Chapter 11

Designers
The designer has to take into account:
Mood/spirit of the play
Historical period
Locale
Socioeconomic level and personality of the characters

Elements of composition in design
Line - used to define form
3 characteristics
Dimension, length and width
Quality, shape and value
Character, emotional impact
Form - space enclosed by a line
Mass - 3d manifestation of an enclosed form
Value - applies to all 3 elements
Refers to how light or dark a line form or mass is
Color - realistic or non realistic

Practicality of a design
Design can't just be pretty, has to work
It needs to meet the needs of the director
Needs to meet the needs of the actors
Has to be safe, most important
Make sure it's actually doable, time money personnel

Types of drawings set designers use
Groundplans, top view
Sectional drawing, cut away view, side view
Front elevation, detailed drawing of front to scale
Rear elevation, detailed drawing of rear to scale
Detail drawings, larger scale drawings that show specific details

Adolphe Apia 1862-1928
First designer to use actual 3d objects
Used ramps and platforms and actual props
Used light as a design element

Gordon Craig 1872-1966
Dealt with moving scenery
Used directional lighting
Used 3d settings

Ming Cho Lee
Greatest living designer
Ultra realistic to ultra conceptual