In the spring of 2020, I took a course called Basic Design.  The goal of this course was to teach the basic elements and principles of design and how they relate to the different areas of theatre.  Some of these areas include set, sound, lighting, and costume design.  Five projects were assigned throughout the semester to teach us how to gather information from the script and outside sources to create a design for a show.  These projects were a script analysis, concept board, 4D model, research paper and two designs of a play. 

Several projects, including a script analysis, concept board, and 4D model, helped me to develop my skills of accessing information effectively, efficiently, and critically.  All of the projects in this class required me to analyze a script of some sort.  These projects helped me learn how to access the information I needed from a script in the manner described above.  The research paper required me to research a theatrical designer who has had a significant impact on their field.  I chose Kevin Adams, a well-respected lighting designer who is most known for his work on Spring Awakening, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.  This paper required me to cite my sources, while making sure that these were appropriate sources for my paper.  In order to create a design that fulfilled the requirements of the project, I had to evaluate and incorporate information I selected from the script as well as outside sources.  This can be done in several different ways.  If I am creating a set, I would do research on furniture and architecture.  The process would be similar if I was designing props or costumes for a show.  If I were to create a sound design, I would look into how different things sounded during that time period.  A car horn sounds different today than it did in 1940.  For a lighting design, I would look at pictures from that time period to see how different locations appeared so I can best replicate that feeling.  The information I selected helped me to create a design.  In the first project, I chose to do a costume design for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, but as if it was set in the 1920’s.  I had to use elements from the script and details from research to create costumes that reflected Shakespeare’s characters as well as the time period.  I did a similar process for my set and lighting design of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.  The projects also helped me identify a creative proposal that gave me an idea of a small amount of work that goes into a theatrical design.  Basic Design helped me learn how to effectively synthesize outside information into my design projects.   While a lot of my research came from the scripts for the projects, some did come from outside sources.  I developed my ability to organize ideas from others.  I also developed my ability to evaluate diverse perspectives.  People interpret scripts in many different ways, and I chose which ones I thought fit my project the best.  By researching multiple sources, I was able to create a thesis that summarized my research.

As I am reflecting back on what I have learned over the past four years, I am able to recognize how big of an influence this class had.  Anytime I start a particularly challenging design, I also come back to the simple steps I learned in Basic Design to help me tackle the project.  When all the information starts to become overwhelming, I can go back to the script to find the elements that will help me create the design.  I have also learned how to spin the production in a new way.  This was seen in The Wolves, when I added in gobos in the shape of the wolves eyes to help convey the pride and strength of the team.  Even though it was not a traditional way to do it, taking my research in a new direction allowed for me to create a more successful design.  I envision this process will be repeated several times throughout my career.

​