Production Design Spotlight 2026

Production design evokes story, character, and tone by building the physical world that the actors inhabit and the cinematographer captures for the sound designer to create a sense of presence. A great production designer pulls all the film crafts together in a seamless way to ‘show’ rather than‘tell’ a complete story. We are proud to support the next generation of Production Designers as they enter the industry.

Many thanks to the Faculty and Staff for helping these Fellows bring their vision to life, and congratulations to the Class of 2026.

Susan Ruskin
Dean, AFI Conservatory | Executive Vice President, American Film Institute

Welcome to the AFI Production Design Spotlight 2026! This is our annual end-of-year showcase featuring the design work of our 17 graduating Second Year Production Design Fellows. Here, you’ll find design work from their classroom projects, their thesis, 35mm visual essay and cycle productions created over the last two years at the AFI Conservatory. The variety of the worlds created by our Production Design Fellows will amaze you.

Thank you for visiting and supporting the important collaborative role of the Production Designer in cinematic storytelling.

Joseph T. Garrity
Discipline Head, Production Design

Meet the 2026 AFI Conservatory Production Design Graduates

The AFI Conservatory presents a spotlight of the extraordinary talent’s of this year’s Production Design class. Click on a graduate’s headshot to see their bio, contact information and examples of their work.

Cherice Amour

443.956.7009 | cherice@dirtysets.com | www.dirtysets.com | @dirty.sets

Based in Los Angeles, Cherice Carr Hogan is a production designer who brings a unique, multi-disciplinary approach to her craft. Her design journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, which led her to work directly with clients to design bespoke residential homes. A natural leader, she later stepped into the role of Co-CEO for a sports apparel brand while also overseeing the project management and design of an affiliate company’s headquarters. Her transition into entertainment started organically through volunteer work, where she discovered a deep love for building local theater sets and designing large-scale fundraising events. Driven by a desire to merge her passions for design and visual storytelling, Carr Hogan transitioned into the film industry, earning her MFA in Production Design from the AFI Conservatory. At AFI, she leveraged her love for historical research and collaboration to build compelling on-screen worlds. Today, she blends her traditional hand-drafting and sketching expertise with advanced digital software, allowing her to conceptualize and execute intricate spatial designs with both artistry and efficiency.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Rhino 3D, Twinmotion, Unreal Engine, Hand-sketching, Procreate, Adobe Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Acrobat, InDesign, Canva, Amazon’s NARA, Model-making, Hand-drafting, Painting (various mediums), Prop Design, Special Effects.

Cherice Amour

Purnima Bhutoria

213.676.3864 | purnima.works@gmail.com | @purrnima_

Purnima Bhutoria is a visual and spatial designer from India and a recent graduate of the Production Design program at the American Film Institute Conservatory. Her work explores the relationship between space, memory and storytelling, with a focus on creating environments that feel immersive, lived-in and emotionally resonant. With experience in illustration, drafting, 3D modeling and visual research, she enjoys collaborating across departments and contributing to the design process from concept development through execution.

Skills
Illustrator, Photoshop, SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Digital Illustrations

Purnima Bhutoria

Ziyu Dai

912.601.1296 | ziyu.dai125@gmail.com | @zzzzzziu.d

With a design background shaped by both SCAD and the American Film Institute, Ziyu Dai treats the physical set as an active narrative system rather than a backdrop. Her design philosophy focuses on developing clear spatial rules and a sense of period realism to ground each story. By balancing technical construction drafting with a strong eye for set decoration and props, she
translates abstract scripts into functional, physical realities. Her goal as a designer is to build authentic, character-driven environments where every structural choice and visual detail directly serves cinematic storytelling.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, Vectorworks, Rhino, Twinmotion, D5, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

Ziyu Dai

Anran “Annie” Geng

323.681.2962 | anrananniegeng@gmail.com | www.anrangeng.com | @annie_geng_

Anran “Annie” Geng is a designer and visual artist with a background in production design, concept art and fine art. Trained at the China Academy of Art and the American Film Institute, she uses design as a visual language to shape stories from initial conception to completion, transforming abstract emotions into intentional, expressive and character-driven spaces. Her practice spans production design, concept design, scenic design and visual development,
with a focus on world-building and the emotional core of each narrative. She approaches production design as a form of storytelling, creating environments that are visually strong, symbolically layered and emotionally truthful.

Skills
Blender, Hand Drawing, Photoshop, SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, ZBrush, Twinmotion, Vectorworks,
Model-making, Illustrator, InDesign

Anran “Annie” Geng

Neil Jikun Hao

312.683.6653 | haojikun@gmail.com | @no_more_xixihaha

Jikun “Neil” Hao is a Los Angeles–based production designer, filmmaker and visual storyteller whose work explores the relationship between space, character and emotion. Educated at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Film Institute Conservatory, Hao developed an interdisciplinary approach to storytelling through his experiences in producing, editing and production design. His fascination with how environments influence human behavior and emotional perception has led him to view production design not simply as world-building, but as a narrative tool capable of revealing character and deepening audience engagement. His films and creative projects have received recognition from numerous international organizations and
festivals, including a Student Academy Awards nomination and honors from LA Shorts International Film Festival. Hao’s goal is to create cinematic spaces that feel authentic, emotionally resonant and inseparable from the stories they help tell.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, Rhino 3D, 3D Max, Vectorworks, Blender, Twinmotion, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, InDesign, AfterEffects, Avid, Hand-drafting, Sketching, Model-making

Neil Jikun Hao

Austyn James

310.779.0615 | austynjamesdesigns@gmail.com | www.austynjamesdesigns.com | @austynjames

Austyn James draws from a strong visual design background and approaches production design through the lens of emotional storytelling, world-building and character. His greatest strength lies in concept development, creating cohesive visual ideas that connect theme, environment and narrative. His work combines rigorous research with surreal and symbolic design, creating environments that reflect both the inner lives of characters and the forces that shape their worlds. Influenced by filmmakers such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Christopher Nolan, Terrence Malick, Guillermo del Toro and Denis Villeneuve, he seeks to create spaces that are both cinematic and deeply human.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, Twinmotion, Model-making, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Procreate

Austyn James

Alyssa Jones

916.742.9290 | alyssajones.design@gmail.com | @alyssajones.222

Alyssa Jones is a recently graduated Production Design Fellow of the American Film Institute Conservatory. With a background in television, film and new media production from San Diego State University and early studies in history, her work is rooted in research-driven world-building and historically grounded design. She excels in a range of art department skills, including drafting, concept development, visual art and research. Jones is passionate about
creating immersive environments that translate story into lived-in worlds, and she aims to continue building visually rich narratives across film and fantasy storytelling.

Skills
SketchUp and Layout, Vectorworks, Rhino 8, Procreate, Canva, Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Google Platforms, Microsoft 365 Applications, Hand Drafting, Twinmotion Rendering, Unreal Engine, Graphic Design

Alyssa Jones

Samantha Lam

778.869.5918 | samlamfilm@gmail.com |
www.samlamdesigns.com | @samlam_design

Sam Lam is a story-driven production designer whose passion for storytelling began in theatre, where she learned to identify the emotional keywords of a script and translate it into physical space. After more than a decade developing her craft, she combines her strong foundation in the technical execution of design with a focus on narrative and emotion. Her goal is to create immersive environments that transport audiences into a story both physically and emotionally. After earning a BFA in Theatre Design and Production, she transitioned into film during the pandemic, building experience across independent and union productions while continuing her work in theatre. She has designed over 50 narrative shorts, commercials and music videos, and was awarded Best Production Design at the POV Film Festival for ANOTHER. Her experience also includes feature films and television series in roles ranging from art director, set designer, graphic artist and art department coordinator. Her credits include COLD COPY (art director), which premiered at the Tribeca Festival, and LOVE ME (graphic designer), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Skills
Concept Art, Visual Decks, Tech Packs, Hand Drafting, Perspective Drawing, Model Making; Research, Script Breakdowns, Art Notes, Scheduling, Budgeting, Project Management, Location Surveys, Clearance Reports; SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Procreate, Canva, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Bridge, Acrobat Pro); Scenic Carpentry, Scenic Painting, Signage Fabrication, Set Decoration, Prop Construction, Acrylic & Watercolor Painting

Samantha Lam

Emily Choi Lam “Emily” Ma

857.498.1343 | emilymafilm@gmail.com | emilymafilm.com | @elijah_0718
Emily Ma holds dual degrees in Film Production (B.S.) and Psychology (B.A.) from Boston University, and her work has been recognized by organizations and festivals including, SXSW, the Austin International Film Festival and the DGA. Ma’s path into production design was anything but linear. After exploring a variety of roles across the film industry, she discovered a passion for the worlds that production designers create and the powerful role environments play in shaping narrative. Influenced by her background in psychology, she is fascinated by how spaces can bring depth to characters, evoke emotion and communicate what words often cannot. As an artist, Ma aims to bring voice to the voiceless and continually challenges herself to explore new and creative approaches to storytelling.

Skills
Vectorworks, Rhino, SketchUp, Layout, Twinmotion, Unreal Engine, Canva, Model-making, AutoCAD, Procreate, Hand-Drafting, Sketching, Prop-Making, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut X, Microsoft Office Space, Google Workspace

Emily Choi Lam “Emily” Ma

Yunlong “Malone” Ma

213.589.6597 | yunlongma2024@gmail.com | @supermalonepro

Yunlong “Malone” Ma is a production designer and visual artist from Beijing, China. He is drawn to beautiful things — whether found in nature or created by human hands. Painting, architecture, music, fashion, food, the wonders of marine life and aviation have all shaped the way he sees the world. He is drawn to atmosphere, memory and the poetry of spaces, and he believes that every object carries a story and every environment reveals something about the people who inhabit it. Among all art forms, cinema remains his greatest passion — a medium where all other arts find a home.

Skills
Drawing, Painting, Illustration, Drafting, Model Making, Photoshop, Lightroom, Procreate, SketchUp, Rhino, Vectorworks, Twinmotion

Yunlong “Malone” Ma

Jackson Manhan

818.835.7382 | jacksonmanhan@gmail.com | jacksonmanhan.com | @jacksonmanhan

Jackson Manhan is an aspiring set decorator and designer from Los Angeles. He has developed a passion for creating immersive environments that deepen character and story, mostly through his talents in set decoration. Coming from a fourth-generation film family, Manhan looks forward to building a career in the art department, bringing cinematic worlds to life through thoughtful design and meticulous detail. He currently works on Netflix’s THE NIGHT AGENT in the set decorating department and looks forward to continuing his journey in the industry. Many thanks to AFI for all the support and opportunities.

Skills
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Twinmotion, Rhino 3D, Unreal Engine, SketchUp, Layout, Google Suite, Canva, Sketching, Hand Drafting, Set Decorating, Graphic Design

Jackson Manhan

Yale Park

310.955.6073 | yaleparkw@gmail.com | yaleparkdesign.com | @killer_whale_a

Yale Park is an interior and production designer based in Los Angeles whose background in architecture shapes how she builds narrative through space. Having completed her MFA in Production Design at the AFI Conservatory, Park brings nearly a decade of professional experience from Seoul across architecture, interiors and film. Yale seeks to uncover the inherent logic within each project, letting the concept define the space. Known for her exceptional drafting and 3D modeling skills, she works across film production design and exhibition design. Her designs have received international acclaim, including two iF Design Awards and a K Design Award.

Skills
Rhino 3D, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Unreal Engine, Enscape, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Procreate, Model-Making, Miniature-Making

Yale Park

Kaleena Perez

914.400.4308 | kaleenaperezdesign@gmail.com

Kaleena Perez is a Los Angeles-based production designer from New York with a love for telling stories and capturing details through a detailed design process from concept to execution. Following her graduation from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, she worked on various narrative projects before moving to Los Angeles. Perez completed her MFA at the American Film Institute as a Production Design Fellow of the Class of 2026 and has since worked
across a variety of genres with an emphasis on technical skills, such as Rhino, Vectorworks, construction and more.

Skills
Rhino, Vectorworks, SketchUp, Layout, Twinmotion, Unreal Engine, Canva, Adobe Suite, Model Making, Procreate

Kaleena Perez

Juliette Perrault

858.449.2511 | julietteperrault1996@gmail.com | readymag.website/u1051017256/julietteperrault

Juliette Perrault is a California native and Los Angeles-based production designer, illustrator and set designer with a background in film and literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before pursuing her MFA at the American Film Institute, she worked across both the art and costume departments on numerous short films. She often uses illustration as a tool for
developing and communicating visual ideas and is also interested in character illustration and design.

Skills
Illustration, Procreate, SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Adobe Suite, Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator, Model-making, Prop-making

Juliette Perrault

Khairi Z. Reynolds

973.517.2322 | reynolds.khairi@gmail.com | khairix.com

Khairi Z. Reynolds is a Los Angeles-based production designer and visual storyteller whose work spans film, architecture, music and live events — building fully realized worlds from the ground up. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and is completing his MFA in Production Design at the American Film Institute, where he was named a 2024–2025 Canva Fellow, one of six recipients nationally, and awarded a $40,000 merit scholarship, as featured in Deadline Hollywood. His credits include serving as Art Director on the Academy Awardnominated short WWMT and the MTV VMA-nominated Avril Lavigne music video, alongside work for Megan Thee Stallion’s Coachella main stage, Live Nation, Adidas and Kevin Gates. As the first African American male to graduate from AFI’s Production Design program, Reynolds brings an architectural foundation and a narrative-driven approach to every environment he designs.

Skills
Blender, SketchUp, Layout, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino 3D, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Enscape, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, InDesign, Procreate, Canva, Hand-drafting, Sketching, Model making, Unreal Engine

Khairi Z. Reynolds

Matilda Sage Washington

216.983.9568 | matiesque.sage@gmail.com | matildasage.com | @matie.sage

Matilda Sage Washington is an artist and self-taught production designer from Cleveland, Ohio. Rooted in both film and art from a very young age, her passion for visual storytelling stems from a lifelong appreciation for image-making and the emotional power of space. Her journey into production design began early. In her undergraduate Thesis Film, BLUE MONDAY, which she wrote and designed, she drew inspiration from the paintings of Annie Lee. Through that process, she discovered a fascination with character and the ways texture, color and atmosphere can embody emotion. This set her on a path toward exploring the relationship between narrative and environment. Today, Washington’s work is driven by creating spaces that feel authentic to the characters who inhabit them, crafting worlds that are deeply character-driven, enhancing and punctuating key moments within the story.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, Vectorworks, Twinmotion, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere Pro, Procreate, Canva, Painting, Sketching, Digital/Hand Drafting, Model Making, Art Direction, Set Decoration

Matilda Sage Washington

Shaoyang Wen

323.891.5011 | shaoyangwen2022@gmail.com | shaoyangwen.com | @uvidaaa

Shaoyang Wen is a designer with a background in both production design and architecture. His work spans multiple disciplines, including architecture,interior design, theater and production design. In addition to his design practice, he has extensive performance experience, with an artistic journey that includes Peking Opera, theater and film. Wen believes that production design represents the perfect intersection of visual design and performance-driven
storytelling, and he aspires to break down boundaries between mediums while exploring new creative possibilities.

Skills
SketchUp, Layout, Rhino, VectorWorks, Twinmotion, Enscape, AutoCAD, Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, Sketching, Watercolor, Hand Drafting, Model Making

Shaoyang Wen

Production Design Spotlight 2026

Meet the 2026 AFI Conservatory Production Design Graduates

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