There were several different ways that I conducted my research for this project.  The first method was from the script itself.  Different scenes were in different locations, so in order to create a design that felt real to the audience, I had to figure out where and when each scene was taking place.  Examples of this are for the scene that took place at night on the rooftop, I used darker violet light with a gobo (an accessory for lighting instruments that create a pattern) to create this effect.  I did something similar for the scene in the park, except I used bright, green light with a leaf gobo to create this illusion.  Another method of research was done through the production meetings.  These meetings happened once a week with the design team, where everyone communicated what their designs were going to look like and how they were coming along.  I often brought in pictures that I had found during my research to show where my design was going.  I also explained my concepts during the meetings.  My overall concept was using warm versus cool colors.  The set was divided into a lower playing space and an upper platform.  The upper level was used for all the present scenes, while the lower area was used for all the past scenes.  Since the present scenes took place in various locations in the hospital, these were more tense and had a more negative perspective to them.  This is why I used more harsh, cooler lighting.  The past scenes were reflecting back on how relationships between all the characters had developed over the years, which is why I used soft, warm lighting.  The other big idea I used had to do with the transitions between scenes.  If the script went from a present scene to one from the past, the lights crossfaded into the new scene, as if it were reminiscing on happier times.  If the script went from past to present, there was a blackout to represent a snap back to reality.