COSTUME DESIGN and COSTUME TECHNOLOGY

 

Costume Design is the effective interpretation of character through the information obtained from the script, and by close collaboration with the director and other designers. It is through analysis of the script, researching the period, understanding why people wore the clothes they did, and adapting all those things to the director's concept, that makes a successful design. Costume design is not simply a regurgitation of pictures in a book; it is developing a character through the choice of clothes and accessories that ultimately helps support the actor in becoming that character, as well as, the other design elements for the production.

Through Design Lab and select Topics classes, we teach the process of designing costumes, starting with the analysis of the script, obtaining research, drawing preliminary sketches, and ultimately finished renderings. We explore drawing the human body, and learn rendering techniques to successfully interpret different fabrics and how they drape on a body. In costume lab, students get hands on experience learning how to sew (by hand and machine), and by working on the productions they learn how to take a costume rendering and turn it into an actual costume that is worn by an actor for a production.