Traditional and Computer Aided Design and Graphics
Los Angeles, California, USA, Terra, Solar System Sol, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo Super Cluster, Local Universe

Set Design - Physical Models, Study Models, Pre-Vis for Motion Picture, Television, Theme Park - Kenneth A. Larson

Most of my first two decades in the entertainment industry were spent designing and building models. I've built models for Visual Effects, Theme Parks, Architecture, Aerospace, engineering, interior design, study, and display. Since 1996 I have worked exclusively as a Set Designer and while mostly doing 2D CAD, I have done many 3D CAD and computer modeling and physical models from foam core or cardboard. I am considered fast and clean. Having built almost every type of model over a 30+ year career, I get the job done.

Note: These images are presented here for portfolio purposes only. These images are not available for sale or to be given away in hard copy or digitally in any scale. I will be happy to show hard-copy during a legitimate job interview for Set Designer.

House model for Ben and Kate.

For American Horror Story, I made both physical and Sketchup models, sometimes of the same set.

Physical model of Library.

Sketchup model of Library.


Viviens Hospital Room, physical model (left) and Sketchup model (right).

For The New Girl I built several models of the sets for this 20th Century Fox pilot in 2011.

Early.	Final.
The Loft was the main set and the moel was updated several times.

This was a stock set, but we still wanted a model.

The Bar was not built.

Lie to Me, 20th Century Fox, season 3, 2010. I created hundreds of sheets of drafting in AutoCAD©, but also a number of quick simple study models.

Group Lab, to make changes to the set.	Hospital, to visualize a specific section.
For the Fox program Lie to Me, season 3, 2010.

Burned garage.	Mine elevator.
For the Fox program Lie to Me, season 3, 2010.


Many models were made to study backings. Lie to Me, season 3, 2010.

Many models were made to study backings.	Set based on the grids in a theater.
For the Fox program Lie to Me, season 3, 2010.

more models will be added soon.

Model of a set of the pit of a drag strip for Titus, 2001.

Models for The Castle for DreamWorks. 2001

In addition to almost 50 sheets of drawings, I also built five models for Collateral Damage. 2000

Assistance League of Southern California Design House,
2000. Model for P. M. Designs.


Model of Duloc Street for Shrek. Physical model at left, virtual model at right.

Study model of Castle for Shrek, one of several models, 1997.

Model of house set for Cracker, 1997.

Study model for Contact, 1996. This is the sphere that Jody Foster travels in. The model was made to study the reflective properties of the interior of a sphere.

Indiana Boomtown Casino study model. 1995

Claw Island, Riddler's base, Batman Forever, I built this
Visual Effects model from a minimum of drawings. It required me to supply much design interpretation. I was advised by James Hegedus, the Visual Effects Art Director, to include this in my Set Design portfolio, 1995.

Model for Ramayan. Made to show that I could do the job and how well the computer could be used as a multi-function tool.

Quick study models for a complex built into an asteroid for Galaxy Star, a film that didn't reach production.

Lucy Goldstar, simulator ride. Managed laser cutting for Boss Film, 1992.

Lucy Goldstar, simulator ride. Managed laser cutting for Boss Film, 1992.
One of forty AutoCAD drawings I created to facilitate the laser cutting.

Tokyo Disneyland, "Second Gate" Studio Tour. Walt Disney Imagineering, 1990.

On three separate occasions, I built study models of Universal Tours, Florida. Two versions for Design Models Inc. and one model of the final while working for Universal Studios.

Several foam core models of theme park and other facilities for Cinimatix and John De Cuir Jr. in 1988.

I worked at Design Models Incorporated many times between 1981 and 1993. Design Models Incorporated was a full service model shop catering to petrochemical, aerospace, architecture, engineering, ship building, military, entertainment, and other industries. The models were of high quality. Unfortunately, I think they fell victim to the general fall off of some of these industries in Southern California in the early to mid 1990's and I can no longer locate them. The image on the left is an architectural model, the image on the right is a model of a desalination plant for Saudi Arabia.

Furniture for Exxon/Esso Gas Station.

Communicore, EPCOT, Walt Disney World. Television studio model built for Brubaker Group, 1982.

Set Design - Physical Models, Study Models, Pre-Vis for Motion Picture, Television, Theme Park - Kenneth A. Larson

This page last updated: Thursday, 29-Nov-2012 12:01:56 EST