TV's impressive design has emerged as a formidable asset, with the Emmy nominations serving as valid evidence.
The 2025 Emmy nominations have revealed a significant shift in the craft categories, with production design no longer serving as token nods to the craft departments, but instead becoming predictors of overall success. This transformation is evident in shows like Apple TV+'s Severance and HBO's The Penguin, which have received a plethora of nominations for their striking production designs.
In the realm of showbiz satire, Severance understood the importance of authenticity. The series needed its office spaces to complement and be essential to the psychological thriller, and Apple TV+ delivered, earning the title of the year's most nominated series due to its meticulous production design.
Meanwhile, The Penguin's 17 craft nominations are a testament to HBO's investment in making Gotham's underworld feel like a distinct character. The show's production design is not solely due to Colin Farrell's performance, but rather because HBO recognised that the technical elements weren't supporting the story - they were telling it.
Similarly, the art deco details and labyrinthine corridors of Only Murders in the Building's Arconia are not just a backdrop for the mystery, but are integral to it. The show has mastered the art of making its setting a compelling character that contributes to its success and mystery, dominating the half-hour production design category for three consecutive years.
The success of a TV show in terms of production design depends on multiple key factors. Visual concept alignment, technical integration, management and coordination, attention to detail, and adaptability to new technologies are all crucial elements.
Visual concept alignment involves developing visual concepts that fit the script and overall style, creating sketches and designs that harmonize with the show's narrative and director’s vision. Technical integration encompasses modern shows using virtual production and augmented reality, requiring precise camera tracking, advanced rendering power, and seamless workflow integration to maintain visual immersion and quality.
Production designers must also manage art departments, including set designers and costume designers, to ensure cohesive aesthetics and timely completion under deadlines. Detailed set decoration and design that support the story’s atmosphere, era, and characters help enhance viewer engagement and immersion.
Adaptability to new technologies is also crucial, with the rise of virtual sets and augmented reality graphics offering cost and creative advantages, allowing faster scene changes and innovative visuals that contribute to a show's distinctiveness and production efficiency.
The growing importance of production design reflects higher viewer standards, the potential of modern tools to elevate storytelling and production efficiency, and the integration of virtual production, LED walls, and enhanced CGI, which requires more sophisticated design to blend physical and virtual elements flawlessly.
The White Lotus's luxury resort and Severance's corporate hellscape are essential to the reason people stop scrolling and start watching. Shows like The Last of Us, The Penguin, Severance, and The White Lotus were nominated in the Production Design categories for their distinctive settings.
The half-hour comedy categories tell a similar story. Shows like Hacks, Mid-Century Modern, and What We Do in the Shadows all earned recognition because they understood that comedy doesn't exist in a visual vacuum. These shows have successfully created visually compelling worlds that support their humour and storytelling.
In conclusion, a TV show's production design success is driven by creative vision, technical precision, effective management, and embracing new technologies. This growing importance reflects higher viewer standards and the potential of modern tools to elevate storytelling and production efficiency.
- The meticulous production design of Apple TV+'s Severance was a key factor in its recognition as the year's most nominated series.
- The striking production design of HBO's The Penguin is not solely due to Colin Farrell's performance, but rather because HBO recognized that the technical elements weren't supporting the story - they were telling it.
- The art deco details and labyrinthine corridors of Only Murders in the Building's Arconia are integral to its success and mystery, contributing to its dominance in the half-hour production design category for three consecutive years.
- The rise of virtual sets and augmented reality graphics, offering cost and creative advantages, allows for faster scene changes and innovative visuals that contribute to a show's distinctiveness and production efficiency.
- Recognizing the importance of production design, shows like Hacks, Mid-Century Modern, and What We Do in the Shadows all earned recognition because they captured visually compelling worlds that support their humor and storytelling.
