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Costume Design For Performance Short Course

Course description

This course is an introduction to the creative process of costume design for live performance using one example text from theatre, musical theatre or opera as a basis to work from. We explore the designer's vision, creative and practical skills, effective communication and how to develop a critical eye for performance.

During the course, learners will be guided through a speculative design project from beginning to end, using helpful exercises, live presentations, online and library research, 1-2-1 tutorials, and plenty of collective conversations. Your tutor will introduce you to a variety of design approaches and explain their unique way of working in more detail. By the end of this course, learners might have a design that could be used for their portfolio when applying for further training or even for design opportunities. This will depend on the time learners can dedicate to their project and can be discussed with the tutor.

While the process of realising costume designs will be discussed in detail, actual costume making or tools like draping are not part of this course. However, there will be lots of hands-on exercises throughout the course with an emphasis on the analogue process, like collage making and sketching on paper. There will be an introduction to digital tools and an encouragement to use them where the desire to learn more about them exists.

Who should take this course?

This course welcomes learners from a wide range of disciplines, including those wanting to develop, diversify and extend their current creative experience towards set design for performance.

It is also suitable for those wishing to strengthen their portfolio for application to higher education studies in design for performance.

Entry requirements: None

Level: Beginners

Please note: This course is for students aged 18 and older

Clear, easy to understand lessons:

  • Our tutors will explain things in easy to understand, accessible English. If they need to use any special terminology they will make sure they explain what they mean.
  • New methodologies will be explained or demonstrated
  • We also offer learning resources for you to access outside of the classroom

All our on campus courses include:

  • Network and share ideas with students from across the globe
  • Access the technology and materials relevant to your discipline
  • Shop in our college shops for any materials you might need
  • Ask questions to your tutor in real time
  • Receive feedback and critique on your assignments
  • Experience the many sights of London on your down time

All our online short courses include:

  • Live and interactive online lessons with classmates from around the world
  • The same course content and learning outcomes as our face to face courses
  • Lesson recordings, for review, so you never have to miss a class
  • Access to the virtual learning environment with course content
  • Forums for support
  • 2 weeks online access to the recordings of the live classroom sessions
  • Ask questions to your tutor in real time

A certificate of completion:

  • You've put the work in so we want to make sure you have something to show for it!
  • As long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, we will provide you with a certificate of attendance.
  • However we always recommend you attend all of the classes so that you get the most out of the experience!
  • Certificates are a great addition to your CV

Available dates

It can take a few moments for our course dates to load - if there are no available dates, please contact our customer service team who will help you find a course or email you when new dates become available.
Make an enquiry or call us on 0207 514 7015.

Details

The order of individual aspects of the design process can be subject to change and can be adjusted depending on learners preferences.

Session 1

The role of the costume designer

The costume department

Introduction to the text

Introduction to analysisng text

Session 2

Analysing text & drawing out themes

Online and library research

Research tasks & reflection

Session 3

Ideas exploration using collage and sketching

Introduction to costume drawing using figurine

Initial visual responses & developing concepts

Session 4

Breaking down costume

Sustainability

Concept development and world building

Session 5

Design presentations

The costume professional career

Studying on a costume degree

Materials

All Sessions: IPad/Tablet or computer, sketchbook (A5, A4, or A3) and/or paper, pencil; learners will need these tools every class

Session 2 and onwards: in addition to the tools above learners should bring basic art materials of choice like colour pencils, crayons, markers etc.

Session 3: scissors, Pritt stick glue, a variety of art materials of choice, magazine cut-outs, fabric samples, this can be discussed with the tutor in more detail; basic tools and art materials will be supplied by the tutor,

Session 4 and 5: art materials of choice

To take part in the Online sessions you will need:

  • An up-to-date web browser (we recommend Chrome)
  • Microphone and headphones (a headset with a microphone function is recommended. The built-in microphone in your device would also be fine).
  • Webcam
  • Strong Internet connection - we recommend a minimum of 2 Mbps download, and 1 Mbps upload, faster if possible. You can test your network speed here - https://www.speedtest.net
Meet the Tutor:

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An introduction to the process of costume design for performance. The emphasis is on analysing character and developing a portfolio of costume renderings to support the dynamics of a playwright's characters and their situation. Through a process of creative visualisation a concept is established, which anticipates a performance and communicates ideas effectively to an audience.

£
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