DIRECTOR
CINEMATOGRAPHER
COSTUME
DESIGNER
ART DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
CINEMATOGRAPHER
COSTUME
DESIGNER
ART DIRECTOR
PDC FUNDRAISING DRIVE
This December the PDC embarks on its first-ever fundraising drive.
Our Story
PDC cofounders Inbal Weinberg and Kalina Ivanov met in 2014, and bonded over a shared a passion for their craft and community. They decided to start a group for production designers, in order to provide space for informal conversations among peers. Emails were sent to colleagues and friends, with an open invitation "to grow a collective that could be at once local and broad, personal and virtual, intimate and public".
Today, the Production Designers Collective is the largest organization for production designers in the world, representing over 1200 colleagues from 73 countries. Members include community elders and prominent award winners, alongside emerging talent and recent graduates. Membership is free and entry criteria are flexible, with the aim of encouraging engagement of diverse members from various backgrounds and practices.
The PDC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide worldwide practical training, workshops, and conferences for production designers and production design students. The organization aims to strengthen the production design community, mentor future generations of production designers, and promote inclusion through sharing knowledge and experience.
What We Do
The PDC publishes content about production design through its website, social media and bi-monthly newsletter. Features are written by and about production designers, and include a Forum, Sketch Gallery, Design Recommendations, resources and advice.
The PDC organizes events worldwide, in person and online. Past events include meetups and workshops at film festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW, Toronto and Camerimage; Informal gatherings in various cities such as New York, London, Paris, San Juan and Rio de Janiero; Online panels on topics such as VFX, Research, Clearance, and AI; Masterclasses by prominent production designers such as Bob Shaw, Barbara Ling and Uli Hanisch.
The PDC's flagship initiatives are The Production Designers Gathering and International Production Design Week, operating biennially on alternating years.
The Production Designers Gathering
The Gathering is an international conference for production designers, professors and students. The conference features panels and workshops conducted by colleagues on a variety of work-related subjects. In addition to the professional program the conference also offers opportunities for connecting and networking such as receptions, dinners, parties, excursions and activities.
The Gathering was inaugurated in October 2022 on the island of Spetses, Greece. The event welcomed a total of 250 production designers and students, from 35 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The event’s 20 key speakers included award-winning designers from around the world, including Oscar and Golden Globe winners and nominees.
International Production Design Week
IPDW is a global campaign to promote the craft of production design in film and television through a week of concentrated events, celebrated worldwide and online. Organized in collaboration with production design guilds and associations in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia, the week features a diverse program including panels, workshops, masterclasses, screenings, meetups and receptions.
IPDW was inaugurated in October 2023 with great success. Over 250 events took place in 51 cities and 27 countries.
The initiative lead to the creation of new production design associations, collaborations with filmmaking institutes and schools, unprecedented press and engagement with the general public.
Our Goals for 2025
The Production Designers Collective (PDC) is a 100% volunteer-led organization, managed by an engaged board and a dedicated team of coordinators. As we do not charge membership fees, we rely entirely on donations and sponsorships to support our ongoing work and advocacy.
As we enter our 11th year, we reflect on a period of incredible growth, marked by the establishment of our two flagship initiatives. With these successes, our responsibilities have expanded, and so has our team.
Website Expansion & Membership Platform
We are working to develop our website into a central hub for our global membership. As part of this initiative, we plan to:
- Offer individual portfolio pages where members can showcase their work and bio, supporting those without access to an online presence.
- Develop an internal communication platform to facilitate member collaboration, discussions, and knowledge-sharing.
- Refine our visual and brand identity to create a cohesive and professional look that reflects the PDC’s mission.
Organizing the 2025 International Production Design Week (IPDW)
Building upon the success of the inaugural IPDW in 2023, we are excited to announce the next International Production Design Week, scheduled for October 17th - 26th, 2025. This global celebration will once again bring together production designers, collaborators, and enthusiasts through a series of events, including:
- Lectures, Panels, and Masterclasses: Engaging discussions and educational sessions led by industry experts.
- Screenings and Exhibitions: Showcasing exemplary work in production design from around the world.
- Meet-Ups, Parties, and Tours: Networking opportunities and behind-the-scenes explorations.
Supporting Our Volunteer Team
Our dedicated team of volunteer coordinators plays a crucial role in organizing events, creating content, managing social media, and facilitating communication within the community. The workload is substantial, requiring a weekly commitment, participation in monthly meetings, and live event management. Meet our amazing coordinators here.
HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS
Thank you in advance for making a donation through our campaign. The Production Designers Gathering inc. is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 88-1362917. Contributions to organizations with 501(c)(3) status may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor to determine deductibility of this contribution.
To donate directly to our bank account, please email us at: team@productiondesignersgathering.org