In some countries and often in the theatre known as
Scenographer, the Production Designer works closely with the
Director in bringing forth the visual quality of a movie by designing the locations and sets needed. The Production Designer is the
architect of a movie, shaping the surroundings of where the action takes place. What he produces is essential to the look and feel of a movie.
When for example the director of The Bourne Identity chose a designer he asked for the one who had done Nikita, to get that kind of feel in the new movie. (from the DVD extra material)