We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allison Krumwiede. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allison below.

Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I love being an artist! I have worked many non-creative “regular” jobs – I have been a barista, I have been a receptionist for an egg distributor, I have folded band tees at Hot Topic, and I have even worked at the Disneyland Resort as a custodian!

I have always been creative and I have always wanted to be a working artist/designer and while I am very thankful for the non-creative jobs I have held, they only made my desire to continue being an artist even stronger.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Allison Krumwiede and I am an Art Director for Film & Television as well as an Illustrator.

I got into my profession back in 2011 when I was asked to art direct a short film called “Joan’s Day Out” (directed by Ellen Houlihan). I had always wanted to work in film and TV, but back when I was in undergrad, I had no idea how one could go into that world so when I finally got the opportunity I jumped on to the project right away!

A few years after receiving my BFA in Illustration Design from Art Center, I attended Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University and earned my MFA in Production Design. While at Dodge, I was able to gain experience working on various student films as well as working with my department chair, John Chichester, on multiple personal projects that ranged from designing a futuristic house based on Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” to designing a children’s educational TV show which involved me building an 8-foot long 1″ scale model of the entire set!

After graduating from Chapman, I worked as a set dresser for the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor while also working on various music videos and digital shorts which allowed me to meet other creatives and gain experience working on projects with a limited budget and a short time frame. With this experience, whenever I am on a job, whether it’s a project like Jupiter’s Legacy (2021), Dog (2022), or The Righteous Gemstones (2023) I am always reminded that obstacles happen on any project whether it’s a huge feature with a well-known crew or a small non-union/influencer based series for YouTube.

Currently, for my job as an Art Director I correspond with other departments as well as various vendors to make sure
our sets are completed on-time with our production’s ever-changing schedule. I would breakdown each script and coordinate with our graphics, construction, locations, paint, transportation, and set decorating departments to make sure everyone’s on the same schedule and have all of the information they might need for installation/striking of the upcoming sets/locations. My job definitely involves a LOT of problem solving, but thankfully the best part about working in an art department is you have an amazing team of creatives who are there to help you!

I am definitely proud of the work put into this most recent season of The Righteous Gemstones! This was my first season on the show and while it was a wild ride from start to finish, we had the best crew! Working alongside Production Designer Richard Wright and Set Decorator Patrick Cassidy was such a treat and both of them do an amazing job creating the world’s within the Gemstones universe!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me while working on a show is the creative process of putting together a set – starting with a simple folder of references images which turn into sketches and THEN turn into set plans and 3D models, and then finally seeing the set come to life. While most of the time you see 10% of the sets, it is always rewarding to know you had some part in making that scene come to life!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Currently with the WGA and SAG strikes going on, myself and MANY people in my field have been affected by the lack of current projects being made. With the entertainment industry being on hold, it has DEFINITELY been stressful but it has also allowed me to dive back into my illustration work and focus on other ways to be creative, one of those things being opening my own shop called SO MANY SHAPES. While it is a small online shop for now, it has opened my eyes to further possibilities of where I could take my artwork and how I could run a business on my own!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.allisonkrumwiede.com
• Instagram: @akrumwiede
• Other: www.somanyshapes.com