Design Process

The art of costume design has so many facets in the creation and process.  People looking at a costume design from an outside perspective may never realize that these facets exist.  Imagine starting with the idea of a character.  The words that they say.  The way other characters react to them.  Our job as a costume designer is to figure out how to manifest this character into a living, breathing, fully believable person that fits the world of the play.  Now imagine doing that for every character within the play and having them relate to each other and tell the story.  Think of how time and place affects how they look.  What conceptual elements of the design help to define the characters?  Does color play a role, and if so, how do the colors interact and have meaning for the characters?  How do you start to come up with the ideas that turn these characters on a page into someone who feels real that the audience can relate to?

Final Costume Rendering

These are often the questions that I ask myself when I begin work on a project.  The answers come from your past experiences as a costume designer, as an audience member, and as an explorer of art and history.  Your ideas come from the accumulation of your experiences and how you shape them into your work.

For this production of Hamlet, I wanted to create an original look for the costume designs that blended Medieval garment silhouettes, patterns and fabrics with modern garments to crate something new.  I had experimented with blending two time periods in the past, but had not always been satisfied with the results.  In this production of Hamlet, performed at the New Swan Shakespeare festival, I believed that I hit the right combination of Medieval and Modern to give a flavor of history while still creating something modern and cool that was approachable for the audience.

Rough Sketches and Research Imagery
Concept for the costume design was a mix of Medieval and Modern styles

Final Costume for Gertrude

As a life long learner, I actively engage in learning new crafts, and exploring new experiences to develop a vast toolkit that I can draw upon when I approach a design.  Nothing comes from nothing, so why not learn and experience as much as you can?