Crew West | Introduction to Graphic Design for Film & Television

Course: Introduction to Graphic Design for Film & Television

Date: 28th & 29th January 2026

Duration: 10:00 am – 04:30 pm

Cost: Free

Venue: In Person in Dublin – Location TBC

Tutor: Paul Brady  

 

Course Overview

This course introduces students to the creative and technical aspects of graphic design

for film and television. It explores how graphic props contribute to world-building,

storytelling, and period authenticity across genres and time periods. Through a blend of

research, digital design, and hands-on prop-making, students will gain a practical

foundation in graphic design for screen, culminating in the creation of their own

graphic prop to take home.

 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the role and scope of graphic design in film and television.

• Learn how to conduct visual and contextual research based on script and setting.

• Use industry-standard tools (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, XD) to

design screen-appropriate graphics.

• Apply fabrication techniques to produce a finished, camera-ready graphic prop.

• Walk away with a portfolio piece and a deeper understanding of the film graphic

design process.

 

Course Format

 

Day 1 – RESEARCH, DESIGN & DIGITAL TOOLS

Session 1: The Role of Graphics in Film & TV

• Types of graphic props: signs, labels, newspapers, documents, ephemera

• Historical and contemporary examples

• Design for camera: legibility, storytelling, period accuracy

Session 2: Research for the Screen

• Understanding the brief (script breakdown, moodboards, period/style)

• Building reference boards using real-world materials, film stills, and archives

• Sketching ideas and discussing with tutors

Session 3: Introduction to Design Tools

• Basics of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

• Typography and layout for period or fictional work

• Colour, texture, and ageing for screen realism

 

Day 2 – DESIGNING, FABRICATING & PRESENTING

Session 4: Designing the Prop

• Students choose from a list of prop types (e.g., ID cards, packaging, ticket stubs,

matchbooks, signage)

• Translate research into a digital design

• Feedback and one-to-one development support

Session 5: Preparing for Fabrication

• Printing considerations (paper stock, scale, finishing)

• Ageing and distressing techniques (tea-staining, scuffing, burning edges)

• Mounting and assembling your prop

Session 6: Prop Making Workshop

• Supervised hands-on fabrication

• Layering materials for authenticity

• Final tweaks, mounting, trimming

Session 7: Final Presentation

• Short group show-and-tell of completed props

• Peer and tutor feedback

• How to photograph props for a portfolio

 

Participant Profile:

Aspiring graphic designers, art department trainees, or students with an interest in film,

production design, or prop-making.

No prior experience in design software required (introductory instruction provided).

Application Procedure:

Please apply online at this link by 1 pm on Wednesday 14th January 2026

For technical difficulties with the online system please email lorraine.higgins@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

Film & TV Crew Academy West courses are open to all regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

 

Tutor Profile: 

Paul Brady

With over two decades of experience across film, television, and commercial production,

Paul has evolved from storyboard and conceptual artist into a writer, director, producer, and

graphics specialist, bringing a strong visual and narrative sensibility to every project.

Paul’s career began in high-end production environments, including his early work at Icon

Productions in 1998, and since then, his portfolio has grown to include design,

illustration, motion, typography, world-building graphics, branded content, and

narrative development. Across Paul’s portfolio site, he demonstrates a command of visual

language, from detailed vector artwork and prop graphics to cinematic imagery and

story-driven design, reflecting a workflow that blends fine art, design, storyboarding,

and filmmaking. As a tutor in graphics for film and TV, Paul brings not only technical

knowledge of industry-standard tools and production pipelines but also the broader

perspective of a writer-director-producer, teaching graphics as an essential part of

storytelling, character, tone, and world-building. Paul understands graphics in context: how

they function on set, in-camera, in post, and how they support narrative clarity and

immersion. He can guide students through the full spectrum, from early concept sketches

to screen-ready assets—helping them think like filmmakers while developing the craft,

discipline, and visual literacy needed for real production environments.