Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its c...
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
The prop making industry revolves around problem solving, working to a brief, teamwork and delivering on time. This comprehensive course will introduce you to the challenges of being a prop maker and working to such specifications. The course is based on a series of hypothetical client’s briefs which can be answered both individually and collaboratively. You will develop ideas and explore a range of relevant materials and techniques to produce concepts successfully in three dimensions. This is an exciting, challenging, and creative course where you will be interpreting and realising briefs and working to deadlines. You will be introduced to progression routes for further study and/or potential employment. This is a great addition to your CV if you are starting out in prop making, as it focuses on working to a brief and realising a product. Teamwork and collaboration are vital skills needed for working in the prop making industry and this course enables you to gain this experience.
What will we cover?
Working to given briefs you will explore and experiment in the following disciplines: - Contextual research and design development. - Drawing and designing skills. - Working with and understanding scale. - Realisation of ideas and concepts in three dimensions. - Developing relevant skills appropriate to your design ideas, including sculpting in various clays, carpentry, life casting, mould making and casting, polystyrene and styrofoam carving, and fabrication of a variety of materials. - Appropriate use of paint effects and finishes. - An opportunity to work in collaboration with other students. - Working to a deadline, planning and realisation.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand and interpret a prop making brief. - Understand the design process and relevance of research. - Design and develop a concept into three dimensions according to the brief. - Analyse, plan and select appropriate techniques and processes to initiate a required 3D outcome. - Identify the demands and advantages of working collaboratively. - Sculpt objects in various clays and/or polymers. - Carve basic or more advanced forms in polystyrene or Styrofoam. - Make moulds and cast in appropriate materials. - Understand the concept of life casting and make at least one cast. - Understand the concept of fabrication and manipulation of various materials. - Use paint effects, finishes and experiments effectively to achieve required results. - Identify areas within the prop making industry that might use your specific area of expertise.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to all levels—from complete beginners with no prior experience to those who have previously taken prop making courses.
Please note that you can join any of City Lit’s prop making courses in any order. Props 1, Props 2, and Props 3 are not sequential; each course explores different materials and processes, and tutors tailor content to individual student interests.
Feel free to enrol in whichever Props course best suits your schedule and curiosity—no prior course is required!
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Group discussion and one-to-one tutorials will all play an important part in this vibrant course. There will be opportunity for you to develop your ideas on an individual basis, or collaboratively if appropriate. You will be given practical advice and given examples of relevant previous student work. You will be shown techniques through demonstration from your tutor to help you realise your ideas in three dimensions as effectively as possible. You will be given the opportunity to work with different techniques and processes. Although this is not mandatory, there will be options to develop work outside of class and you will be encouraged to visit London’s vibrant museums and art galleries to gather ideas. Research is a key word when we talk about design, and history gives us plenty of material to work with. You will be shown examples of work from relevant practising artists, sculptors and prop makers and you will receive information about progression routes available to you.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Materials and Equipment
Please bring a small sketch pad, drawing materials i.e. pencils, graphite, pen, a tablet if you have one. A camera is also useful to photograph your work.
Basic materials are provided, although depending on the ambition of your design, you may need to purchase more, at the discretion of your tutor.
What to Wear Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes—no sandals or open-toed footwear. Old work clothes or overalls are also advised.
Health and Safety Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks for use when working with materials that may release airborne particles, will be provided and must be worn as required.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.
Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our visual arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm.
The in-person information desk (at our Keeley Street campus) is open Monday - Friday from 12 pm - 1:55 pm & 3 pm - 5 pm. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday from 10:30 am -12 pm & 3 pm -5 pm. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday between 12:00 - 13:55 & 15:00 - 17:00. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday between 10:30 - 12:00 & 15:00 - 17:00
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/props-till-you-drop-iii2491375Props till you drop IIIhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Props-till-you-drop-III-1024.jpg809809GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design/Model & prop making22851132163917261228511321639Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.002586583Props till you drop III809809https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Props-till-you-drop-III-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekend2026-04-25T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceApr 2026Art & designVU962809809Props till you drop III647526809Wendy Chandlerprops-till-you-drop-iii/vu962-2526Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.0000-Available|2026-04-25 00:00:00The prop making industry revolves around problem solving, working to a brief, teamwork and delivering on time. This comprehensive course will introduce you to the challenges of being a prop maker and working to such specifications. The course is based on a series of hypothetical client’s briefs which can be answered both individually and collaboratively. You will develop ideas and explore a range of relevant materials and techniques to produce concepts successfully in three dimensions. This is an exciting, challenging, and creative course where you will be interpreting and realising briefs and working to deadlines. You will be introduced to progression routes for further study and/or potential employment. This is a great addition to your CV if you are starting out in prop making, as it focuses on working to a brief and realising a product. Teamwork and collaboration are vital skills needed for working in the prop making industry and this course enables you to gain this experience.Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.Working to given briefs you will explore and experiment in the following disciplines:<br/>- Contextual research and design development.<br/>- Drawing and designing skills.<br/>- Working with and understanding scale.<br/>- Realisation of ideas and concepts in three dimensions.<br/>- Developing relevant skills appropriate to your design ideas, including sculpting in various clays, carpentry, life casting, mould making and casting, polystyrene and styrofoam carving, and fabrication of a variety of materials.<br/>- Appropriate use of paint effects and finishes.<br/>- An opportunity to work in collaboration with other students.<br/>- Working to a deadline, planning and realisation.- Understand and interpret a prop making brief.<br/>- Understand the design process and relevance of research.<br/>- Design and develop a concept into three dimensions according to the brief.<br/>- Analyse, plan and select appropriate techniques and processes to initiate a required 3D outcome.<br/>- Identify the demands and advantages of working collaboratively.<br/>- Sculpt objects in various clays and/or polymers.<br/>- Carve basic or more advanced forms in polystyrene or Styrofoam.<br/>- Make moulds and cast in appropriate materials.<br/>- Understand the concept of life casting and make at least one cast.<br/>- Understand the concept of fabrication and manipulation of various materials.<br/>- Use paint effects, finishes and experiments effectively to achieve required results.<br/>- Identify areas within the prop making industry that might use your specific area of expertise.<p><strong>This course is open to all levels</strong>—from complete beginners with no prior experience to those who have previously taken prop making courses.</p><p>Please note that you can join any of City Lit’s prop making courses in <strong>any order</strong>. <em>Props 1, Props 2,</em> and <em>Props 3</em> are not sequential; each course explores different materials and processes, and tutors tailor content to individual student interests.</p><p>Feel free to enrol in whichever Props course best suits your schedule and curiosity—no prior course is required!</p>Group discussion and one-to-one tutorials will all play an important part in this vibrant course. There will be opportunity for you to develop your ideas on an individual basis, or collaboratively if appropriate. You will be given practical advice and given examples of relevant previous student work. You will be shown techniques through demonstration from your tutor to help you realise your ideas in three dimensions as effectively as possible. You will be given the opportunity to work with different techniques and processes. Although this is not mandatory, there will be options to develop work outside of class and you will be encouraged to visit London’s vibrant museums and art galleries to gather ideas. Research is a key word when we talk about design, and history gives us plenty of material to work with. You will be shown examples of work from relevant practising artists, sculptors and prop makers and you will receive information about progression routes available to you.<p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong></p><p>Please bring a small sketch pad, drawing materials i.e. pencils, graphite, pen, a tablet if you have one. A camera is also useful to photograph your work.</p><p>Basic materials are provided, although depending on the ambition of your design, you may need to purchase more, at the discretion of your tutor.</p><p><strong>What to Wear</strong><br/>Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes—no sandals or open-toed footwear. Old work clothes or overalls are also advised.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong><br/>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks for use when working with materials that may release airborne particles, will be provided and must be worn as required.</p><p>The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.</p><p> </p><p>Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our visual arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. </p><p><br/>The in-person information desk (at our Keeley Street campus) is open Monday - Friday from 12 pm - 1:55 pm & 3 pm - 5 pm. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday from 10:30 am -12 pm & 3 pm -5 pm. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday between 12:00 - 13:55 & 15:00 - 17:00. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday between 10:30 - 12:00 & 15:00 - 17:00</p>3D and digital designModel & prop makingvirtual647809526VU962NONESat25/04/26 - 04/07/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:3010 sessions (over 11 weeks)105-10 weeksDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetWendy ChandlerSome experienceAvailable courses2026-04-25T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026Art & design809809Props till you drop IIIprops-till-you-drop-iii/vu962-2526Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.0000-Available|2026-04-25 00:00:00The prop making industry revolves around problem solving, working to a brief, teamwork and delivering on time. This comprehensive course will introduce you to the challenges of being a prop maker and working to such specifications. The course is based on a series of hypothetical client’s briefs which can be answered both individually and collaboratively. You will develop ideas and explore a range of relevant materials and techniques to produce concepts successfully in three dimensions. This is an exciting, challenging, and creative course where you will be interpreting and realising briefs and working to deadlines. You will be introduced to progression routes for further study and/or potential employment. This is a great addition to your CV if you are starting out in prop making, as it focuses on working to a brief and realising a product. Teamwork and collaboration are vital skills needed for working in the prop making industry and this course enables you to gain this experience.Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.Working to given briefs you will explore and experiment in the following disciplines:<br/>- Contextual research and design development.<br/>- Drawing and designing skills.<br/>- Working with and understanding scale.<br/>- Realisation of ideas and concepts in three dimensions.<br/>- Developing relevant skills appropriate to your design ideas, including sculpting in various clays, carpentry, life casting, mould making and casting, polystyrene and styrofoam carving, and fabrication of a variety of materials.<br/>- Appropriate use of paint effects and finishes.<br/>- An opportunity to work in collaboration with other students.<br/>- Working to a deadline, planning and realisation.- Understand and interpret a prop making brief.<br/>- Understand the design process and relevance of research.<br/>- Design and develop a concept into three dimensions according to the brief.<br/>- Analyse, plan and select appropriate techniques and processes to initiate a required 3D outcome.<br/>- Identify the demands and advantages of working collaboratively.<br/>- Sculpt objects in various clays and/or polymers.<br/>- Carve basic or more advanced forms in polystyrene or Styrofoam.<br/>- Make moulds and cast in appropriate materials.<br/>- Understand the concept of life casting and make at least one cast.<br/>- Understand the concept of fabrication and manipulation of various materials.<br/>- Use paint effects, finishes and experiments effectively to achieve required results.<br/>- Identify areas within the prop making industry that might use your specific area of expertise.<p><strong>This course is open to all levels</strong>—from complete beginners with no prior experience to those who have previously taken prop making courses.</p><p>Please note that you can join any of City Lit’s prop making courses in <strong>any order</strong>. <em>Props 1, Props 2,</em> and <em>Props 3</em> are not sequential; each course explores different materials and processes, and tutors tailor content to individual student interests.</p><p>Feel free to enrol in whichever Props course best suits your schedule and curiosity—no prior course is required!</p>Group discussion and one-to-one tutorials will all play an important part in this vibrant course. There will be opportunity for you to develop your ideas on an individual basis, or collaboratively if appropriate. You will be given practical advice and given examples of relevant previous student work. You will be shown techniques through demonstration from your tutor to help you realise your ideas in three dimensions as effectively as possible. You will be given the opportunity to work with different techniques and processes. Although this is not mandatory, there will be options to develop work outside of class and you will be encouraged to visit London’s vibrant museums and art galleries to gather ideas. Research is a key word when we talk about design, and history gives us plenty of material to work with. You will be shown examples of work from relevant practising artists, sculptors and prop makers and you will receive information about progression routes available to you.<p><strong>Materials and Equipment</strong></p><p>Please bring a small sketch pad, drawing materials i.e. pencils, graphite, pen, a tablet if you have one. A camera is also useful to photograph your work.</p><p>Basic materials are provided, although depending on the ambition of your design, you may need to purchase more, at the discretion of your tutor.</p><p><strong>What to Wear</strong><br/>Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes—no sandals or open-toed footwear. Old work clothes or overalls are also advised.</p><p><strong>Health and Safety</strong><br/>Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks for use when working with materials that may release airborne particles, will be provided and must be worn as required.</p><p>The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course, you may wish to join a similar course to develop your skills further or try something completely different. We offer courses in prop making, metal, clay, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting, and much more! Alternatively, you may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps you build your individual sculpture practice.</p><p> </p><p>Please ask your tutor for advice, browse the City Lit website for inspiration, or contact our visual arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk or calling 0203 880 2415 Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. </p><p><br/>The in-person information desk (at our Keeley Street campus) is open Monday - Friday from 12 pm - 1:55 pm &amp; 3 pm - 5 pm. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday from 10:30 am -12 pm &amp; 3 pm -5 pm. General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday between 12:00 - 13:55 &amp; 15:00 - 17:00. In-person enrolment is supported Monday - Friday between 10:30 - 12:00 &amp; 15:00 - 17:00</p>3D and digital designModel & prop makingconfigurable
17261639Model & prop makinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design/3d-and-digital-design/model-and-prop-making1/2/285/1132/1639/17261/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design/Model & prop making
