Emilia Mendez: Building a freelance career in performance design

Emilia Mendez studied BA Theatre Design (now BA Theatre and Performance Design) at UAL and is now working as a freelance performance designer. We spoke to Emilia about how her course helped her build industry connections, develop practical and collaborative skills, and step straight into professional practice after graduating.

I think the connections I made through my course while I was studying and afterwards, really kickstarted my career. We had two projects, one in my final year and one after I graduated, that were connected to my course and allowed me to work with people already working in theatre and performance design. They were important in helping me step into the industry as I graduated.

Which opportunities shaped your career the most?

In my final year, we worked with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, where I worked with professional actors, directors and the technical team. After I graduated, I was invited back to interview to design a performance for their Evolution Festival. I was successful and this then became their headline performance.

After working with them a second time, I was then invited back to work on a major musical the following year. It felt like a really nice step-by-step process, where each opportunity led naturally to the next.

I knew I wanted to be a performance designer when I started, which is why I chose such a vocational and niche course. What really changed was the scope of what my career could look like.

Once I started studying, I realised the potential of working at different scales and in different locations. Although my course was theatre design, the skills covered dance, fashion, musicals, music videos and film. I was able to work across those areas during my studies, and I still work across them now.

What employability skills did you gain during your time at UAL?

The technical skills are what I’ve benefited from most. Since graduating, I’ve assisted major performance designers who have been working in the industry for decades, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without the skills my course taught me.

It was also the soft skills. Being able to step into the industry already understanding how it works, what my role meant and what the role of an assistant designer involved was really important. Even knowing the basics of sourcing costumes and props made a big difference. Also things like using tools safely, scaling work properly, working with different materials and model making to a high standard have allowed me to step into roles as both an assistant designer and a designer.

Another key skill I learned was how to collaborate - it's probably the most important part of working in theatre, and it’s one of the reasons I was drawn to it in the first place. It’s not a self-centred craft, and there isn’t really space for ego in theatre.

Something that UAL does really well is emphasising the value you need to place on your work. There was a useful Careers and Employability session about breaking down fees and understanding how to value your time.

That was incredibly helpful before graduating, as it allowed me to step into the industry understanding what my work was worth. Being paid properly has meant I can continue working and make time for other projects.

After graduating, I also went back to UAL Careers & Employability for a one-to-one meeting. It was a short session, but really useful for reflecting on what I’d done and thinking about next steps. I felt very supported.

What have you been working on since graduating?