Designer Team

For some books on Design, check out our Lighting and Set Design bookshelves.

The design team handles the creation of the world. The director's world? Actually, it's the author's world. We are all responsible for conveying the author's story. The play's the thing. I think that's a quote, hmm. Anyway, as one of my design teachers at NYU put it: "We are designing an environment in which the event shall take place." Let me put that one in a banner.

We are designing an environment in which the event shall take place.

Picture it. You're the set designer. The script contains a scene in which a person is asking to buy a dozen glazed donuts. You're job is to design a donut shop. Yes, it's that simple. The event? Buying donuts. The place: Donut shop.
Go to one, have some coffee, buy a dozen donuts and share with the other designers. Sit at a table and draw pictures of the place. Or, perhaps you're not that confident with your drawing skills yet. Take photos. This may make some uncomfortable. Easy- take pictures of your friends in the donut shop, but get as much of the shop in the background.
Don't forget to bring some back for the crew. The jelly kind.

Lighting more your thing? Donut shop lighting. Hmm. Donut shop lighting? Yup. Sound boring? What does donut shop lighting look like? Bright? Not many shadows? Maybe no shadows? How do you design this? Go to a donut shop and look. Simple? Yup. To a point. Re-creating that lighting on stage isn't that easy. We'll get to that in our how-to: design pages soon. I'll add a link when it's done.
I'm going to make it a little harder, but much more interesting. How about a donut shop, with big windows, during a sunset? Better?
Hint, you'll have to team up with the set designer as to which direction the window faces.

Costume design... Are you a slave to fashion? Have you ever considered working in a donut shop to earn some extra cash? Summer job? When I was a kid, I was at my Aunt's house for a picnic. Midway into the evening, my cousin walked out wearing a Dunkin-Donut's uniform. It took me by surprise. But, now I know what a person selling donuts wears. This doesn't always work. Crispy Cream people wear different uniforms.
So, you can find out what they wear by going and buying a donut. Sit at a table and do some simple drawings. By the way, this is called primary research. A good thing.

What sounds happen at the donut shop? Perhaps they play Muzak. The sound designer would be wise to sit and enjoy a donut as well. Quietly. Just listen for a while. how does a donut shop make regular things sound? Crispy Cream makes their donuts in the shop. What does the machine sound like?

TEAMWORK!
Yes, designing a show takes teamwork. Sets, lights, costumes and sound. They are all part of that environment in which the event will take place in. So, you need teamwork. The design team does have a leader: the director. All together, you are using the script to guide you to opening night.

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