DRAMA 415 A: Stage Costume Design

Course Information

Drama 415: Stage Costume Design

An-lin Dauber

Email: adauber@uw.edu
Office: HUT 174
Office Hours: By Appointment

Download full syllabus 

About the Course

Course Description:

This course is an examination of the methods of costume design for theater through storytelling, visual and historical research, artistic inspirations, and collaboration. We will explore the practice of design with sketching techniques, introduction to fabric, and the role of the costume designer.

Class Goals:

• Develop vocabulary for visual analysis
• Learn techniques for historical and visual research
• Practice effective presentations and peer critique 
• Introduction to various figure drawing and rendering techniques
• Explore the costume designer’s process

Course Materials:

*Note the syllabus will indicate what day to bring materials*

• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• One set of watercolor paints OR color pencils
• One medium round brush and water jar (if using watercolors)
• Drawing Pencil
• Eraser
• Vine Charcoal
• Blank paper (depending on your preferred medium you may want watercolor, bristol, etc..)

Grading

This class moves quickly and assignments build on each other, so assignments must be turned in on the day they are listed on the syllabus, whether or not you are in class that day. One half point will be deducted for each day a project is late.

Participation in class discussions is essential, as is attendance for our critiques. It is better to bring in an unfinished assignment for us to look at as a group than to miss class to finish it. 

Each assignment will have a grading rubric. Grades are based on effort, depth of ideas, and how well you incorporate feedback from class critiques. 

Remember to prioritize your physical and mental well being, so please speak with me if you are having trouble keeping up with assignments.

Reading Response Questions 5% 

Annotated Image Assignment 5%

Language of Angels Response 10%

Participation 10%

Costume Designer Report 15%

Character Design Project 20%

Final Project 35%

Required Performance Viewing:

You will need to purchase a ticket to UW’s Language of Angels

Syllabus Resources

Access and Accommodations

Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS on your campus. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions.  Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS.  It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.

• UW Bothell: Disability Resources for Students (UW Bothell) Email: uwbdrs@uw.edu Phone: 425-352-5307
• UW Seattle: Disability Resources for Students (UW Seattle) Email: uwdrs@uw.edu Phone: 206-543-8924
  
• UW Tacoma: Disability Resources for Students (UW Tacoma) Email: drsuwt@uw.edu Phone: 253-692-4508 

  

Religious Accommodations

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy.  Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

Civility, Inclusion, Diversity:

Among the core values of the university are inclusivity and diversity, regardless of race, gender, income, ability, beliefs, and other ways that people distinguish themselves and others.

The experience of every student in this class is important to us and to the success of the class as a whole.  We believe that collaboration, (and all decision-making), is more thorough and more effective when it is done with a collection of diverse individuals.  We believe that diversity is integral to excellence.  For collaborative processes to work, it is critical to create a space where collaborators can speak openly and encourage each other to take risks.  Such a space needs to be respectful, safe, and inclusive.  While we will collectively create a set of agreed upon norms for our classroom, the success of this class will depend on each person’s willingness to agree to some common aspects of civility:  Each person is expected to maintain the highest respect and standards of courtesy to each other.  We ask that you respect the legitimacy of your peers’ lived experiences and that you participate in this class with that in mind.  Disagreement can occur (and will,) but they must always co-exist with respect.  This will mean recognizing that the impact of your words or actions may have unintended impact on others in the class, and if so, acknowledging that impact (regardless of intention,) would be an important component of that respect.  This course is designed to engage students across a number of dimensions including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, age, religion, and disability.