Production designers working in film and television are members of SIPTU those working in Theatre join equity.

The general career progression is from trainee art director, to assistant art director, to art director and eventually to production designer.

SIPTU has minimum rates of pay for these jobs. Currently these stand at a week for a trainee, for both art director and assistant art director and £1,013.94 for a production manager.

Most Irish colleges offering art and design have general courses for production design which give graduates a foundation for entry into television, film and stage design. However for those who want to work solely in theatre design, more directed courses are on offer in Britain.