Set & Prop Designer (Intermediate) for Immersive Escape Room Experience

Company Overview

Secret City is a place-based experience design studio with a mission to build human connection through shared stories, immersive places, and a sense of play. Secret City blends theatre, gaming, technology and UX design to activate historical sites, museums and dormant venues for fans that keep coming back. Established in 2014, Secret City has designed, produced and operated over 25 live immersive games, large scale events and digital products.

secretcity.studio

Job Description

Secret City Studio is seeking a Set & Prop Designer to help bring two new immersive escape room-style experiences to life through handcrafted set pieces, interactive puzzle props, and environmental details.

This is a three-month full time contract focused on physical fabrication, problem-solving, and storytelling through objects. This position reports directly to the Head of Creative Production and collaborates closely with the entire creative team to translate concepts and prototypes into tangible, durable, and engaging experiences for players.

The two main projects this contract will focus on are:

• A story driven outdoor escape room with an occult supernatural theme set in the present day but incorporating historical elements of the 1800s

• A family friendly open world puzzle adventure experience set in the 1800s

Both projects will feature:

• Custom-built set elements

• Puzzle-integrated props

• Tactile interactions

• Multiples of the same prop items

• A strong sense of atmosphere, realism, and discovery

Props are not decorative only, they must function well, withstand repeated use and various weather elements, be easy to operate, and support puzzle logic.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and fabricate physical props and set pieces

• Turn puzzle concepts into functional, player-facing objects

• Prototype, test, and refine interactive elements

• Source materials and hardware within budget

• Ensure props are safe, durable, and resettable between games

• Collaborate with writers, puzzle designers, and producers

• Install and troubleshoot props on site as needed

• Attend game tests to monitor set and prop use for iterations

Requirements:

• Intermediate level experience in prop making, set design, scenic fabrication, or experiential design

• Junior level experience with lighting and sound design and installation

• Comfortable working with materials such as wood, metal, plastics, foam, textiles, found objects, and hardware

• Able to balance aesthetics with usability and durability

• Strong problem-solver with attention to detail

• Comfortable working independently and meeting deadlines

• Ability to work on-site with the creative team

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience with escape rooms, immersive theatre, museums, or themed attractions

• Aging, distressing, or period-style finishing techniques

• Basic electronics (LEDs, switches, simple circuits, Arduino, etc.)

• CAD, SketchUp, or technical drawing skills

• Access to workshop space and required tools

Additional Information

This position will primarily work Mon-Fri 9am-5pm but may require working some evenings and weekends, depending on the event and production schedule.