The document discusses the author's visit to two university degree shows - Kingston University and Wimbledon College of Arts. At Kingston, the author was most interested in a room model on display that showed interior design work. At Wimbledon, the author was intrigued by the set design and technical arts courses. The author researched Kingston further and found mixed reviews from students. They discovered Wimbledon offers strong set design programs but no specific stage design option. The author analyzed examples of set design work and practitioners in the field.

1. Progression Assignment
Units 10 and 85

2. Kingston University Undergraduate Art
Degree Show 2016
There was a large mix of work on show at the exhibition. Due to their
being little explanation about what was on show, and no one on hand
to explain. From what I could gather there was a mix of disciplines,
one specific thing I found of interest was a room model (to the right)
which could be an interior design or set planning. This was most of
interest to me due to my interest in stage design, the model of a room
was a new concept that I hadn’t seen before and hope to pursue in
future.
From going to the show I found that Kingston offers a wide range of
disciplines all of which shows a high standard of work. I was
impressed with the illustrations and creations of books and mini
animations, I thought they were really well thought out from looking
through their sketch book and seeing how much annotation and
experimentation was done to come to their final result. I’ve learned
that sketchbooks are key to creating a well finished thought out final
outcome.
A large amount of the worked showed that all the courses started with
sketchbook work coming to different outcome, however the initial
approach was similar across all the disciplines. It seemed as though
for model making and 3d that they used a range of sketchbook,
computer and experimentation work, as whilst looking you could see
the different areas that were used to create the final outcome.
As I could only find one area that showed a specific interest to me
there was little information that I could find out from it other than
creating mini to scale rooms or designs that went alongside research
and experimentation to create this mock up.

3. Kingston University Undergraduate Art Degree
Show 2016
This was the most intriguing piece of work for me, as this is the pathway that interests me
the most for my future. As my pathway of interest is 3d design specifically set design for
either film or TV. This specificarea reallyinterested me to see the mock up of a room and
the attention to detail, as this is the first time I have seenanything like this before and this is
something in future I would like to experiment with. The materials used seem to be easily
durable but light materials like paper or card that can create an effective look of a room.
The sketchbook helped to explainthe development toward thispiece that there were plans
and inspirations creating the look of this design, by working and developing the aspectsof
the brief for which this room is created.
Mock up Room
Design and
Sketchbooks
From this I have discoveredmore aboutwhat is needed to create
a room design which relates in some ways to set design. I
realised that planning anddissectingwhat you are designing or
the brief for it to work out a suitable designfor the room.
However Kingston university doesn't’t offer set design for stage
or TV as a degree course, so unfortunatelythis wouldn't’t be
one of my options for further study. However the degree show
was insightful into learning how to create sketchbooks and it
gave me ideas for other project, for example if in the next year
we do animation or illustration their work on these areas was
very interesting and there was a wide range of different styles
and ideas which I want to use as influence for my work.

4. Kingston University- Student Opinions
Although when visiting the degree show there were no students on
hand to talk to I have done some research into Kingston university
and what's on offer within the university. I’ve also done some
research into the dynamics of the university and the interactions
and opportunity's they have whilst at the university.
Through research I have found that due to the size and location of
Kingston university there isn't a huge amount of space for example
studio space and work is spread equally inside and outside of the
uni. Specifically for art courses there is also high demand when
looking at which university comparisons its seems as though on
average for the art based courses that around 50% of those
applying get an offer.
However some positives from the students is that the courses are
very lenient and you can largely focus on specific areas that suit
you as long as it suits the course you can do whatever you are
interested in. There is also the strong area of the location as you
can easily go to some of the most prestigious gallery's in the UK
and many art events are held in and around London. This also
creates room for a lot of opportunity due to its location, work
experience is quite easy to get and when leaving jobs are largely
easier to come across and apply for. Overall Kingston has mixed
positives and negatives, but the courses alone seem well regarded
and are positively spoken about, however as I am most interested
in set design it is unlikely I would come to this University.

5. Kingston University- What’s on offer
There is a range of art and design courses on
offer at Kingston University, as you can see to
the right. However there is stage or television
design on offer so this would not be an offer for
me.
The video below is an open day video, it is short
but gives you an idea of the facilities and what’s
on offer at the Uni.

6. UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts Degree Show
There were several different areas and courses on
display here. I took photos and found informationfrom
all that was on show. I also managed to gain some
information on the universitywhat it had to offer and
tried to see some of the facilities although it was difficult
as they were mainly closed off. For me this exhibition
was more helpful that Kingstonas it showed me more of
what a course can consist andthe various different
options that can varyfrom course to course. It was very
eye opening and amazing to think that some of the work
on display is something I could possible move on to do
for my future career.
The exhibitionconsisted of:
BA Fine Art- Painting
BA Fine Art- Sculpture
BA Theatre & Screen- Costume Design
BA Theatre & Screen- Costume Interpretation
BA Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen
BA Theatre & Screen- TechnicalArts and Special Effects
BA Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design

7. UAL: Fine Art- Painting and Sculpture
The photos here are a mixture of work from the two fine art courses
painting and sculpture. I am going to touch on this briefly as the work
was incredible and there was such a wide range on show, it really
showed how lenient the courses were and the extent to which you
can do your own thing. The level of painting was incredible and I
much preferred the painting to the sculpture as the sculpture was
difficult to understand as there was little explanation, and overall I
just felt the level wasn’t quite as advanced as the painting. However
whilst exploring these areas there was a large amount of studio
space and facilities available as each course has its dedicated areas
and buildings.

8. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Costume Design, Costume
Interpretation, Technical Arts and Special Effects
These 3 courses were incredible the level of skill was something I’d
never seen before for example in the technical arts and special effects
display the likeness of real people to the wax figures created was
amazing. This really intrigued me and I would have loved to have found
out more about what exactly these characters and costumes created
were for and how exactly the artist had come to create these. One
thing I noticed through looking at the work was the sketchbooks are
much less used to look pretty but are made to show clear
development and planning, which is something I will find difficult as I
worry to much about how much sketchbook looks and not necessarily
what's in it.

9. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen/
Theatre Design
There were two courses thatreally stood out to me and
could definitelybe somethingI look into for the future,
as set design for screen or stage is something that I
have a large interestin for a career. I learned that the
two courses are very much hands on, models and props
are sourced and made to create these amazingmini and
life size set models.
These are two videos that give a little idea aboutthe two
courses and what they involve, by two previous students
in 2014 talking about their work and the degree show.
Both courses are highlyregarded, popular courses that
have created manyalumni who have worked on bigger
projects including Will Pearce who hasworked on the
Lion King production in the West End after graduating in
2003 and many otherswho have gone on to be
successful.
BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen
BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design

10. UAL: Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen/
Theatre Design
To get a better view of the courses and the uniin generalI spoke to some students and did some of my own research
into what the course entails andhow successful it is.
The courses have an acceptance rate of applications between 50-60% receiving offers. Overallthere is a student
satisfaction rate of 76% this score takes into account the feedback from tutors, facilities and how interesting the staff
make the subject. The only weaker point I found from this researchwas some students didn’t feel the teachers gave as
helpful feedback or sufficient supportas they could have. However the course is likely to work better for people who are
independent and don’t feel they need as muchsupport or too muchcontact time.
Wimbledon has amazing facilities on site that are available most of the time including 3D workshops, theatre, audio
visual department, digital media center, print workshops and costume workshops. These are all wellkept and have
equipment that is new and used in the industries today.

11. 3D Design/ Interior
Definition of Interior Design: the art or process of designing the interior
decoration of a room or building.
3D design can involve anythingthat leads up to creatinga final 3D outcome
there are many different approaches as an example furniture, stage, events or
buildings it is highlyplannedout throughmaking mock ups, using online software
and making finished models. It involves technical drawingand drawing in detail
using scaling. It is creating a three dimensional representation of any 3D object.
Its primaryuses are 3D models, computer aided design, visualeffects, 3D display
and more.
The process of interior design involves working out areas and planning the
insides of a designated area, and combining 3D and interior can lead to set
designing.
Some well known practitioners in thisarea are Stuart Craig who was the
production designer for Harry Potter he designed sets and workedwith the set
decorator on all of the Harry Potter films to dates and has been nominated for
many awards. Another famous 3D designer would be Frank Gehry anarchitect
who designed the Guggenheimand the Walt DisneyConcertHall.
Definition of 3D Design: 3D modelling is the process of developing a mathematical
representation of any three-dimensionalsurface of an object (either inanimate or
living) via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Guggenheim

12. Poster

13. Discipline: Set Design (Scenic Design)
Set Design (Scenic Design): the creation of theatrical
as well as film or television scenery.
There's a range of different routes and pathways
involved in scenic design, including production
designer, dressing the set, finding locations and
designing things according to the area they’re taking
the information from.
Through research into different university courses
there is a range of approaches some courses use
more computer based work and others less so. For
example on the Wimbledon course for screen it looks
at computer aided design, conceptual visualisation,
lens angles, lighting, location surveying, metal work,
model making, script breakdown, storyboarding, stop
motion, technical drawing, video camera work and
woodwork. However the courses vary depending on
there focus whether its screen or theatre.

14. Stuart Craig (Art Director)
Stuart Craig is an English set production designer/ art director. Who has won
multiple awards and has worked on the Harry Potter films which is his most
notable work, he is still working today on films yet to be released including the
Legend of Tarzan and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Stuart Craig studied at the Norwich University of Arts, however the course he
studied has changed due to the differences in age, however he studied a course
along the lines of set and stage design. Norwich offers a range of art course
with theatre focussing on different areas involved but has less of an interest on
set. He learnt how to technically draft sets, camera angles, story boarding and
creating models. There is a necessary skill of visualisation and imagination
involved you have to be able to create visualisation from what's on paper in a
book to a large life size scale, ensuring that you have created a high quality
attractive representation of what you are creating, which Stuart Craig was
extremely good at and was a perfectionist right to the little details.
Stuart Craig works with sketches from detailed analysis of the books and
working with the authors or writers to enable their visions and try and crate
something that very much represents the design. As you can see to the right
there is a sketch at the top that is represented in the film as the final set in the
picture below, they have created the shops and quirkiness of the street, it very
strongly represents the image and text from the book.

15. Jo Meilziner
Jo Meilziner was an American scenic and lighting designer, who is
very well known for his work for the stage. He is described as the
most successful designer in the golden era of Broadway.
Before being as successful as he was Meilziner studied painting at
the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, which led onto his brother
into recruiting him as stage manager for a summer stock show
which is where he found an interest in set. He spent 13 months in
education before going to New York as an assistant stage manager.
He has many creditable projects including the original productions
of South Pacific, The King and I, Guys and Dolls, Gypsy and
Carousel. During his career he was nominated for twelve Tony
Awards seven of which he won.
During his career he introduced new more modern techniques into
the creation of sets, one of which was the use of a skeletal frame
work enabling separate time and places to be shown
simultaneously. This was something that at the time opened up new
doors and innovations in theatre enabling them to do so much
more

16. This piece of work to the right is by Stuart Craig it is a technical
drawing of the Harry Potter set for diagon alley a street from the
Harry Potter books, he did this throughanalysing the book in detail
and creating drawings of the way he felt it should look. The work is
difficult to analyse, however the work of all set designers are different
some spend more time on sketches to perfect drawings whereas
others prefer models and developingtheir work from there. I think the
detail in Stuart Craig’s drawing really helps to create what it may look like, its also easier to add improvements to and
creates a more representative look inthe finaloutcome. The route to a final outcome is similar in theatre and television
to begin it is usually technical drawingsand storyboarding to create aninitialidea, thatcan be worked throughand
then moving onto modelmaking. After this the processes begin to differ as for stage design youare focusing on one
single audience view and a specific sized area of the stage. They have to think about ensuring they create a intriguing
space in a small area, without missing anything key to the story or scene. Differentlyin television youcan use many
locations and sets however you have to be aware of camera angles whichwhen doingthis design you must take into
account.
The work of Meilziner is veryinteresting and I think it works well for the
time to create an amazing stage design for theatre, much of which is still
used in theatre today. I especially like the way for this specific show
Meliziner has decided to use a house on stage that has an upstairs that
really sets the look as oppose to doing different rooms you really get the
realistic feel of a house. It is difficult to compare the two pieces of work as
they are different to one another due to the differenttimes and one being
theatre, one being stage. I think both designers really wanted to express
the beauty of the words they were trying to represent, the both been
extremelyinventive by creating these looks from no realidea of what they
are making other than the help they get from the scripts.

17. Progression Route 1: University Course
To go into set design it is quite important to
have a degree due to the competitiveness of
this field. In the UK there are a range of
courses available that include set design.
Including courses at Bath Spa, Central Saint
Martins, South Wales, Wimbledon and more,
there are around 20 courses that include set
design.
Applying: To apply for these courses the
majority are based on a portfolio interview,
where the Uni’s are looking for work that
shows interest into the chosen area and
showing skills. Some take into account UCAS
points and grades but it varies from course to
course and the average expected for the BTEC
is DM.

18. Progression Route 1: University Course
Top Two Universities
UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts
Wimbledon has two course I am interested BA (hons):
Theatre & Screen- Set Design for Screen
& BA (hons): Theatre & Screen- Theatre Design
Entry Requirements: The entry requirements for both
courses are the same and consist of a mixture of art
foundation, A levels, BTECs and GCSEs grade c or above.
What is looked for in a portfolio: interest and
commitment for studying the subject, an understanding
of the subject, ability to communicate visually, verbally
and in writing, a range of skills, evaluation of works and
spatial ability.
Facilities and Opportunities:
Our students have the chance to take up work
placements on professional film and TV productions in
and around the city, as well as gain hands on experience
through student film collaborations with directing,
writing and cinematography students from other
University of the Arts London colleges, the London Film
Academy and Goldsmiths College. Students can also
study abroad as part of the second year Erasmus
scheme.
Universityof South Wales
As oppose to Wimbledon, South Wales has a combined course
that involves both theatre and screen which there is much
less of around the country.Which makes this course
appealing as you are more versatile when you come out of it.
Entry Requirements: The entry requirements are a mixture of
Alevels and Btecs, along with a strong portfolio. For Alevels a
BBC is neededincluding an art and design subject and for a
BTEC DMM is expected.
What is looked for in a portfolio: Your portfolio should
demonstrate strong artistic anddesign abilities. Your portfolio
should be a carefully constructed selection of your work,
preferably produced during your most recent course of study,
and can include any personal work or projects that you feel
are relevant to the course.All work should be well organised
and presented. You should be prepared to discuss your work
at interview as well as the designers and/or artists who have
influenced you.
Facilities and Opportunities: Studying TV and Film Set Design
in Cardiff, you’ll benefit from being near major BBC
facilities and other producers,and opportunities to work on
real projects with industry. Previous partnerships have
included experience on Doctor Who,Atlantis, Casualty and
Wizards vs Aliens.

19. Another possible route to a career in set design would
be an apprenticeship, which gives you a more hands
on experience and can get you straight into work.
Many large companies have apprenticeships available
including the Royal Opera House and BBC Productions.
However the difficulty with getting on to an
apprenticeship is there are few available and for
example the Royal Opera House only takes on 6 at a
time.
The Royal Opera House takes on apprentices in the
areas of technical theatre, scenic art and scenic
carpentry. The application process is much more like a
job interview than a university application process.
The positives of an apprenticeship is you are able to
get immediate hands on experience which makes you
employable and shows you and demonstratesyou have
the skills.
Progression Route 2: Apprenticeships