays a fundamental role in film and television 
production and yet discussion of the practice is often omitted or 
misunderstood. The Production Design Research and Education Network 
(PD-REN) is a recently founded network addressing production design’s 
critical yet overlooked role in film studies and training. By 
establishing an international network of researchers and educators we 
are working to enhance understanding of the area and bridge the gap 
between academia, practice and industry. PD-REN is pleased to announce 
their inaugural conference, hosted by University of Westminster. This 
conference aims to bring together an exciting combination of ideas from 
both industry and academia to provide insight into current practice and 
suggest approaches to production design research and pedagogies into the 
future.
The conference will provide a platform for educators, practitioners, 
researchers and students to explore the field of production design from 
multiple viewpoints. The work and role of the production designer will 
be examined from professional and creative perspectives by expanding on 
themes of authorship, visibility, authenticity, acknowledgment, 
professional practice, codes of realism and visual storytelling.
Submissions are invited that reflect upon aspects of production design 
across the fields of practice, education and research. They may take the 
form of presentations, panels or case studies, and could include 
production diaries, artwork, artefacts or any other materials 
illustrating aspects of the design process such as video or 
pre-visualisation.

Topics might include but are not limited to:
• Visualising the script
• Positioning the production designer
• Decolonising knowledge and praxis
• Partnership and collaboration methods
• Industry and training approaches
• Archives and evidence of process
• Practice based research methods
• Historical approaches to TV and film design
• Pedagogies
• Craft and the Academy
• Sustainability and ethics
• Generative AI and Production Design
• Critical methodologies
• World building
• Virtual Production and/or VFX

To be considered for inclusion, you are invited to submit the following 
by 30th April 2025 to (pdren.contact /at/ gmail.com) with “PD-REN Conference” 
in the subject line.
• 200 word abstract
• 150-word author biography
• University affiliation (if applicable)

Timeline
Abstract submission 30 April 2025
Notification of acceptance 23 May 2025
Registration opens June 2025
Event 23- 24 October 2025


PD-REN Conference Committee
Jane Barnwell           University of Westminster, UK
Natalie Beak             Australian Film, Television and Radio School, 
Australia           Daniel Kofi Brako     University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Jo Briscoe                  University of Melbourne, Australia 
May Davies                BFI Film Academy, UK  Juliet John 
Deakin University, Australia                 Maria Kavalioti 
AUTH Film School, Greece              Anne Seibel           La Femis, 
France                     Dawn Snyder Art Directors Guild, USA 
 Sebastian Soukup    Internationale Film School Köln, Germany
Noelle Thomas         De Paul University, USA

Please add (pdren.contact /at/ gmail.com) to your safe senders list for future 
communications regarding the network.

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