Faculty

Production designer Akin McKenzie’s latest work can be seen in The Woman King, the blockbuster historical action-epic from director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Throughout his career, McKenzie has worked on award-winning television and films with a focus on history and empowerment, including Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us and Terence Nance’s Random Acts of Flyness, both recipients of Peabody Awards; Rashid Johnson’s Native Son; and Paul Dano’s celebrated Criterion Collection film Wildlife.

When he is not working in film and television, McKenzie can be found designing for world-renowned musical artists such as Rihanna, Jay Z, Future, Common and Rage Against the Machine.

A graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, McKenzie is happy to give back to the community where he began his career journey and has also served as an advisor to the Directors Lab at the Sundance Institute and Cannes Pavilion Afriques.