PRODUCTION DESIGNER
EMILY JANSZ
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Emily Jansz is a production designer based on Gadigal Land in Sydney, Australia. She is passionate about the art of design and creating immersive, emotive spaces for the screen.
A graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Emily holds both a Bachelor of Arts (2017) and a Master of Arts in Production Design (2022). During her Master’s, she designed three capstone films, including MumLife (2022), a surreal pop musical selected for the Cannes Film Festival, which she attended with key crew.
Her AFTRS short film Gorgo went on to win Best Short Film at the 2025 AACTA Awards.
In 2024, Emily designed her first feature film, Zombucha!, which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2025. She followed this with her second feature, Hold Still (2025), filmed in New Zealand, and has recently completed her third feature as production designer, Bluebottle, directed by Jack Clark and Jim Weir. She is currently awaiting the release of both Hold Still and Bluebottle.
Alongside her work as a production designer, Emily continues to work within the art department across a range of film and television projects, collaborating with established designers and set decorators to further refine her craft. Her credits include assistant set decorator on Place to Be, set decorator on Bump (Christmas special), assistant art director on The Correspondent, and buyer/dresser on Return to Paradise and The Artful Dodger, among others. This ongoing hands-on experience informs her design approach and strengthens her understanding of the collaborative and practical demands of screen production.
Emily currently serves on the Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) National Executive as the Emerging Screen Representative, where she is committed to supporting new talent and fostering pathways into the industry.
A strong advocate for the role of design in shaping storytelling, Emily is driven to continue developing her craft across both large-scale productions and creatively ambitious independent projects. She looks forward to expanding her work within both the Australian and international screen industries.
EDUCATION
Australian Film Television & Radio School - Masters of Art: Screen. Production Design: Graduated 2022
Australian Film Television & Radio School - Bachelor of Arts: Screen. Graduated 2017
Screenwise - Showreel course (2016)
National Institute of Dramatic Art: Open courses (2015)
2026
Production Designer "Bluebottle" Feature Film (In production)
Directors: Jack Clark, Jim Weir
2025
Production Designer "Hold Still" Feature Film
Director: Orla Doyle.
Set Decorator ‘Bump: A Christmas Film" Feature Film
Production Company: Roadshow Rough Diamond
Production Designer: Rob Wood. Art Director Diana Freeman
Assistant Set Decorator ‘Place To Be" Feature Film
Production Company: Picture Works Australia
Production Designer: Nora Mendis. Art Director Bill Goodes
2024
Production Designer ‘Zombucha!" Feature Film
Director: Claudia Dzienny. Producer: Danielle Redford
Official Selection
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2025
Assistant Art Director ‘The Correspondent" Feature Film
Production Designer: Fiona Donovan Art Director Max Nadilo
Senior Buyer/Dresser ‘Return To Paradise" TV Series - Full time
Production Company BBC
Production Designer: Emma Fletcher Art Director Rob Woods
Dresser/Swing ‘Plum TV Series(Causal - 1 week)
Production Designer: Amy Baker Art Director Louise Galligan
2023
Design Assistant ‘Critical Incident" TV Series
Production Company Matchbox Pictures, Stan
Production Designer: Roslyn Dunford. Art Director Lisa Javelin
Art Assistant ‘Anyone But You" Feature Film - Pick ups (1 weeks)
Production Company Sony Art Director Nick Dare
Design Assistant ‘The Office Australia" TV Series
Production Company Amazon, BBC, Bunya Productions
Production Designer: Roslyn Dunford. Art Director Lisa Javelin
Props Buyer, "Prosper" TV Series (Causal - 1 week)
Production Company Stan & Lingo Pictures
Production Designer: Pete Baxter. Art Director: Anthea Hodge
Buyer/Dresser, "The Fall Guy" Feature Film (Causal - 4 weeks)
Production Company NBCU
Production Designer: David Scheunemann. Set Decorator: Christian Peterson
Model Maker, "House Of Gods" TV Series (Causal 1 - Week)
Production Company Matchbox Pictures & ABC
Production Designer: Roslyn Dunford. Art Director: Rob Woods
Production Designer, "Sunset Ceremony" Live TV Specialty Program
Production Company: SBS & NITV
2022
Buyer/Dresser, "The Artful Dodger" TV Series – 2022.
Production Company Disney Directed by Jeffery Walker
Production Designer: Matthew Putland. Art Director: Alice Lanagan
Props Buyer/Dresser, "Totally, Completely Fine" TV Series – 2022.
Production Company Stan/Sundance Now/Fremantle Directed by Lucy Gaffy
Production Designer: Scott Bird. Art Director: Alice Lanagan
Buyer/Dresser, "Year Of" TV Series – 2022. (Casual)
Production Company Stan/Roadshow
Production Designer: Natalie Beak. Art Director: Madeline Pike
Production Stylist "Breville - Minds Behind The Machine" Commercial – 2022.
Production Company Emotive Directed by Chris Meier
Buyer/Dresser, ‘Wellmania" TV Series – 2022.
Production Company Netflix / Fremantle
Production Designer: Roslyn Dunford. Art Director: Sam Asher
Design Assistant, ‘Wellmania" TV Series – 2022.
Production Company Netflix / Fremantle
Production Designer: Roslyn Dunford. Art Director: Sam Asher
Production Designer, ‘The Formal Season 4’ Viral Tik Tok Series.
Screen Australia Funded Tik Tok series. Over 4 million views.
2021
Art Department Runner, ‘Class of 07’ TV Series – 2021.
Production Company Amazon
Production Designer: Nicki Gardiner. Art Director: Alice Lanagan
Art Department Runner, ‘Carmen’ Feature Film – 2020/2021.
Production Company Goalpost.
Production Designer: Steven Jones Evans. Art Director: Loretta Cosgrove.
Standby Prop Assistant, ‘Snack Masters’ Reality Cooking TV Show – 2021
Production Company: Warner Brothers.
Art Director: Lee Launay, Standby Props: Charli Dugdale.
Art Department Assistant, ‘Allianz Insurance TVC’ Commercials'– 2021
Production Company: Revolver. Production Design by Steven Jones Evans.
Production Designer, ‘Hurts To Love You’ Music Video for Carla Wehbe
Warner Music Australia Directed By Murli Dhir. Over 120,000 views.
Production Runner, ‘Extraction 2’ Feature Film – 2021. Casual.
Production Company: Netflix.
Production Designer, ‘The Formal Season 2 & 3’ Viral Tik Tok Series.
Screen Australia Funded Tik Tok series. Over 4 million views.
Production Designer, ‘A House’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written and Directed by Matthew Taylor, Produced by Katherine Shearer, Cinematography by Joanna Cameron.
Official Selection
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2022
- St Kilda Film Festival 2023
Production Designer, ‘MumLife’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written by Directed by Ruby Challenger, Produced by Claudia Shepherd, Cinematography by Benjamin Bellette.
Official Selection
- Cannes Film Festival 2022
- Sydney Film Festival
- St Kilda Film Festival 2023
Production Designer, ‘Gorgo’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written by Directed by Ven Gialouris, Produced by Katie Amos, Cinematography by Petra Leslie
Production Designer, ‘Cusp’ Short Film - 2021
Independent short film. Written and Directed by Erika Felton, Produced by Alex Martin, Cinematography by Shane Parsons.
Official Selection
- Byron Bay Film Festival 2022
- St Kilda Film Festival 2023
Design Assistant ‘The Big Dog’ Feature Film – 2021
(In Post-Production) Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written and Directed by Dane McCusker, Producer by Claudia Shepherd and Jessica Murphey, Cinematography by Oliver Hay, Production Design by Caley Miles
2020
Production Runner, ‘Married At First Sight’ – Reality TV Series 2020 – Casual
Production Company: Endemol Shine. Channel Nine
Production Assistant, ‘Nintendo, GIO Insurance and Suncorp TVCs’ Television Commercials.'
Production Company: Prodigious Brand Logistics.
Foxtel - Content Operator: 2017-2020 Full Time
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Roles Included Preparing and quality checking VOD media assets for Foxtel’s OnDemand services ensuring an accurate and quality customer experience.
Production Designer, ‘Cute’ Music Video –
Independent Music Video for GG Music. Directed by Lizzie Dingle, Produced by Juliette Beck, Cinematography by Zac Hardaker
Production Designer, ‘Untitled Dance Project’ Short Film - 2020
(In Post-Production) Director and Cinematographer Emma Elias, choreography by Pol Andres
Design Assistant, ‘Sushi Noh’ Short Film – 2020
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written and directed by Jayden Rathsam Hua, cinematography by Sam Steine, production design by Calum Wilson Austin
Official Selection
- Sydney Film Festival 2022
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2022
Production Designer, ‘Acts For The Invisible’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed and produced by Kate Vines, cinematography by Petra Leslie
Official Selection
- Sydney Film Festival 2021
- St Kilda Film Festival 2022
- Doc Edge Festival 2022
- Mardi Gras Film Festival 2022
Co-Production Designer, ‘A Clockwork Lemon’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed by Grace Tan, Produced by Claudia Shepherd, Cinematography by Hamish Gregory. Co-production designed by Rosalie Waugh
Production Designer, ‘Talk Back’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed by Mustafa Al Mahdi, produced by Charles Olsen, cinematography by Oliver Hay
Official Selection
- Gold Coast Film Festival 2022
Production Designer, ‘Monsters’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed by Dane McCusker, produced by Andrew McMartin, cinematography by Joanna Cameron
Design Assist, ‘Hyde’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed by Ruby Challanger, produced by Andrew McMartin, cinematography by Ben Bellette, production designed by Luka Yates
Official Selection
- Flickerfest 2020
Co-Art Director, ‘December, 1940’ Short Film – 2021
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Directed by Geordie Brown.
2019
Prop Buyer, ‘Hanging With…’ Vox Pop - 2019. Casual
Production Company: Disney Channel Australia.
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Roles included working closely with the designer, sourcing props and dressing, dressing sets for filming.
Production Designer, ‘Midsummer Colour’ Music Video – 2019
Independent Music Video for GG Music. Directed by Lizzie Dingle, Produced by Juliette Beck, Cinematography by Zac Hardaker.
Official Selection
- CLIPPED Music Video Festival 2019
Assistant Art Director, ‘Slag’ Short Film 2019
Independent short film. Written and Directed by Hannah Rae-Meegan & Monique Terry. Produced by Fat Salmon. Cinematography by Lucca
Official Selection
- St Kilda Film Festival 2020
- Cinequest Film Festival 2020
Set Dresser, ‘Sequin In A Blue Room’ Feature Film 2019
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Written and Directed By Samuel Van Grinsven, Produced by Sophie Hatch
Award Winner
- Audience Award at Sydney Film Festival
Official Selection
- Sydney Film Festival 2019 (two sold-out screenings)
- BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival 2020
- Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2020
- Dublin International Film Festival 2020
- TIFF Next Wave 2020
- Queer Screen - Mardi Gras Film Festival 2020
- Palm Springs International Film Festival 2019
- Considered for the 2019 ACCTA's award
Production Designer, ‘Tomorrow Mourning’ Short Film – 2019
Independent short film. Directed by Thomas Royce-Hampton
Official Selection
- Made In The West Film Fest 2019
Production Designer, ‘The Spray’ Short Film 2019
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Written and Directed by Dave Hoey, Produced by Dayle Cogdon, Cinematography by Julian Pertout
2018
Production Designer, ‘Closer To You’ Music Video – 2018
Independent Music Video for Iluka. Directed By Imogen McCluskey, produced by Fat Salmon cinematography by Lucca Barrone-Peters.
Official Selection
- Premiered on RAGE
Production Designer, ‘Surprise Party’ Short Film – 2018
Independent short film. Directed by Imogen McCluskey, produced by Emily Jansz, cinematography by Lucca Barrone- Peters.
Official Selection
- SBS Screen Australia 'Digital Originals' Initiative
Production Designer, ‘Savannah’ Music Video – 2018
Independent Music Video for Ivy Jane-Browne. Directed by Imogen McCluskey, produced by Fat Salmon, cinematography by Lucca Barrone-Peters.
Award Winner
- CLIPPED - Best Australian Music Video 2019
- Women's International Film Festival
- Moondance International Film Festival
Official Selection
- The depth of Field International Film Festival (best production design)
- International Short Film Festival
Design Assistant, ‘Cinderella’ Short Film 2018
Film commissioned by The Sherman Centre of Culture and Ideas. Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School). Directed by Victoria Thompson. Produced by Fat Salmon. Cinematography by Lucca
Award Winner
- Focus on Ability 2019 - Judges Choice Award
Official Selection
- CinefestOz 2019
- Melbourne Fashion Film Festival 2020
- Byron Bay Film Festival 2019
- Canberra Short Film Festival
- Heart of Gold International Film Festival
Camera Assist. 'Giants of the Earth' Music Video. 2018. Dir Keanu Hoi:
Official Selection
- Premiered on Adult Swim
- Screened on MTV
- CLIPPED Music Video Festival 2019
2017 & PRIOR
Art Department Assistant, ‘Wyrmwood: Chronicles Of The Dead’ Teaser 2017
Production Company: Guerilla Films. Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner
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Roles included working closely with the different members of the art department, assisting in set construction, assisting in scenic painting, sourcing props and materials.
Internship. Channel Ten (2016) Social Media and Promotion - Editing content, Running social media pages.
Camera Assistant, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ Feature Film – 2016
Production Company: Lionsgate Entertainment. Directed by Mel Gibson
Tropfest Short Film Festival. 2017 – Personal Assistant to the celebrity judging panel. Junior & Senior Tropfest
Co-Production Designer, ‘Gem’ Short Film 2017
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Directed by Imogen McCluskey, produced by Victoria Thompson, cinematography by Lucca Barrone-Peters.
Award Winner
- EU Film Award
Official Selection
- Film Fest Ghent
- Asia Independent Film Festival
Production Designer, ‘Still Standing’ Short Film 2017
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Directed by Levi Meltzer
Production Designer, ‘Jacky Wants A Fight’ Short Film 2017
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Directed by Matthew Ford
Production Designer, ‘At All Costs’ Short Film 2017
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Directed by Eli Sharpe
Production Design assistant. 'In Darkness, Silence' Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School) Short. 2015. dir. Lisa Xia:
Production Assistant. 'Frightened Rabbit' Short Film. 2017 Dir. Eloise Boutry:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Award Winner
- Melbourne Women in Film Festival's Best NextGen Short
- Melbourne Women in Film Festival's Audience Choice Award
Official Selection
- Melbourne Women in Film Festival
Production Assistant. "Own The Sky" Feature Film. 2017. Casual Dir. Gregory Read
Producer, Production Designer. 'Surprise Party' Short Film,2019 Dir. Imogen McCluskey
Official Selection
- SBS Screen Australia 'Digital Originals' Initiative
Producer, First Assistant Director. 'The Den' Pilot Episode. 2017 Dir. Lachlan Brennan:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Co-producer, First Assistant Director. 'Trace Lines' Short Film. 2017 Dir. Oliva Mair:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
First Assistant Director. 'Nature Boy' Short Film. 2017 Dir. William Trab:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
First Assistant Director. 'Sand Monster' Short Film. 2017 Dir. Aaron Healy:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
First Assistant Director, Production Design, 'Jacky Wants A Fight' Short Film. 2017 Dir. Matt Ford:
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Casting Director. 'Dirt' Short Film. 2017. Dir. Juliette Beck
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Script supervisor. 'Supine' Short Film. 2017 Dir. Bianca Tomchin
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)
Animator. 'Ruby’s Cottage' Animated Short. 2017 Dir. Keanu Hoi
Production Company: AFTRS (Australian Film Television & Radio School)