1. Chapter 9Chapter 9
The Art of DesignThe Art of Design

2. What designers say:What designers say:
 ““Design is an act of transformation.”Design is an act of transformation.”
Ming Cho Lee, Theatre DesignerMing Cho Lee, Theatre Designer
 “In the last analysis the designing of stage
scenery is not the problem of an architect or a
painter or a sculptor or even a musician, but of a
poet.”
Robert Edmond Jones, Theatre DesignerRobert Edmond Jones, Theatre Designer

3. From Page to Stage:From Page to Stage:
Doing the HomeworkDoing the Homework
Designers must often do detailed investigation intoDesigners must often do detailed investigation into
locations and historical periods. Some questions to ask:locations and historical periods. Some questions to ask:
• How does the play’s environment affect and reflect theHow does the play’s environment affect and reflect the
story and characters?story and characters?
• How do the characters feel about their environment?How do the characters feel about their environment?
• How does the environment relate to the play’s theme?How does the environment relate to the play’s theme?
• What is the time period of the play?What is the time period of the play?
• What are the budgetary limitations?What are the budgetary limitations?
• What are the physical limitations of the stage?What are the physical limitations of the stage?

4. From Page to Stage:From Page to Stage:
Design Team MeetingsDesign Team Meetings
The purpose of these meetings is toThe purpose of these meetings is to
•Define a central metaphor for the play
•Accommodate the physical limits of the theatre
in which the play will be performed
•Determine and set the budget
•Work out scheduling for each aspect of the
production
•Address possible safety concerns

5. Types of StagesTypes of Stages
 Found space
 Proscenium Arch
 Apron, or lip
 Fly system
 Borders and wings
 Thrust Stage
 Arena
 Black box
Courtesy of The Stratford Festival of Canada

6. Theatrical StylesTheatrical Styles
RealismRealism
Simplified
Selective
ExpressionismExpressionism
SurrealismSurrealism
SymbolismSymbolism
MichalDaniel/Proofsheet

7. Filling the Empty SpaceFilling the Empty Space
Basic Elements of DesignBasic Elements of Design
• LineLine
• DimensionDimension
• BalanceBalance
• MovementMovement
• HarmonyHarmony
• ColorColor
• TextureTexture Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox
and Tilden Foundations

8. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing the SetDesigning the Set
Set Designers take the words of the playwrightSet Designers take the words of the playwright
and the ideas of the director and turn them intoand the ideas of the director and turn them into
visual imagery.visual imagery.
MichaelEarl/UniversityofWyomingArchives

9. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing the SetDesigning the Set
 Designers who draw their designs by hand often makeDesigners who draw their designs by hand often make
numerous thumbnail sketches.numerous thumbnail sketches.
 Designers often use Computer Aided Design (CAD),Designers often use Computer Aided Design (CAD),
which includes elevations and floor plans.which includes elevations and floor plans.
MichaelEarl/UniversityofWyomingArchives

10. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing the LightsDesigning the Lights
 A lighting designer creates different moods with light
LarryHazlett/UniversityofWyomingArchives

11. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing the LightsDesigning the Lights
 The first indoor form of lighting was the use ofThe first indoor form of lighting was the use of
candles during the Renaissancecandles during the Renaissance
 See Sebastiano Serlio’sSee Sebastiano Serlio’s ArchitetturaArchitettura
 The second major shift occurred in the 1840sThe second major shift occurred in the 1840s
with gas-lit theatreswith gas-lit theatres
 Sources of the term “limelight”Sources of the term “limelight”
 The third major shift occurred in the 1890s withThe third major shift occurred in the 1890s with
the addition of electricitythe addition of electricity
 Adolph Appia (1862-1928) – the first modern lightingAdolph Appia (1862-1928) – the first modern lighting
designerdesigner

12. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing with Lights: TerminologyDesigning with Lights: Terminology
Lighting plotLighting plot
GelsGels
GobosGobos
Motivated lightMotivated light
Nonmotivated lightNonmotivated light
RichardFinkelsteinPhotography

13. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing with SoundDesigning with Sound
Sound Designers must have a detailed knowledge:Sound Designers must have a detailed knowledge:
•Acoustics
•Electronics
•Digital music editing programs
•Audio mixing boards
•Microphones
•Effects processors
•Amplifiers

14. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing with CostumesDesigning with Costumes
The costume designer is an expert at play analysis,The costume designer is an expert at play analysis,
especially character analysis. This is why most costumeespecially character analysis. This is why most costume
designers begin with the words the characters say.designers begin with the words the characters say.
RobbieJackPhotography

15. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing with CostumesDesigning with Costumes
Costumes reflect aCostumes reflect a
character’s:character’s:
 Social and economic statusSocial and economic status
 LifestyleLifestyle
 AgeAge
 CountryCountry
 OccupationOccupation
 EducationEducation
 Geographical originGeographical origin
 Historical periodHistorical period
LeeHodgson/UniversityofWyomingArchives

16. Filling the Empty Space:Filling the Empty Space:
Designing with PropsDesigning with Props
Set props
Hand props
Set decorations
UniversityofWyomingArchives

17. Filling the Space:Filling the Space:
Preparing Makeup, Wigs, and FalsePreparing Makeup, Wigs, and False
NosesNoses
 Straight makeupStraight makeup
 Character makeupCharacter makeup
Reuters/Corb
is

18. Curtain CallCurtain Call
Although the designers aren’t part of the curtainAlthough the designers aren’t part of the curtain
call, their work is onstage for all to applaud.call, their work is onstage for all to applaud.
MichaelEarl/UniversityofWyomingArchives