Moira Tait graduated in English language and literature from Kings College London. Having worked as a copywriter and editor at a graphic design advertising agency, she then studied theatre design as a post graduate at the Slade School of Art, where she was taught by Nicholas Georgiadis CBE and Peter Snow, mentored by the painter Sir William Coldstream.

Moira joined the BBC as a trainee and within a year became a fully-fledged production designer. She worked on many series, one-off dramas and several Play For Today productions. Her film credits include Alan Bennett’s ‘Sunset Across the Bay’ and ‘Play Things’ by Peter Prince, both directed by Stephen Frears.

Moira spent two years away from the BBC in Venezuela working as a set designer for Venevision before returning to the BBC, and several years as a freelance designer, subsequently becoming an educator. She has constructed and tutored courses in production design for film and television at both BA and MA levels in the UK and in Europe. These include Kingston University, The Royal College of Art, Wimbledon School of Art, Stockholm University of the Arts and the Norwegian Film School where she was visiting Professor for many years.

Moira founded the MA Course in Production Design at the National Film and Television School and was head of the department for many years. She is currently a Senior Tutor there and also supervises and assesses the dissertation component of the course. In addition, she is working regularly as a visiting tutor at the London Film School in Covent Garden.

She has moderated many design masterclasses with luminaries including Sarah Greenwood, Nathan Crowley, Fiona Crombie and the Production Designer of ‘Parasite’, Lee Ha-Jun. Over the years, Moira has held many external examining posts in the UK and abroad and is at present external examiner for the Production Design BA at Nottingham Trent University.

In 2016 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Film Designers Guild and is a core committee member of the organisation. The Royal College of Art made her an honorary fellow in recognition of her contribution to film and television education and the industry. Moira is a voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.