Head Tutor & Lead International Facilitator
Ambassador Prince Kojo-Hilton
Production Designer · Scenic Artist · Pan African Art Ambassador · Founder & President, Global Art Connect and the Film Craft Expo.
20+
Years of international practice
8
Countries where he has trained talent
2012
First artist in Africa to engineer a man-made volcano
2024
Appointed President of CUFA Ghana, Rio de Janeiro
Biography
Ambassador Prince Kojo-Hilton is an internationally respected visual artist, production designer, art director, filmmaker, theatre practitioner and creative arts strategist with over two decades of professional experience across Africa, the Americas and Europe. He is the Founder and President of Global Art Connect and the Film Craft Expo, an annual industry platform dedicated to advancing the art, science and business of cinematic storytelling. He currently serves as Pan African Art Ambassador and Chairperson to the United States Presidential Service Center International Film Festival worldwide.
He is an alumnus of the UniMAC Institute of Film and Television — formerly the National Film and Television Institute — where he specialised in Art Direction and Production Design, graduating in 2014. His professional foundation was shaped at the National Theatre of Ghana under the mentorship of Dr. Johnson Edu, gaining mastery in scenic design, set construction, props design, makeup and special effects. In 2012 he made history as the first artist in Africa to engineer a man-made volcano, for the Guinness Big Eruption Concert in Accra.
His portfolio spans feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, theatre productions, large-scale live events and studio set designs. His international credentials include collaboration with the Hollywood directors of The Matrix trilogy on the Netflix science-fiction series Sense8, filmed in Nairobi, Kenya. His work is defined by strong visual storytelling, architectural realism and technically ambitious scenic solutions.
In recent years Ambassador Kojo-Hilton has achieved significant milestones in Brazil, delivering high-impact Art Direction and Scenic Design masterclasses at leading creative institutions including ZION Creative Design School and CAL — Casa das Artes de Laranjeiras, engaging hundreds of emerging filmmakers and designers across multiple campuses. In November 2024 he was appointed President of CUFA Ghana at the World Forum of Favelas and the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, representing Ghana on an international policy and cultural platform.
His contributions to the global creative arts ecosystem include mentoring and training talent across Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil and the United States. Driven by a clear vision to elevate the global visual arts and film production landscape, he continues to lead cross-continental projects that combine artistic excellence, cultural diplomacy and industry development at the highest international standard.
Special IOP Course
Film Art Direction & Production Design
FPD-601 • 6 Weeks Intensive Studio & Lecture Program instructed by Ambassador Prince Kojo-Hilton. A hands-on immersion into the creation of visual environments for film, television, theatre and live events.
Course overview
The fabrication of screen reality relies entirely on the vision of the Production Designer and Art Director. This course provides a comprehensive, hands-on immersion into the creation of visual environments for screen and stage. Students explore how spatial aesthetics, architectural illusion, color theory, scenic construction, and physical props collaborate with camera optics and lighting to drive cinematic narrative.
Through interactive studio workshops, script breakdowns, practical drafting, field trips to production facilities, and screening analysis, students progress from abstract conceptualization to building industry-ready production designs. The curriculum bridges classical physical craftsmanship with contemporary hybrid workflows, including chroma-key integration and virtual production environments.
Learning outcomes
- Analyze Scripts for Visual Narrative: translate text — translate dramatic themes into concrete visual concepts, color palettes, and spatial environments.
- Execute Professional Drafting & Modeling: develop accurate floor plans, set elevations, scale models, and perspective sketches for construction teams.
- Master Set Construction & Scenic Artistry: apply practical knowledge of materials, woodwork, distressing, aging, and spatial illusion to screen sets.
- Integrate Practical & Virtual FX: plan and execute physical props, atmospheric effects, and green-screen/virtual set extensions in coordination with cinematography.
- Manage Art Department Operations: lead collaborative art department teams, manage budgets, direct set dressing, and coordinate logistics.
- Produce an Industry-Standard Portfolio: assemble a professional production design pitch deck and portfolio for feature film, television, or theatrical productions.
At a glance
- Duration
- 6 weeks intensive
- Format
- Studio & lecture program
- Instructor
- Amb. Prince Kojo-Hilton
- Target audience
- Aspiring Production Designers, Art Directors, Set Designers, Scenic Artists, and Filmmakers.
6-week curriculum
Week 1
Foundations of Production Design
Art Dept structure, history of cinematic world-building, script breakdown for visual elements, and the first project mood board.
Week 2
Architectural Drafting & Scale
Visual design principles, technical drafting, scaled floor plans, camera sightlines, elevations, and perspective drawing for the lens.
Week 3
Color Theory & Scenic Artistry
Applied color theory for screen, scenic painting techniques, aging and distressing, faux finishes, prop sourcing, and material boards.
Week 4
Scenic Construction & Practical FX
Set construction elements, mechanical props, atmospheric FX, safety protocols, and a hands-on workshop at a production facility.
Week 5
Designing for the Lens & Virtual Production
Camera-designer relationship, lighting interaction with surfaces, chroma-key, virtual sets, and LED volume stages.
Week 6
Production Leadership & Portfolio Defense
Budgeting, scheduling, team delegation, professional ethics, portfolio curation, and final jury presentation.
Assessment & evaluation
| Component | Weight | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Project 1: Script Breakdown & Concept | 15% | Week 2 |
| Project 2: Technical Drafting Package | 15% | Week 3 |
| Project 3: Color & Texture Palette | 15% | Week 4 |
| Project 4: 3D Scale Model & Construction Plan | 20% | Week 5 |
| Final Portfolio Pitch & Jury Defense | 25% | Week 6 |
| Professionalism & Class Participation | 10% | Ongoing |
Selected recent work
2026
Art Direction & Scenic Design Masterclass
CAL — Casa das Artes de Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro
2026
Art Class for Senior Citizens (Instructor)
CRAS — CEU, Maricá, Rio de Janeiro
2025
World Forum of Favelas — Ghana Representative
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2025
Art Direction Masterclass
Zion Escola de Entretenimento, Niterói
2025
Scenic Design Masterclass
National Theatre of Ghana & University of Ghana, Legon
2025
Launch of the Film Craft Expo
Hilwood Studio / NCC / Black Star Experience
Gallery
On set, in the classroom and on stage — masterclasses, film productions and keynotes across Africa, Brazil and beyond.
Honours & recognition
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Pan African Art Ambassador
- Multiple Extraordinary People Awards, USA
- Recognition at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space
- U.S. Department of State Next Level Global Artists residency
- Honorary Award of Excellence — Global Vinci Power Hub, Poland
- World Youth Icon of Humanity — National Academy of Arts and Culture