Harry Potter & the Design Team

In a previous blog, I wrote a small review of the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, talking about the general design and sets that you can find in there. But this week I would like a focus our thoughts on the amazing work of the design team.

Following the Art

In the Harry Potter Studio Tour, we can find a small representation of all the Art Department’s work with an example of some Technical draws, Scale white models and Visual concepts.

“Craig commented on his experience working in the studio environment, "I’m the production designer, but on a big movie like Harry Potter I may be responsible for 30 to 35 people; from the supervising art director, and a team of art directors and assistants, to draughtsmen and junior draughtsmen, and then on to model makers, sculptors and scenic artists." He said, "Ten years ago, all the Harry Potter drawings were done in pencil. I would take my roughs and plans and sections and give them to a professional architectural illustrator, who would create concept art using pencil and colour wash on watercolour paper." He said the process changed slightly throughout the years due to, what he called, the "digital revolution" of making films” Interview from Beat Magazine.

Props & Magic

Moreover, we need to think in all the work for the Prop Team, they not only had to design and fabricate every small prop in the fantasy film, but also they had to take care of every piece to not lose them.

“Five large warehouses were needed to store all of the props used during the "Harry Potter" films. They included 5,000 pieces of furniture, 12,000 handmade books, 25,000 printed pages of The Quibbler, and 40,000 Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products.” Article from Business Inside.

But what is your favourite HP prop? Share a picture with me on Pinterest or Instagram, and let me know if you ever thought of the work behind the scenes.