Westminster hosts Production Design Research & Education Network conference to celebrate International Production Design Week

Filmmakers, educators, students and the public gathered at the University of Westminster between October 22-24 to explore creativity, teaching and visibility within the production design industry.  

In keeping with the conference’s focus on education and collaboration, the PD-REN team collaborated with several Westminster Film BA Honours and Creative Media Arts BA Honours students to run the event. The student team consisted of Alfia Jane Mullenger, Daisy Warne, Eliana Folin, Holly Tucker, Lois Raulin, Mika Lippelt, Sofia Miretti and Venice Pintea who assisted across the whole event, gaining valuable practical skills and widening their industry network to include filmmakers and creative practitioners from around the world.

Events kicked off on Wednesday evening with a screening of The Fountain (2006) at Westminster’s historic Regent Street Cinema, which became the first UK venue to show moving film to a paying audience in in 1896. The screening was followed by an insightful conversation with the film’s production designer, James Chinlund, who has worked on several blockbuster movies including The Batman (2022) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). This talk was moderated by Jamie Lapsley in partnership with the British Film Designers’ Guilt (BFDG).  

James Chinlund in conversation with Jamie Lapsley. Photo credit: Lois Raulin, Sofia Miretti, Mika Lippelt and Daisy Warne  

The following morning, attendees were formally welcomed to the conference by PD-REN co-founders Dr Jane Barnwell, Westminster Reader in Contemporary Media Practice, and Jo Briscoe from the University of Melbourne Victorian College of the Arts, alongside Chairperson of the BFDG Jonathan Paul Green.

Over the next two days, the programme offered a mix of panels, talks and workshops from researchers and practitioners across the sector at all stages of their careers. The first day’s panels looked at themes of inspiration, teaching approaches and making production design visible, before concluding with a conversation between Anna Solic from the University of South Wales and Westminster’s Dr Barnwell about the Visual Concept Toolkit Dr Barnwell has developed for designing and analysing film and television.

Friday’s events continued with forward-looking sessions, including panels on collaboration through Virtual Production, art department working practices, space and story, and future directions. This was followed by a fast-paced round of poster presentations and a workshop session titled AI in Production Design: Tools for Expression and Exploration, which delved into the creative potential of emerging technologies with entertaining results.

The conference concluded with a glimpse at two forthcoming publications exploring education and production design. This include Perspectives on Production Design: Practice, Education and Analysis from PD-REN, led by Dr Barnwell and Briscoe, which will be published open access with the University of Westminster Press in 2026. Stavrakos Film & TV School’s Maria Andronikou also discussed her upcoming book in collaboration with The International Association of Cinema, Audiovisual and Media Schools (CILECT) titled Teaching Production Design in the 21st Century.

A new website for the network was also launched, emphasising PD-REN’s mission to build a vibrant global community that bridges research, education and practice in production design.  

With its mix of screenings, scholarship and spirited debate, the inaugural PD-REN International Conference set a strong foundation for the future as a celebration of the imagination, collaboration and research that make the invisible art of production design visible.

Dr Jane Barnwell and Jo Briscoe. Photo credit: Lois Raulin, Sofia Miretti, Mika Lippelt and Daisy Warne  

About working at the conference final-year Creative Media Arts BA Honours student Eliana Folin said: “Being a Student Helper was a fantastic opportunity that allowed me to both discover and situate myself within the world of production design. It was such a highlight to learn from both academics and industry practitioners, recognising how the field has evolved, the directions it is moving in, and the range of practices that exist across the world. It was inspiring to see the craft celebrated on such a platform.”

About the conference Dr Barnwell said: “A heartfelt thank you to all our attendees, speakers and partners for making this inaugural conference such a success. Your insights, enthusiasm and engagement created an inspiring atmosphere and sparked many meaningful conversations. We’re so grateful for the time, energy and expertise you brought to the event and look forward to continuing the dialogue and collaboration.  Thank you for being part of our community and helping make this event truly memorable!”

Westminster’s collaboration with PD-REN showcases the University’s strategic commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By bringing together educators, professionals and students to promote research and education in the production design industry, the University is helping drive forward SDG 3: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Find out more about Media and Communication courses at the University of Westminster.