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The Role of a Designer

Amber Cole-Pendrey

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

The Role of a Designer

I.

Large Scale/Main House..................................................................................4

I.

Dance/Ballet...................................................................................................... 4
Set............................................................................................................... 4
Costume......................................................................................................... 4
II. Musicals............................................................................................................ 4
C. Costume......................................................................................................... 4
D. Set............................................................................................................... 5
III. Opera............................................................................................................... 5
E. Set............................................................................................................... 5
F.
Costume......................................................................................................... 5
IV. Touring............................................................................................................. 5
G. Set............................................................................................................... 5
H. Costume......................................................................................................... 5
A.
B.

II.

Bigger budget...............................................................................................5

III.

Small scale...............................................................................................6

V.

Touring............................................................................................................. 6
I.
Set............................................................................................................... 6
J.
Costume......................................................................................................... 6
VI. Schools/ community............................................................................................. 6
K. Set............................................................................................................... 6
L.
Little/no budget............................................................................................... 6
VII.
Site-specific.................................................................................................... 7
M. Set............................................................................................................... 7
N. Costume......................................................................................................... 7
VIII.
Children's/TIE.................................................................................................. 7
O. Set............................................................................................................... 7
P.
Costume......................................................................................................... 7

IV.

Smaller budget..........................................................................................7

V.

Tv/film.......................................................................................................7
IX. Variable Budget depending on scale.........................................................................7
Q. Set and costume............................................................................................... 7

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

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X. Defining and managing every visual aspect of a film Working with the Director and Producer to
produce a budget and schedule Directing the team responsible for producing the visual elements
e.g., sets and costumes............................................................................................... 7
R. Costume Designer: Being in charge of designing, creating, acquiring and hiring all costumes for
Actors and extras Managing a team of skilled personnel Supervising practical issues, such as
departmental budgets and schedules, the organisation of running wardrobes, and costume continuity
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The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

I. Large Scale/Main House

I. Dance/Ballet
A. Set
1) Take into consideration lighting, dace pieces often use side lighting and cyclorama.
See HEALTH AND SAFETY

TO MINIMISE RISK OF INJURY.

2) Movable set pieces help fluidity of the piece

(a) Health and Safety to minimise risk of injury.
i.

Flooring is a vital consideration as dancers need specially sprung floors

3) Large backstage area for the company

See HEALTH AND SAFETY

TO MINIMISE RISK OF INJURY.

(b) Sight lines

4) needs to tell a lot of story because ballet is non-vocal
See COSTUME
See COSTUMES NEED

TO AID STORY TELLING

B. Costume
5) Flexible fabric choice
(c) Avoid long clothing items to avoid tripping
ii.

Clothing needs to be sturdy to avoid unwanted expose

1. Shoes are always a consideration, can the performer dance in them?

6) Flowing costumes to accentuate the movement

(d) Tight fitting clothes to reveal movements
iii.

Very durable

See COSTUMES NEED TO AID STORY TELLING

See LOOSE FITTING FOR BREATHABILITY

II. Musicals
C. Costume
See FLEXIBLE FABRIC CHOICE
See CLOTHING NEEDS TO BE STURDY

TO AVOID UNWANTED EXPOSE

7) Loose fitting for breathability

(e) Quick Changes highly likely
See VERY DURABLE

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

D. Set
8) Lots of levels are vital for visual interest.
(f) Tends to be more stylised
iv.

More of an obvious design (Usually)

2. Projection could be used heavily.

a. Hydraulics often used (Health and Safety risk)
i. Pyrotechnics

III.

are common

Opera

E. Set
See LOTS OF LEVELS ARE VITAL FOR VISUAL INTEREST.
See COSTUMES NEED TO AID STORY TELLING

9) Tends to have more of a "Classical" style

(g) Wider doorways for large costumes
v.

Needs a good amount of backstage areas

F. Costume
10)

Look like period costume

(h) Must accommodate for lung capacity(Large)

vi.

Costumes need to aid story telling

IV.Touring
G. Set
11)

Must be transportable

(i) Must fit in each receiving house

vii.

Usually comes in modular pieces due to travelling

12)

Dependant on genre of performance

(j) Expressionism, minimalist, Berkoff, Bretch.

H. Costume
13)

Many need many copies so costumes are washable whilst on tour

(k) Needs to be travelable

II.

Bigger budget

See LARGE SCALE/MAIN HOUSE

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

III.

Small scale

V. Touring
I. Set
14)

Smaller simple set pieces

(l) Weather proofing

viii.

Little/no backstage area,

Sight lines

3. Must fit in all venues

a. Highly durable

See NEEDS TO BE
i. Possibility
ii. Chance

TRAVELABLE

of making own flooring rostra if touring outside

for site specific changes of set

J. Costume
15)

Very Durable

(m)

Weather proofing (no dye bleeds)

See WEATHER
ix.

PROOFING

Sturdy costume shoes

4. Cheaply source preferable

VI.

Schools/ community

K. Set
16)

Small set pieces

(n) Usually the designer and maker are the same person
x.

Simple design-possible for amateurs to do the scenic art

L. Little/no budget
See SET

17)

Costume

See USUALLY THE

DESIGNER AND MAKER ARE THE SAME PERSON

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

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(o) Locally made/hand made(simple designs)

VII.

Site-specific

M. Set
18)

If location is outside, everything must be weather proofed

(p) All designs must be inspired by the location

N. Costume
See ALL DESIGNS MUST BE INSPIRED BY THE LOCATION
See IF LOCATION IS OUTSIDE, EVERYTHING MUST BE WEATHER

VIII.

Children's/TIE

O. Set
19)

Age dependant on colours

(q) Helps tell the story significantly

(r) Panto style?

P. Costume
20)

Simplistic or obvious design

21)

Inclusive of SEN

IV.
See SMALL

Smaller budget
SCALE

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey

PROOFED

V.

Tv/film

IX.

Variable Budget depending on scale

Q. Set and costume

22)

Highly detailed. The camera will pick up more detail than the human eye

(s) Pyrotechnics/fireworks could be possible

X. Defining and managing every visual aspect of a film Working with

the Director and Producer to produce a budget and schedule
Directing the team responsible for producing the visual elements
e.g., sets and costumes
R. Costume Designer: Being in charge of designing, creating, acquiring and
hiring all costumes for Actors and extras Managing a team of skilled
personnel Supervising practical issues, such as departmental budgets
and schedules, the organisation of running wardrobes, and costume
continuity

The Role of a Designer Amber Cole-Pendrey