SketchUp: Set design for Film, TV, & Commercials

SketchUp: Set design for Film, TV, & Commercials

SketchUp: Set design for Film, TV, and Commercials - How to produce construction drawings using SketchUp and LayOut. 

Date the course commences: Course is available from January 2026.

Duration:  Lifetime access to the course with no time limit to complete

Cost: Free

Venue Location: Online, self-led course

Tutor: Luke Whitelock - Course Designer

Course Profile:

This course is applied for as stand-alone but is also part of our Software Skills Series For Screen Sector Trainees and our Advanced Software Skills Programme for Experienced Crew that will run throughout the year and feature several different software courses. Individual courses are now woven into cohesive programs and series, creating strategic, extended learning pathways that offer greater depth and context. This interconnected approach ensures that learners benefit from a holistic training experience that provides comprehensive, skill-building opportunities.

These Sketchup courses will be self-directed online learning training and you will have lifetime access to the course once downloaded.

These courses run by the National Talent Academies: Film & TV Crew Academy East will aid the user to get a better understanding of the capabilities of SketchUp.

*Please Note – you will need a SketchUp Pro subscription to take full advantage of the courses, particularly the LayOut modules. We don’t provide this software as part of the training.

Film & TV Crew Academy East is managed by Clermont Enterprise Hub CLG.

Course Content:

There are 6 options of courses you can choose from. Whilst each course can build on the course before, they also stand alone.  The courses will help you to improve your skill and experience in Sketch-up.

Please note-  The Academy is offering these as stand-alone courses. You will receive all the necessary assets to work with. Please take this into account when choosing one option.

  1. SketchUp and LayOut Complete Beginners course - A standalone 10 hour course for complete beginners.
  2. SketchUp and LayOut Masterclass Part 1 - 10 Hour course showcasing an entire workflow as we design a New York Loft Apartment.
  3. SketchUp and LayOut Masterclass Part 2 - 6 Hour course where we look at the importance of Window detailing for a loft apartment.
  4. SketchUp and LayOut Masterclass Part 3 - 10 Hour course showing the importance of door detailing, incorporating steel work into a design, Post process in Photoshop and setting up a file for CNC.
  5. SketchUp and LayOut Masterclass Part 4 - 10 hour course where we look at designing staircases from straight runs and proper joinery, to spirals, open well dog legs and traditional romanesque sweeping staircases.
  6. SketchUp and LayOut Masterclass Part 5 – An Introduction to V-Ray Rendering. This brand new 10 hour course will show you how to render the New York Loft model we did in the first 4 chapters of the masterclass. It is designed to be easily completed in within the 30 day free trial offer of V-Ray.

The below add-ons are available to each successful applicant.

  • Scrapbook for Layout - Hundreds of license free assets to drop into your drawings.
  • Windows and doors asset pack
  • Staircases asset pack
  • Sci-Fi Kitbash asset pack
Participant Profile:

These courses are aimed at crew working in the live-action Film & TV industry who need to use SketchUp in their department.  

Each applicant is limited to one course, please be clear in your application which course you’re applying for: Beginners, Masterclasses 1, Masterclasses 2, Masterclass 3, Masterclass 4 or Masterclass 5.

Application Procedure:

Please apply on this LINK by 12pm, Monday, Jan 12th.

For technical difficulties with the online system, please email brian.murphy@nationaltalentacademies.ie

Selection on courses/programmes will be based on quality of application and industry experience relevant to the course and participant profile.  We do not accept CVs so please make sure you outline all relevant experience in the application form. 

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

Tutor/Company Profile: 

Luke Whitelock is a feature Film Art Director who will show you how to design sets in 3D and turn your models into working drawing for construction.

He set up Whitelock Design Limited to both help newcomers to the industry and existing members to improve their skills. It is an online art department training portal which has been used extensively.

Luke is an award winning Art Director who is based in London, UK. He has nearly 20 years’ experience across many art departments working on feature films, TV, commercial and editorial. He is established as a well know member of the UK art department.