The Virtual Art Department (VAD) is a crucial part of the virtual production industry. They are responsible for creating, designing, and implementing digital assets and environments, providing technical support, and performing quality assurance. They collaborate with other departments, such as virtual cinematography, virtual production, and VFX. VAD artists design and assess which set builds will be practical and digital, capturing physical sets and locations, virtually scouting digital locations, and developing preliminary environments for the DP to pre-light. They take designs and digital renderings from the art department and transform them into virtual 3D replicas, allowing the director and production team to visualize the final shot before physical production fully.