Design

Course Overview

The purpose of the Design department is to develop theatre artists who are masterful designers in set, costume, lighting, projection, and sound for the theatre. In the belief that theatre is a collaborative art, it is hoped that, through their Yale School of Drama experience, design students discover a true sense of joy in working with other people, especially directors, and realize the excitement of evolving a production through the process of collaboration. Finally, the department endeavors to create an atmosphere conducive to creative experimentation, tempered by honest, open criticism and disciplined study. Theatre is an act of transformation, and for designers it is the transformation of words into visual and musical imagery. Set, costume, and, to a certain extent, lighting and projection designers must have the capacity for visual expression, with its foundation set firmly in the ability to draw and sketch clearly and expressively. Drawing is not merely a technique for presentation; it is the language that reveals one's thoughts and thus creates a dialogue among the director, the designers, and their colleagues. Through drawing, one observes and records one's world. Drawing informs and clarifies one's vision and is an integral part of the formulation of a design. Drawing should be as natural to the visual designer as speaking; therefore, to keep their drawing skills honed, all design students are required to take a weekly life drawing class offered by the department. Students are admitted to the department on the basis of their artistic abilities as shown in their portfolios, as well as their commitment to the theatre and their ability to articulate their ideas. Each entering class is unique, with the ratio of set to costume to lighting to projection designers varying according to the qualifications of the applicants. Approximately twelve students are admitted each year. The Design department faculty make a strong, personal commitment to each student that is accepted. There is no second-tier status. All students participate at the same level and are expected to complete the program of study.