Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design ADG-Nominated “Murderbot” Set Design Breakdown with Sue Chan & Rob Hepburn
Jan 27, 2026
Rob Hepburn, an Emmy-winning set decorator known for hands-on fabrication, and Sue Chan, a production designer who crafts warm, lived-in sci-fi worlds, unpack their work on Murderbot. They talk inflatable TPU habitats, 3D-printed med labs, practical LED and OLED lighting, greenscaping with fabricated trees, mobile greenhouses, and clever sourcing versus fabrication choices.
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Cultural Graphics Define A World
- They designed a visual language for the Prezox team that blends ancient-earth motifs with modern symbols to signal culture and history.
- This synthesis differentiated the group from typical sterile sci-fi colonies and reinforced character through graphics and aging.
Use Inflatable TPU For Diffused Light
- Use inflatable TPU panels to create large diffusing surfaces that are lightweight and cost-effective.
- This lets cinematographers and gaffers get soft, even light while reducing build time and weight on stage.
Unify Sourced Pieces With Surface Work
- Rob leaned on sourced pieces then unified them with paint and small builds to make furniture look 3D-printed and cohesive.
- Strategic paint and vinyl wrapping let found items read as part of the show's fabricated world.
