Freelance set and exhibition designer

Theatre companies, schools and colleges, event agencies, museums, brands and small production companies.

Design fee per project, often agreed as a fixed price or day rate, plus a fee for overseeing the build and install.

• Drawing, model making or 3D design software
• Reading a brief and working to a budget
• Clear communication with directors and clients
• Basic knowledge of materials and construction

• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, check what clients expect
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC and keep records for Self Assessment
• Make sure your contract states who owns the design and what happens if the client changes the brief
• Venues and events have fire safety and health and safety requirements for materials and structures, check these early
• Work can be uneven, so plan for quiet months

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on the design software, drawing and model-making materials you need and how much of your home studio is already equipped. Builders are hired in, so no workshop is needed.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £3,000, depending on the number and size of commissions you win. Work can be uneven, so plan for quiet months. This is revenue, not profit.

Check what professional indemnity and public liability insurance clients expect, and register as a sole trader with HMRC. Check venue fire safety and health and safety requirements for materials and structures early, and make your contract clear on design ownership.