Production design is the art of building a film’s world and the job of production designers is to shape the environments that define a story’s tone, time period, and atmosphere. Often, the interiors we see on screen reveal more about a character’s personality, background, and emotional state than a script does, serving as visual metaphors that deepen the audience’s understanding.

At the Academy Awards, the Best Production Design category recognizes the artists responsible for creating these immersive cinematic spaces—often working alongside art directors, set decorators, and construction teams to bring a director’s vision to life. The category was first introduced at the 1948 awards as Best Art Direction before being renamed Best Production Design in 2012, reflecting the broader creative leadership behind a film’s visual world-building. Over the decades, the award has honored some of the industry’s most influential designers, such as Cedric Gibbons, who won the award 11 times and is also the man responsible for the design of the Oscar statuette. Legends Edward B. Willis, Richard Day, and Ken Adam, whose bold work defined the look of the James Bond franchise, also had their work recognised several times over, as well as modern masters Rick Carter and Hannah Beachler.

Below, we've compiled every winner for Best Production Design (formerly Best Art Direction) in Oscars history—from the earliest honorees to the most recent winner.

2026

“Frankenstein” (2025) — Tamara Deverell (production designer) and Shane Vieau (set decorator)

2025

"Wicked" (2024) — Nathan Crowley (production designer) and Lee Sandales (set decorator)

2024

"Poor Things" (2023) — James Price (production designer) and Shona Heath (set decorator)

2023

"All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) — Christian M. Goldbeck (production designer) and Ernestine Hipper (set decorator)

2022

"Dune" (2021) — Patrice Vermette (production designer) and Zsuzsanna Sipos (set decorator)

2021

"Mank" (2020) — Donald Graham Burt (production designer) and Jan Pascale (set decorator)

2020

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019) — Barbara Ling (production designer) and Nancy Haigh (set decorator)

2019

"Black Panther" (2018) — Hannah Beachler (production designer) and Jay Hart (set decorator)

2018

"The Shape of Water" (2017) — Paul Denham Austerberry (production designer) and Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin (set decorators)

2017

"La La Land" (2016) — David Wasco (production designer) and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco (set decorator)

2016

"Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) — Colin Gibson (production designer) and Lisa Thompson (set decorator)

2015

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014) — Adam Stockhausen (production designer) and Anna Pinnock (set decorator)

2014

"The Great Gatsby" (2013) — Catherine Martin (production designer) and Beverley Dunn (set decorator)

2013

"Lincoln" (2012) — Rick Carter (production designer) and Jim Erickson (set decorator)

2012

"Hugo" (2011) — Dante Ferretti (production designer) and Francesca Lo Schiavo (set decorator)

2011

"Alice in Wonderland" (2010) — Robert Stromberg (production designer) and Karen O'Hara (set decorator)

2010

"Avatar" (2009) — Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg (art directors) and Kim Sinclair (set decorator)

2009

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) — Donald Graham Burt (art director) and Victor J. Zolfo (set decorator)

2008

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007) — Dante Ferretti (art director) and Francesca Lo Schiavo (set decorator)

2007

"Pan’s Labyrinth" (2006) — Eugenio Caballero (art director) and Pilar Revuelta (set decorator)

2006

"Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005) — John Myhre (art director) and Gretchen Rau (set decorator)

2005

"The Aviator" (2004) — Dante Ferretti (art director) and Francesca Lo Schiavo (set decorator)

2004

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003) — Grant Major and Dan Hennah (art directors) and Alan Lee (set decorators)

2003

"Chicago" (2002) — John Myhre (art director) and Gordon Sim (set decorator)

2002

"Moulin Rouge!" (2001) — Catherine Martin (art director) and Brigitte Broch (set decorator)

2001

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) — Tim Yip (art director)

2000

"Sleepy Hollow" (1999) — Rick Heinrichs (art director) and Peter Young (set decorator)

1999

"Shakespeare in Love" (1998) — Martin Childs (art director) and Jill Quertier (set decorator)

1998

"Titanic" (1997) — Peter Lamont (art director) and Michael Ford (set decorator)

1997

"The English Patient" (1996) — Stuart Craig (art director) and Stephenie McMillan (set decorator)

1996

"Restoration" (1995) — Eugenio Zanetti (art director)

1995

"Madness of King George" (1994) — Ken Adam (art director) and Carolyn Scott

1994

"Schindler’s List" (1993) — Allan Starski (art director) and Ewa Braun (set decorator)

1993

"Howards End" (1992) — Luciana Arrighi (art director) and Ian Whittaker (set decorator)

1992

"Bugsy" (1991) — Dennis Gassner (art director) and Nancy Haigh (set decorator)

1991

"Dick Tracy" (1990) — Richard Sylbert (art director) and Rick Simpson (set decorator)

1990

"Batman" (1989) — Anton Furst (art director) and Peter Young (set decorator)

1989

"Dangerous Liasons" (1988) — Stuart Craig (art director) and Gérard James (set decorator)

1988

"The Last Emperor" (1987) — Ferdinando Scarfiotti and Bruno Cesari (art directors) and Osvaldo Desideri (set decorator)

1987

"A Room with a View" (1986) — Gianni Quaranta and Brian Ackland-Snow (art directors) and Brian Savegar and Elio Altramura (set decorators)

1986

"Out Of Africa" (1985) — Stephen B. Grimes (art director) and Josie MacAvin (set decorator)

1985

"Amadeus" (1984) — Patrizia von Brandenstein & Karel Černý (art directors)

1984

"Fanny and Alexander" (1983) — Anna Asp (art director)

1983

"Gandhi" (1982) — Stuart Craig and Bob Laing (art directors) and Michael Seirton (set decorator)

1982

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) — Norman Reynolds and Leslie Dilley (art directors) and Michael D. Ford (set decorator)

1981

"Tess" (1979) — Pierre Guffroy and Jack Stephens (art directors)

1980

"All That Jazz" (1979) — Philip Rosenberg and Tony Walton (art directors) and Edward Stewart and Gary J. Brink (set decorators)

1979

"Heaven Can Wait" (1978) — Paul Sylbert and Edwin O'Donovan (art directors) and George Gaines (set decorators)

1978

"Star Wars" (1977) — John Barry, Norman Reynolds, and Leslie Dilley (art directors) and Roger Christian (set decorators)

1977

"All the President's Men" (1976) — George Jenkins (art director) and George Gaines (set decorator)

1976

"Barry Lyndon" (1975) — Ken Adam and Roy Walker (art directors) and Vernon Dixon (set decorator)

1975

"The Godfather Part II" (1974) — Dean Tavoularis and Angelo P. Graham (art directors) and George R. Nelson (set decorator)

1974

"The Sting" (1973) — Henry Bumstead (art director) and James W. Payne (set decorator)

1973

"Cabaret" (1972) — Rolf Zehetbauer and Hans Jürgen Kiebach (art directors) and Herbert Strabel (set decorator)

1972

"Nicholas and Alexandra" (1971) — John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted, and Gil Parrondo (art directors) and Vernon Dixon (set decorator)

1971

"Patton" (1970) — Urie McCleary and Gil Parrondo (art directors) and Antonio Mateos and Pierre-Louis Thévenet (set decorators)

1970

"Hello, Dolly!" (1969) — John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith and Herman A. Blumenthal (art directors) and Walter M. Scott, George James Hopkins and Raphaël Bretton (set decorators)

1969

"Oliver!" (1968) — John Box and Terence Marsh (art directors) and Vernon Dixon and Ken Muggleston (set decorators)

1968

"Caemlot" (1967) — John Truscott and Edward Carrere (art directors) and John W. Brown (set decorator)

1967

"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966, B&W) — Richard Sylbert (art director) and George James Hopkins (set decorator)

"Fantastic Voyage" (1966, Color) — Jack Martin Smith and Dale Hennesy (art directors) and Walter M. Scott and Stuart A. Reiss (set decorators)

1966

"Ship of Fools" (1965, B&W) — Robert Clatworthy (art director) and Joseph Kish (set decorator)

Doctor Zhivago" (1965, Color) — John Box and Terence Marsh (art directors) and Dario Simoni (set decorator)

1965

"Zorba the Greek" (1964, B&W) — Vassilis Photopoulos (art director)

"My Fair Lady" (1964, Color) — Gene Allen and Cecil Beaton (art directors) and George James Hopkins (set decorator)

1964

"America America" (1963, B&W) — Gene Callahan (art director)

"Cleopatra" (1963, Color) — John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith, Hilyard M. Brown, Herman A. Blumenthal, Elven Webb, Maurice Pelling, and Boris Juraga (art directors) and Walter M. Scott, Paul S. Fox, and Ray Moyer (set decorators)

1963

"To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962, B&W) — Alexander Golitzen and Henry Bumstead (art directors) and Oliver Emert (set decorator)

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962, Color) — John Box and John Stoll (art directors) and Dario Simoni (set decorator)

1962

"The Hustler" (1961, B&W) — Harry Horner (art director) and Gene Callahan (set decorator)

"West Side Story" (1961, Color) — Boris Leven (art director) and Victor A. Gangelin (set decorator)

1961

"The Apartment" (1961, B&W) — Alexandre Trauner (art director) and Edward G. Boyle (set decorator)

"Spartacus" (1961, Color) — Alexander Golitzen and Eric Orbom (art directors) and Russell A. Gausman and Julia Heron (set decorators)

1960

"The Diary of Anne Frank" (1959, B&W) — Lyle R. Wheeler and George Davis (art directors) and Walter M. Scott and Stuart A. Reiss (set decorators)

"Ben-Hur" (1959, Color) — William A. Horning and Edward Carfagno (art directors) and Hugh Hunt (set decorator)

1959

"Gigi" (1958) — William A. Horning and E. Preston Ames (art directors) and Henry Grace and F. Keogh Gleason (set decorators)

1958

"Sayonara" (1957) — Ted Haworth (art director) and Robert Priestley (set decorator)

1957

"Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1956, B&W) — Cedric Gibbons and Malcolm Brown (art directors) and Edwin B. Willis and F. Keogh Gleason (set decorators)

"The King and I" (1956, Color) — Lyle R. Wheeler and John DeCuir (art directors) and Walter M. Scott and Paul S. Fox (set decorators)

1956

"The Rose Tattoo" (1955, B&W) — Hal Pereira and Tambi Larsen (art directors) and Samuel M. Comer and Arthur Krams (set decorators)

"Picnic" (1955, Color) — William Flannery and Jo Mielziner (art directors) and Robert Priestley (set decorator)

1955

"On the Waterfront" (1954, B&W) — Richard Day (art director)

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954, Color) — John Meehan (art director) and Emile Kuri (set decorator)

1954

"Julius Caesar" (1953, B&W) — Edward Carfagno and Cedric Gibbons (art directors) and Hugh Hunt and Edwin B. Willis (set decorators)

"The Robe" (1953, Color) — George Davis and Lyle R. Wheeler (art directors) and Paul S. Fox and Walter M. Scott (set decorators)

1953

"The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952, B&W) — Edward Carfagno and Cedric Gibbons (art directors) and F. Keogh Gleason and Edwin B. Willis (set decorators)

"Moulin Rouge" (1952, Color) — Paul Sheriff (art director) and Marcel Vertès (set decorator)

1952

"A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951, B&W) — Richard Day (art director) and George James Hopkins (set decorator)

"An American in Paris" (1951, Color) — E. Preston Ames and Cedric Gibbons (art directors) and Edwin B. Willis and F. Keogh Gleason (set decorators)

1951

"Sunset Boulevard" (1950, B&W) — Hans Dreier and John Meehan (art directors) and Samuel M. Comer and Ray Moyer (set decorators)

"Samson and Delilah" (1950, Color) — Hans Dreier and Walter H. Tyler (art directors) and Samuel M. Comer and Ray Moyer (set decorators)

1950

"The Heiress" (1949, B&W) — Harry Horner and John Meehan (art directors) and Emile Kuri (interior decorator)

"Little Women" (1949, Color) — Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse (art directors) and Edwin B. Willis and Jack D. Moore (interior decorators)

1949

"Hamlet" (1948, B&W) — Roger K. Furse (art director) and Carmen Dillon (interior decorator)

"The Red Shoes" (1948, Color) — Hein Heckroth (art director) and Arthur Lawson (interior decorator)

1948

"Great Expectations" (1947, B&W) — Wilfred Shingleton (art director) and John Bryan (interior decorator)

"Black Narcissus" (1947, Color) — Alfred Junge (interior decorator)

1947

"Anna and the King of Siam" (1946, B&W) — William S. Darling and Lyle R. Wheeler (art directors) and Thomas Little and Frank E. Hughes (interior decorators)

"The Yearling" (1946, Color) — Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse (art directors) and Edwin B. Willis (interior decorator)

1946

"Blood on the Sun" (1945, B&W) — Wiard Ihnen (art director) and A. Roland Fields (interior decorator)

"Frenchman's Creek" (1945, Color) — Hans Dreier and Ernst Fegté (art directors) and Samuel M. Comer (interior decorator)

1945

"Gaslight" (1944, B&W) — Cedric Gibbons and William Ferrari (art directors) and Paul Huldschinsky and Edwin B. Willis (interior decorators)

"Wilson" (1944, Color) — Wiard Ihnen (art director) and Thomas Little (set decorator)

1944

"The Song of Bernadette" (1943, B&W) — James Basevi and William S. Darling (art directors) and Thomas Little (interior decorator)

"Phantom of the Opera" (1943, Color) — Alexander Golitzen and John B. Goodman (art directors) and Russell A. Gausman and Ira S. Webb (interior decorators)

1943

"This Above All" (1942, B&W) — Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright (art directors) and Thomas Little (interior decorator)

"My Gal Sal" (1942, Color) — Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright (art directors) and Thomas Little (interior decorator)

1942

"How Green Was My Valley" (1941, B&W) — Richard Day and Nathan Juran (art directors) and Thomas Little (interior decorator)

"Blossoms in the Dust" (1941, Color) — Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary (art directors) and Edwin B. Willis (set decorator)

1941

"Pride and Prejudice" (1940, B&W) — Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse (art directors)

"The Thief of Bagdad" (1940, Color) — Vincent Korda (art director)

1940

"Gone with the Wind" (1939) — Lyle R. Wheeler (art director)

1939

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) — Carl Jules Weyl (art director)

1938

"Lost Horizon" (1937) — Stephen Goosson (art director)

1937

"Dodsworth" (1936) — Richard Day (art director)

1936

"The Dark Angel" (1935) — Richard Day (art director)

1935

"The Merry Widow" (1934) — Cedric Gibbons and Fredric Hope (art directors)

1934

"Cavalcade" (1933) — William S. Darling (art director)

1932

"Transatlantic" (1931) — William S. Darling (art director)

1931

"Cimarron" (1931) — Max Rée (art director)

1930

"King of Jazz" (1930) — Herman Rosse (art director)

1930

"The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (1929) — Cedric Gibbons (art director)

1929

"The Dove" (1927) — William Cameron Menzies (art director)

"Tempest" (1928) — William Cameron Menzies (art director)