Costume Design
In a Costume Design presentation, the Thespian must prepare and present designs for a set of five costumes for a published work written for the theatre. Designs for performances of original work, poetry, fiction, screenplays, television, or any other medium are not permitted. Only one Thespian may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted. Designs for either theoretical or realized productions are acceptable.
The skills measured by the adjudicators during the presentation are:
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the costume design process
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the artistic, functional, and practical constraints that impact design and the relationship to a unifying concept
- Ability to research and understand the connection between style, period, locale, genre, and other historical and cultural influences on design choices
- Ability to document, present, and clearly explain and justify design choices
In a Costume Design presentation, the Thespian must follow the aforementioned rules for the International Thespian Excellence Awards as presented in this guide, and also the following rules specific to this category:
The Thespian must prepare:
- Five costume renderings (either five different characters or a single character through five changes).
- No more than five costume renderings will be permitted.
- No finished costumes are permitted.
- Renderings should be at least 8 inches tall and must be in full color; large and detailed enough for the adjudicators to easily understand the design choices (whether in person or digitally).
- Renderings may be presented on a display board or in a portfolio (bound or digital). The board or portfolio page should be clearly and neatly labeled with a title block that contains the following information:
- Play or musical title and author(s)/composer(s)
- Performance dates and facility in which it took place (if applicable)
- Character’s name, act, and scene
- Entrant’s name and troupe number (optional)
- Template or traced character forms are permitted.
- Renderings may be hand-drawn or computer-generated.
- Swatches must be included.
- A portfolio of support materials (bound or digital) that must include the following:
- One-page design statement that includes:
- Unifying production design concept
- Theme of the show/recurring motifs
- Research, including:
- Summary of given circumstances from the script
- Functionality requirements
- Genre, locale, and setting of the play (or other explanation of the world of the play)
- Artistic and practical needs that impact the construction
- Sources of inspiration for design and color palette (if used)
- Budgetary requirements or other constraints and considerations
- Preliminary sketches
- Costume plot for the chosen character(s), showing costume changes and indicating when costume changes happen
- One-page design statement that includes:
- A five- to eight-minute in-person or digital presentation summarizing the work with connections to concept, collaboration, and design decision-making. Digital media may be used during an in-person presentation as well (participant must provide their own equipment).
- The video component may be a webinar-style presentation (i.e., a voiceover during a PowerPoint slideshow) or a talking head-style presentation (i.e., talking to the camera).
- Suggested standard prompts for all technical categories are provided to help guide the content of a video presentation:
- What are some of your responsibilities as a costume designer?
- How did the director's concept influence your designs?
- How did the style of the play affect your designs?
- If the show was realized, did you struggle in unifying the director's concept across all areas of design?
- If you had more time or resources, what would you change?
- What would you be willing to compromise in your design if you had to?
- What was your inspiration and how did you research it?
- Also consider these category-specific questions:
- Describe your collaborative design process (e.g., with your design team or director)
- What role(s) did the other design elements play in designing the costumes for this production?
- What challenges did you face due to other design elements of the production?
- Do you think your designs helped to support the actor’s/director’s choices?
- Any video presentation must display the work so that the adjudicators can see the details. If the details of the documents/photos referenced in your presentation cannot be clearly seen in the video, they should be included in your portfolio of support materials.
- An optional written essay response to share additional information about the costume design with the adjudicators.
Costume Design Rubric
PRESENTATION
Explanation of the executed design, unifying concept, creative decisions, and process
Above Standard
Presentation thoroughly explains the functional and aesthetic role of the executed design and the creative process, demonstrating an in depth understanding of their contribution to the unifying concept.
At standard
Presentation explains the functional and aesthetic role of the executed design, and the creative process, demonstrating an understanding of their contribution to the unifying concept.
Near Standard
Presentation offers a limited explanation of the functional and aesthetic role of the executed design and/or creative process, demonstrating a partial understanding of their contribution to the unifying concept.
Aspiring to Standard
Presentation offers little or no explanation of the creative process and/or fails to explain the executed design and their contribution.
RESEARCH
Evidence of research of the given circumstances of the script as well as artistic and practical needs which impact the design.
Above Standard
Comprehensive and detailed research addresses the artistic and practical needs of the production and illuminates the unifying concept.
At standard
Thorough research addresses the artistic and practical needs of the production and aligns with the unifying concept.
Near Standard
Limited research partially addresses the artistic and practical needs of the production and/or inconsistently supports the unifying concept.
Aspiring to Standard
Research fails to address the artistic and practical needs of the production and/or lacks alignment with the unifying concept.
INTERPRETATION
Design choices merge the unifying concept with the designer’s unique vision.
Above Standard
Design choices powerfully enhance and communicate the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play, and demonstrate a unique voice.
At standard
Design choices communicate the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play and align with the given circumstances.
Near Standard
Design choices partially communicate the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play and do not distract from the given circumstances.
Aspiring to Standard
Design choices fail to communicate the mood, style, period, locale, and genre of the play; choices may or may not support the given circumstances.
DESIGN JUSTIFICATION
Connecting the design choices to the artistic and practical needs of the production.
Above Standard
Comprehensive explanations justify the design choices, illuminating the connection between the artistic and practical needs of the production.
At standard
Appropriate explanations justify the design choices and demonstrate the connection with the artistic and practical needs of the production.
Near Standard
Partial explanations somewhat connect the design choices with the artistic and practical needs of the production.
Aspiring to Standard
Limited explanations fail to make the connection between the design choices and the artistic and practical needs of the production.
EXECUTION
Products presented convey ideas and choices that support the script and unifying concept.
Above Standard
Detailed products communicate and enhance artistic ideas and choices to provide exceptional support for the script and unifying concept.
At standard
Products communicate artistic ideas and choices that support the script and unifying concept.
Near Standard
Products partially communicate artistic ideas and choices and/or inconsistently support the script and unifying concept.
Aspiring to Standard
Products lack a clear focus and/or fail to support the artistic ideas and choices, script and/or unifying concept.
Thank You to Our Costume Design Sponsor
Costume Design Category Sponsor