DESG-GT 1018-1019 Lecture 3 - 6 Credits
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Introduction to designing costumes for stage and film. Students work on weekly projects to develop their eyes and skills in color, proportion, history, character, and text analysis.
DESG-GT.1004-1005 Lecture 2 - 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Young (Section 001), Muller (Section 002)
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
This dynamic course will break down and rebuild drawing and rendering skills so that one can more easily and clearly communicate3-d design choices. This is a three-hour drawing class that incorporates assignments that develop a wide and rich range of skills including drawing the figure and basic figure structure and proportion. This class focuses on pacing, as well as fundamentals of dynamic picture making. It is also an excellent opportunity to bring in current design renderings produced in other classes to serve as an example in addressing rendering and picture-making issues.
DESG-GT 1020-1021 Lecture 2 - 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Fallon
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Advanced study in theatrical costume construction including draping on the form, flat patternmaking, and fitting and sewing techniques. Work in the class encompasses a range of techniques from the muslin sloper through a comprehensive historical project.
DESG-GT 1022-1023 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Muller
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
A weekly 3 hour class taking curated deep dives into aspects of world culture, especially in the intersections of influence, change, and design. The course will mix lectures, analysis of images, research projects, discussion, field trips, guest speakers, and student presentations. As much attention will be paid to how we know what we know and how knowledge is discovered, hidden, lost, reused, misused, and reinterpreted.
H22.2000 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Helfrich and others
Explore introduces students to a broad range of concepts related to theatrical and cinematic performance and presentation, as well as practical experiences intended to lead students out of their chosen area of study, challenging them to begin to understand design for stage and film as a wholistic, interconnected set of disciplines. It includes workshops, individual design projects, group lectures with guest artists and instructors, and field trips which will expose students to some of the vast resources available to artists in New York City.
H22.2000 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Conklin, Geiger, Helfrich, Hoffman
Explore introduces students to a broad range of concepts related to theatrical and cinematic performance and presentation, as well as practical experiences intended to lead students out of their chosen area of study, challenging them to begin to understand design for stage and film as a wholistic, interconnected set of disciplines. It includes workshops, individual design projects, group lectures with guest artists and instructors, and field trips which will expose students to some of the vast resources available to artists in New York City.
H22.2000 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Conklin, Geiger, Helfrich, Hoffman
Explore introduces students to a broad range of concepts related to theatrical and cinematic performance and presentation, as well as practical experiences intended to lead students out of their chosen area of study, challenging them to begin to understand design for stage and film as a wholistic, interconnected set of disciplines. It includes workshops, individual design projects, group lectures with guest artists and instructors, and field trips which will expose students to some of the vast resources available to artists in New York City.
H22.2000 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Conklin, Geiger, Helfrich, Hoffman
Explore introduces students to a broad range of concepts related to theatrical and cinematic performance and presentation, as well as practical experiences intended to lead students out of their chosen area of study, challenging them to begin to understand design for stage and film as a wholistic, interconnected set of disciplines. It includes workshops, individual design projects, group lectures with guest artists and instructors, and field trips which will expose students to some of the vast resources available to artists in New York City.
DESG-GT.1012 Studio 2 Credits
Instructor: Fallon
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
The primary goal of this course is to supply students with a thorough hands-on introductory understanding of the materials, methods, tools, techniques and procedures used in the various shops as we work on realized productions. Working with the student designers as well as faculty, professional shop staff and student staff, students work on a variety of productions, in a range of capacities.
DESG-GT.1035 Lecture 1 - 2 Credits
Instructor(s): Helfrich (Section 002)
Only open to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Play Reading requires students to read and react to a carefully chosen set of scripts over the course of the semester, and to practice formulating and enunciating clear ideas about each script in a class discussion format. Scripts are chosen for individual merits and also, as a collection, to constitute a broad and diverse range of ideas and authors. Students must read each text deeply and be prepared to participate in classroom discussion by formulating a primary response, expressing that response to the group, and responding verbally to a range of other students’ responses as well.
Lecture 2 Credits
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
The class combines first-year design students of all disciplines, along with dance students, and musical composition students into creative teams- to create original works of dance and music and design. The teams create a dance piece from the ground up, and then as advisors we evaluate their concepts and assist them to move the pieces into production, culminating in executing the scenic, costumes, and lighting designs and technical execution of all the elements as the choreographers and dancers and musicians assemble and refine the performance aspects.
DESG-GT.1204 Lecture 3 - 6 Credits
Instructor(s): Hoffman
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Costume II builds on the foundation of a design process established in Costume I.
The student will focus in-depth on two or three dramatic texts each semester, reinforcing and expanding their evolving design process to include the execution of a complete costume design for each project.
Each week will be a step in discovering, revealing, and refining their approach to the text, from the formation of an initial response, through research and image gathering, conceiving of an approach to the design articulated both verbally and visually, laying out the whole design in rough sketches, developing refined sketches, detail drawings, and completing fully swatched and painted designs. Students are expected to present a minimum of 12 sketches per week, building each week on the goals set by the previous week’s critique.
DESG-GT.1206 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Oster-Bainnson
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
This course builds on the foundation laid in Costume Studio I by expanding upon the skills learned there as well as introducing students to the ecosystem of makers and other supporting roles that contribute to the realization of a design. Costume Studio II begins to develop the communication skills necessary to work with these various collaborators and gives students the opportunity to start working with their design materials as tools to convey their ideas to people other than themselves. Also introduced is the primary organizational work of a designer of a small scale show or an assistant to a show of any size.
DESG-GT 1052-1053 Lecture 2 - 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Muller
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Costume Drawing II is geared towards integrating the student’s design classes with a consistent drawing practice in this class. Class assignments and homework will support the work in other courses so there is a continuity of the student’s time, resources, energy, and attention. The goal is for the student to come to the place in their own work where it is understood that DRAWING IS DESIGNING. As such it is incumbent upon the student to help the instructor understand the student’s Production and Design schedules throughout the semester so that the course helps build towards and supports those deadlines.
Each three hour drawing session will be divided into two parts. The first half of each class will be spent drawing the nude figure in a series of poses. It is imperative that a continued, deeper understanding of the human body become second nature to the artist. The second half of each class will be spent with the clothed figure, examining and comparing what was observed with the nude figure.
DESG-GT 1038 Lecture 2 Credits
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
A study of opera - it's historical context, formal qualities, dramaturgical content and sociological place in our contemporary world.
DESG-GT 1213 Lecture 3 - 4 Credits
Instructor(s): Myers
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film and in the Graduate Film Department.
Four teams (director, production designer, costume designer, director of photography) collaborate to produce a 10-minute portfolio quality film shot on location with high levels of production values, including locations, props, and costumes. This course underlines the essential aspects of the collaboration process and focuses on the team effort of producing a film.
DESG-GT.1035 Lecture 1 - 2 Credits
Instructor(s): Helfrich (Section 002)
Only open to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Play Reading requires students to read and react to a carefully chosen set of scripts over the course of the semester, and to practice formulating and enunciating clear ideas about each script in a class discussion format. Scripts are chosen for individual merits and also, as a collection, to constitute a broad and diverse range of ideas and authors. Students must read each text deeply and be prepared to participate in classroom discussion by formulating a primary response, expressing that response to the group, and responding verbally to a range of other students’ responses as well.
DESG-GT 1058 Lecture 2-4 credits
Instructor(s): Steinberg
Optional with permission / Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Introduction to Set Design is a class for non-majors interested in exploring set design. We focus on how set design functions in relation to actors and audience, as well as how it creates context for any given production. We look at how set design is the driving force in building a whole universe from text. With a focus on dramaturgy and class discussion, students develop concepts and support these ideas with research and images. Students learn how to interpret and explore their research in three-dimensional model building. Class consists of weekly discussion, critique and in-class work sessions to introduce students to basic drafting and model making techniques.
DESG-GT.1400 Lecture 3 - 6 Credits
Instructor(s): Hilferty, Luigs
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Building on Costume Design II, this course challenges students interested in further in-depth study of costume design in a more synthetic manner. Students design large, complex pieces (Shakespeare, musical, opera, and film). Professional directors and choreographers with specific expertise are invited to see and respond to the work. Thesis projects are undertaken in the second semester.
DESG-GT 2002 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Cokorinos
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
The topics covered in this course assist third year students in easing the transition from graduate school into the professional working community. Through a curated series of guest lectures, students are introduced to a range of working professionals who discuss topics both artistic and practical. Contracts, health and safety issues, union membership, the role of the agent and business manager and the structure of not for profit theatre are all included in the course curriculum. Students receive guidance in creating their resumes and individual websites. Portfolio reviews are held with guest directors and designers to give students the opportunity to discuss their work and receive feedback.
DESG-GT 1218 Lecture 3 Credits
Instructor(s): Hoffman
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
A studio class to reinforce drawing, painting, and presentation methods for Third Year Costume designers. Work is organized as a diagnostic addition to the Costume Design projects, with potential guest artists who will share their painting and drawing techniques and working methods. Also included are shop visits to discuss how a professional shop views your sketches and paperwork.
DESG-GT.1140 Lecture 3 - 4 Credits
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
In conjunction with the Graduate Directing program at Columbia University, led by Anne Bogart, set, costume and lighting students (primarily in the second year) work in teams led by a Columbia directing student. Emphasis is placed on conceptual work conceived through discussion that gives equal weight to all members of the collaboration.
DESG-GT.1035 Lecture 1 - 2 Credits
Instructor(s): Helfrich
Only open to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Play Reading requires students to read and react to a carefully chosen set of scripts over the course of the semester, and to practice formulating and enunciating clear ideas about each script in a class discussion format. Scripts are chosen for individual merits and also, as a collection, to constitute a broad and diverse range of ideas and authors. Students must read each text deeply and be prepared to participate in classroom discussion by formulating a primary response, expressing that response to the group, and responding verbally to a range of other students’ responses as well.
Open only to students in the Department of Design for Stage and Film.
Various Faculty
This class is designed to examine the nature of collaboration between actors, playwrights, designers and directors, using the medium of the Reading, that form in which so much of the work of theater artists transpires.
For each meeting the class will operate in five teams, consisting of a director, a playwright, a designer and several actors. (Since there are more than 5 playwrights, each playwright will alternate sections, observing during one class meeting and participating fully as a playwright in the next).
The basic form of the class is simple: each week, teams will rehearse and/or present an excerpt of the playwright’s play as a reading. After each presentation, we will discuss, not the product, but the process of creating the reading: problems, successes, conflicts, choices.
Additionally, nearing the end of the semester, each of the playwrights will schedule a half hour individual meeting with Profs. Eustis & Parks to discuss their play.
DESG-GT 1060/DESG-GT 1061
1-2 credits
With the permission of the chair, students may participate in an individualized project or internship to gain professional experience related to their specific design concentration or to investigate an area or field of study not normally covered in the department’s regularly scheduled course offerings. The schedule for the project must not interfere with courses that are required components of the curriculum and the scope of work is contingent upon approval by the chair.
The project should provide hands-on experience; students may work with a faculty advisor. Students must submit a written proposal of their project to the chair for review. The proposal should outline project concepts, expectations and goals as well as desired credits and plans for meeting with an advisor. Students will be registered by the department administrator upon acceptance of the proposal.