Production Design (PROD)

Students examine the fundamentals of production design, including costume, set and lighting design. Emphasis is placed on the importance of these elements to the communication of story in film, television, theater and themed entertainment productions.

In this immersive course, students explore all technical phases of scenic production, including construction, painting, rigging, placement, and manipulation of stage scenery. Students are introduced to a variety of construction tools and materials used to construct scenic builds. Students utilize their knowledge and skills to contribute to crew work on productions.

Through examination of lighting design principles, students concentrate on the aesthetics of lighting for a variety of live entertainment markets. Students engage in observation and critique to discover how lighting can alter a viewer’s physiological and psychological responses.

Scenic environment communicates ideas and contributes to the story. In this course, students employ scenic design principles to transform stories into environments for a variety of entertainment productions.

Students explore the dynamic role of the professional costume designer in the collaborative process of developing a story from a script. Students organize and categorize materials, learn basic construction skills and present their concepts visually based on industry expectations. Informed by detailed script analysis, students design costumes that communicate a character’s persona to an audience.

From Marie Antoinette to the Mother of Dragons, hair has defined some of the world’s most memorable characters. In this course, students learn to artfully shape and manipulate hair and wigs to create avant-garde, fantasy or period-inspired looks for entertainment.

Through hands-on projects, students learn a variety of methods to represent an array of surfaces and images by using scenic painting techniques and tools. They experience different media and equipment necessary to accomplish these goals. Students develop an appreciation of the process and the role of the scenic artist in production.

With an emphasis on character interpretation, students utilize contemporary and historic techniques to construct elements for costumes that enhance narratives for stage and screen. Students practice hand and machine sewing as well as industry-specific construction and embellishment techniques.

Entertainment designers conceptualize stories through script and text analysis combined with research and historical context. In this course, students develop skills in identifying, analyzing and interpreting narrative elements, including structure, plot, character and theme to visualize stories for screen or stage.

This course focuses on hand drafting through the lens of entertainment design. With the intent of developing an understandable and artful hand drafting style, students utilize a variety of technical drawing principles, conventions and techniques to visually communicate their design concepts.

Students explore and utilize computer-aided design tools and visualization techniques specific to lighting for entertainment design. Students gain proficiency in creating 2D plots, 3D models, and digital renderings that support lighting design for stage, film, and themed environments. Through hands-on projects using industry-standard software, students learn to develop lighting paperwork, simulate looks, and visualize cue sequences in digital environments that clearly communicate their artistic intent and technical planning.

Through the exploration and use of 2D digital technology, students conceptualize, communicate and render design ideas. Industry-standard software is introduced to prepare students to digitally generate visual design information, suitable for presentation to an art department and appropriate for their individual specialization.

Computer-aided design technology allows scenic and lighting designers to translate design execution requirements with greater precision and finer detail. In this course, students digitally draft execution-ready presentation packages, including 3D virtual models and orthographic and isometric projections.

From concept to completion, students engage in the process of lighting for films, television or live events. Students use industry-specific lighting equipment to communicate their ideas and create a lighting experience appropriate to the story or venue.

Through examination of advanced scenic design principles, students communicate scenery concepts for film and television studio environments. Practical knowledge of the implementation process is developed through the design and creation of studio sets, in accordance with industry expectations.

Costume designers fashion vivid, iconic images of characters that create lasting impressions and emotional connections. Through research and script analysis, students explore the nuances of costume design for film and television. Students represent historical, social and cultural considerations in the details of their costume designs.

Students in this course develop essential skills and knowledge required for effective wardrobe supervision. Covering key topics such as inventory management, costume maintenance, and collaboration with designers and directors, students learn to coordinate wardrobe departments efficiently. Emphasizing practical experience, the course prepares students to manage costume budgets, oversee fittings, and ensure that costumes align with the creative vision of the production, ultimately positioning them for success in costume management.

In this course, students focus on the history and development of costume design and its application in theater, film and television. They also develop design concepts and articulate, defend and demonstrate successful costume and wardrobe projects for theater, film and television.

Communicating physical scale, spatial logistics and artistic details, comprehensive scenic models serve as tactile examples of the designer’s concept. Students explore construction techniques as well as methods of painting and surface mimicry used to build accurate presentation models.

While developing a portfolio and online presence that highlight their body of work, students examine the entertainment industry to advance their career preparation. Students explore topics such as intellectual property, business practices, employment structures, contracts, self-promotion, and branding as it relates to entertainment design.

Students synthesize documentation and communication skills with the complexity of industry standards and specifications to achieve a finalized lighting design. Light plots, spreadsheets, databases and portfolio-quality presentations are produced in order to bring students closer to professional design positions.

Focusing on advanced technical skills, students learn draping techniques, men’s and women’s tailoring and flat patterning specific to costume construction. Students explore the world of alternative textiles through experimentation with a variety of materials and media.

A production designer’s visual vocabulary includes the design of the properties and set decorations related to the overall design. This course exposes students to the artistic and organizational skills necessary to execute these visual elements. Students experience the processes of design and fabrication for properties and set dressings as they relate to both film and stage. They learn the characteristics of historical periods and techniques for interpreting character through physical elements.

Through an exploration of a wide variety of equipment, students learn the technical and artistic applications of entertainment lighting technology. Students gain hands-on experience with electrical systems, control consoles, and programming to create dynamic lighting designs that enhance live and filmed performances.

Students move beyond the traditional theatrical experience to explore the vast world of lighting design for live entertainment. Advanced visualization techniques and evolving programming methodologies are introduced to ensure students communicate design ideas effectively, utilizing the latest technology solutions.

From ancient Greek plays to music concerts that incorporate state-of-the-art imaging technology, live entertainment experiences are impacted by the visual interpretation of setting. In this course, students explore advanced scenic design methodologies and communicate concepts for live event applications. Scenic designs are developed through manipulation of advanced digital software to create professional documentation in accordance with industry expectations and standards.

Based on thorough contextual investigation, students enhance entertainment experiences through the visual expression of compelling costumes. By navigating unique design considerations, students experiment with costume design for abstract environments and storylines. Costume designers bring stories and characters to life through the visual expression of compelling costumes. By navigating contextual investigation, script analysis, unique design considerations and collaboration with other creatives, students transform stories into entertainment experiences for stage and screen through masterful costume design.

In this initial senior studio course, students engage in interdisciplinary collaboration to bring stories to life by conducting in-depth research and developing innovative concepts within their production design concentrations. Emphasizing intentionality and creative exploration, students refine their unique artistic voices as they conceptualize, pitch, and visualize design projects that reflect their professional aspirations.

In this advanced senior studio course, students bring their projects to completion, executing their designs to industry standards and refining their concepts into fully realized designs. Emphasis is placed on professional communication, as students document their process, articulate design choices, and present their work to industry professionals, demonstrating their readiness to enter the field.

Internships offer students valuable opportunities to work in a professional environment and gain firsthand experience to help them prepare for careers. In an approved internship setting, a student typically spends one quarter working with an on-site professional supervisor and a faculty internship supervisor to achieve specific goals and objectives related to the program of study.

From high fantasy to post-apocalyptic worlds, costume designers bring characters to life through color, texture, embellishment and more. With an emphasis on character interpretation, students utilize contemporary and historic manipulation techniques to construct elaborate costume elements that enhance narrative storytelling.

This is a project-driven course that examines design solutions through the specific utilization of the elements and principles of design. These solutions are made manifest through the use of graphite as the main medium and culminate in a short film.

Using a broad range of drawing, conceptualization and presentation skills, students master the theoretical understanding and studio skills used in the professional arena to develop the narrative. Design projects may include stage productions, performance art pieces, installation projects and industrial-, film- and television-specific applications. Students focus on discipline-specific skills in scenery, lighting or costumes and actualize design projects and build portfolio-level work. Through class discussion, design collaboration and critiques, design concepts are developed and challenged.

This course requires that students apply established principles of script interpretation by producing design projects based on scripts, screenplays or other narrative source material. Using research, critical thinking and analytical skills, students develop the analysis process to identify and evaluate successful production designs and their relationship and origin in script- and text-based material.

This course focuses on computer-aided drafting for the entertainment designer, using industry-standard software. Students learn and polish their skills in preparing digital production documents to the standards expected in the professional arena of performance events.

From film and television sound stages to the halls of great opera houses, scenic artists skillfully translate the vision of production designers into reality. In this course, students explore a variety of methods for using scenic painting techniques and tools to represent an array of surfaces and images. Through the creation of scenic designs, students learn to balance the ever-changing demands and exacting standards of the production design industry.

Comprehensive, scenic models serve as tactile examples of the designer’s concept. Utilizing a variety of materials and construction methods, students advance their skills for physical modelmaking. Communicating physical scale, spatial logistics, and artistic details, students employ methods of painting and surface mimicry to build accurate presentation concepts for production and themed entertainment designs.

This course expands students’ knowledge in the decorative arts, costuming and movements in the visual arts. Students study and manipulate styles of detail in the building arts, interior design, the visual arts and costumes and apparel to create a context of visual communication supportive of the story narrative.

This course emphasizes the development of skills needed to create advanced shapes and designs directly on the dress stand rather than by using basic blocks or slopers. Students work with different fabric types to learn the use and manipulation of fabric and to learn the variations in fitting procedures. Projects involve developing the conceptual process from the idea to the finished garment, including detailed renderings for construction. Demonstrations and discussions lead to methods suitable for contemporary production methods.

The final M.A. project is the culmination of the sum total of all work, learning and growth by the student over the course of study. The project demonstrates ability and mastery of the design concepts, theory and artistic development by the M.A. student.

Techniques for developing designs through the use of digital media are taught integrating different software. Computer-aided drafting uses industry-standard software. Digital rendering instruction uses a variety of graphic software. Previsualization integrates lighting as well as the dimensional form into the conceptualization, articulation and communication process with the production team.

This course is an examination of the development of modern theories of production design. It investigates different responses to the problems of creating a vital performance event in the context of an ongoing evolution of performance by looking at the contributions of significant theorists, designers and movements. This course develops the student’s aesthetic choices through the analysis and criticism of well-known and exemplary production designers and theories.

This course combines the skills of documentation and communication with the complexity of advanced design in order to achieve a final lighting design product. Light plots, spreadsheets, databases and portfolio-quality presentations are produced by students in order to prepare them for assistant, associate and design positions.

A production designer's visual vocabulary encompasses the design of props and set decorations in service of the overall design. Through period research and script analysis, students design and fabricate set dressings and props for characters and the spaces they inhabit.

In this course, students produce design materials in their area of specialization and participate in the execution of these designs for practical projects. Emphasis is placed on developing an in-depth process of analysis and translation of information in a storyline to descriptive performance pictures. The importance of developing the student’s ability to collaborate with fellow designers and directors is stressed. Students explore the actualization of these ideas in a variety of performance media.

Students experience the development of complex production strategies, the process of communication with production shops and the professional standards necessary to work in the entertainment industry. Emphasis is placed on refining and clarifying the communication process. Projects are tailored to the discipline of the student.

A design for a single complex narrative production involving advanced scenic, lighting and/or costume visual solutions for a live performance or film culminates in the completion of a complete, fully articulated package of presentation materials. It explores the use of various presentation techniques including both two- and three-dimensional options and materials utilized in several performance media to create a visual narrative. A discipline-specific, portfolio-quality presentation materials package is developed during this course.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students in this course undertake a teaching assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

The production design M.F.A. degree program culminates with completion of a graduate-level thesis that presents a mature, resolved body of work, and demonstrates advanced professional competence through mastery of the technical, creative and aesthetic elements of the discipline. Based on original research, ideation and concept development, students earning an M.F.A. in production design create an original body of work that presents a personal aesthetic sensibility and makes an original, creative contribution to the professional disciplines of film, television and live entertainment.