Costume Design for Performance

All courses are delivered in LIVE mode, with live lessons and continuous interaction with the instructor, chosen from industry professionals.
Objective: The training program guides students through all phases of costume work, from conceptual and historical research to design, realization, and stage management.

Particular attention is given to the difference between costume and fashion, highlighting how performance costumes respond to narrative, symbolic, and technical needs that are profoundly different from clothing intended for the market or daily life.

The course integrates theory and practice, alternating moments of analysis, case studies, observation of  

materials and direct experimentation. Students will learn to read a character, a text, or an artistic concept and translate it into a coherent, functional, and scenically effective visual solution, developing an aesthetic sensitivity combined with concrete technical skills.To access the course, it is necessary to have basic drawing skills and representation of the human figure.
Access to the course is possible through:
 attendance of the Basic and Advanced Styling course
 or by demonstrating already having drawing and design skills.
It is also recommended to attend the Pattern Making and Cutting course, which provides the technical foundation for costume creation.

Costume as a Scenic Language

Hours: 20

Contents

 Costume in Performance

 Difference between costume and fashion

 Costume as a narrative tool

 Costume, identity, and character construction

 Introduction to the creative process of the costume designer

Exercises

 Visual analysis of iconic costumes

 Visual interpretation exercise of a character

Brief history of costume and visual references

Hours: 10

Contents

 Evolution of costume in the history of performance

 Influence of historical periods on contemporary design

 Iconographic research and moodboard

Exercises

 Iconographic research

 Moodboard

Script breakdown and character analysis

Hours: 30

Contents

 Reading and analysis of the script

 The script breakdown

 Identification of useful information for the costume

 Character evolution in the narrative

 Psychological reading of the character

 Costume as a transformative element

Exercises

 Breakdown of a scene

 Character analysis sheet

 Translation of the character into visual concept

Visual and symbolic language of costume

Hours: 10

Contents

 Color and visual psychology

 Shapes and silhouettes

 Symbolic elements in costume

 Visual metaphor and construction of the scenic image

 Techniques for character representation

Exercises

 Development of visual concepts

 Design of interpretive sketches

Costume, set design, and lighting

Hours: 10

Contents

 The relationship between costume and stage space

 Dialogue between costume designer and set designer

 Influence of lighting on costume

 Colors and materials in relation to stage lighting

 Costume and the movement of the performer

Exercises

 analysis of case studies

Materials and costume design

Hours: 30

Contents

 Fabrics and materials for performance

 Durability and functionality

 Costume for stage movement and dance

 Technical drawing of the costume

 Technical sheet of the project

 Techniques for fabric processing

Exercises

 development of technical sketches

 complete costume design

The work of the costume designer in the entertainment industry

Hours: 5

Contents

 The work of the costume designer in theater

 The work of the costume designer in film

 The work of the costume designer in television

Final project

Hours: 25

Each participant will develop a complete costume project for the show including:

 text analysis

 visual concept

 sketches

 technical sheets

 final presentation