Welcome to our intermediate design workshop, written by designer Helen Coyston. Over the course of this workshop, you will explore the process of creating costume design for a production from conception, through to execution and right up to the opening of your show. The exercises suggested here have been designed to support your process, but you are free to choose what works best for your creativity.  

This workshop is broken down into sections so you can complete it in your own time and at your own pace. If you get stuck and need any assistance you can contact us at education@oldvictheatre.com. Remember, this workshop isn’t about getting things right — it’s about your artistic ideas. Good luck and have fun. 

Make a note of all the key facts before you begin, to help steer your design in the right direction. For example: 

• Where will your performance take place? In a theatre? If so, what kind of theatre? Or will it be outside or somewhere site specific? 

• What kind of performance will it be? Will it be a play, a musical, dance piece or something else?  

• Where will your audience be located? What sort of sight lines will they have? 

Now that you’ve set your parameters it’s time to dig into your play. 

1. Read the play from beginning to end. The most important thing to work out is when and where the story is set. At this point, don’t make any more notes — just concentrate on the story and how it makes you feel.  
2. Read the play again but this time write down a list of the characters who appear in the story, alongside any helpful facts that you can glean. Create a character profile for each person, listing everything you know about them, using the template below if it is useful.  
3. Set your list aside and take some time to think about how the play and the characters make you feel.
4. Create a mind map based on your feelings and the colours and textures you associate with the play. You may also want to include specific images, for example from the time period in question, but aim to keep your ideas open at this stage and resist the temptation to make any final decisions.