Emmy-Nominated Production Designer Ruth Ammon on “The Alienist”

For Emmy-nominated production designer Ruth Ammon, life as a production designer started when she was waiting tables at the Jersey Shore—and a small, independent film blew into town. 

“I’d studied art and art history and I was a painter, and then this little after school special, Mystery at Fire Island, came to the island and I got on the crew, in the art department,” Ammon says. “I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to do. New York at that time had so many independent projects, so I moved very quickly into different roles that suited me. I loved using the knowledge of composition and color. I was completely excited to be there, and I instantly became connected with a group of really talented production designers in New York. It was the perfect job for me, to take my love of art history, the composition of paintings and sculpture, and to physically be part of building something.”