CAPABILITY CARD · Design & Media

The Set and Exhibit Designers capability card.

One link that proves what you do — the work, the tools, the market, and the path to better contracts.

There are 10,630 set and exhibit designers in the U.S. The ones who win the work a buyer actually budgets for don't hand over a flat PDF — they send a living capability card. Built and maintained by our New Jersey team.

10,630
working nationally
$75,240
Median / year
8
Core duties mapped
6
Expertise areas
Tools that signal you're current

The systems you actually run — on the record.

Listing the software and platforms you work with is a quiet credibility signal buyers notice. These are the hot and in-demand technologies O*NET associates with set and exhibit designers (★ = flagged hot technology). Your card shows the ones that fit your shop.

Adobe Acrobat ★Adobe After Effects ★Adobe Creative Cloud software ★Adobe Illustrator ★Adobe InDesign ★Adobe Photoshop ★Autodesk AutoCAD ★Autodesk Revit ★Dassault Systemes SolidWorks ★Microsoft Access ★Microsoft Excel ★Microsoft Office software ★
What your card proves

The work a buyer needs to see at a glance.

A client or contracting officer scanning ten set and exhibit designers wants fast proof you actually do the work. These are the core duties O*NET ties to your field — your capability card turns them into scannable proof points instead of a wall of text.

Duty 01
Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
Duty 02
Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
Duty 03
Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
Duty 04
Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
Duty 05
Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
Duty 06
Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
Your expertise, named

The knowledge that makes the work credible.

These are the expertise areas O*NET ranks highest for set and exhibit designers. On a capability card they read as depth — not buzzwords.

  • Fine Arts
  • Design
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Building and Construction
  • History and Archeology
  • English Language
Where you stand

A real market — compete on proof, not price.

Nationally, 10,630 set and exhibit designers earn a median of $75,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). In a market that size, the businesses that win the better work don't lead with the lowest number — they lead with a credible, current capability card. That's exactly what we build.

$75,240
Median pay / year
$36
Median / hour
10,630
Working nationally
The government-contracting edge

Where the steady budgets actually are.

Most set and exhibit designers win public work as subcontractors to construction and facilities primes, and through small-business set-aside programs. Primes vet subs fast — a living capability card with your licenses, bonding posture, and recent work is how you get the call instead of getting screened out. We build it to be that fast yes.

Make yours

One link that does the proving for you.

The P4 Procurement Card is a live capability statement for credentialed small businesses — your work, tools, certs, and offerings on one always-current URL, with a downloadable PDF. $299 setup + $39/month. Premium (NFC + Wallet) and per-prospect Pitch cards too.

The P4 Ecosystem · One Accountable Partner
From free checklists to starter toolkits to premium builds and ongoing partnership — every stage lives inside one ecosystem.