Production design is Nollywood’s memory department

Sets, props and locations tell viewers when a story happens, who holds power and what a character values.

By Culture & Screen Desk · Nollywood, lifestyle and cultural reporting · 2 min read

Editorial illustration for Production design is Nollywood’s memory department — Na Wetin Dey Happen editorial illustration — not a film still or documentary photograph

A convincing Nigerian world cannot be assembled from generic luxury objects. Designers research class, region, profession and period, then coordinate colour and texture with costume and cinematography.

Better design is not always more expensive. A few accurate objects, controlled locations and visual continuity can say more than an overcrowded set.

About the desk

Culture & Screen Desk

The Culture & Screen Desk reports African film, food, dress and living traditions with attention to makers, local meaning, labour and change.

Culture & Screen Desk

More from this desk

Nigeria’s health promise will be judged at the primary-care clinic

Nigeria’s creative exports need contracts as ambitious as the talent

For Nigerian small businesses, electricity is a balance-sheet problem

Start the day informed.