5 Tips for Costume Designers
Fashion Design is a vast field with hordes of sub-fields like Women’s daywear, Men’s daywear, boys and girls wear, sports/fitness wear, etc. to name a very limited few. You’ll learn all about the different fields of fashion if and when you pursue a fashion designing course, for example a MBA in fashion designing or a diploma in fashion designing. One such very interesting field is the field of costume design. A costume designer is a fashion designer who is responsible for creating the look and mood for actors and actresses in film, television and stage productions. Here are 5 tips for aspiring costume designers:
1. Draw everyday: Draw and sketching are fundamentals of any type of design. It unlocks your underlying understanding of a character, in addition to boosting your confidence in the skill.
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2. Read everyday: Imagination is the oasis designers seek inspiration from. Reading fills that oasis, replenishes it so you’re ready to create something new. Read history, read plays, read everything you have an interest in.
3. Practice using visual metaphors: Find visual research on the production (play, TV or film), research on each character and contemplate on their relationships and the world the production is set in. Search for thematic images that rise above the rest. Learning visual analysis will help you translate your non-verbal ideas into words to share with your director or production team.
4. Learn to listen: Learn to truly listen. Be still, and listen, without your ego trying to commandeer the conversation. ‘Drama’ will make itself known to you if you learn to observe and listen. Also listen to your own feelings, they’re your guidance system.
5. Networking: Cultivate your contacts. Directors often choose their design teams on their own. Show business is a small business and word travels fast if a designer is difficult to work with or can’t work within a budget. Stay professional at all times.
