What is Costume Design Really?

By Adena

In theory what is it?

Four years in which one learns how to sew, render three dimensional life onto a page, use their imagination and eventually design for shows (depends on what school you go to.)

What is it used for?

Designing costumes for theatre, movies and television or other random things that require costuming.

What does the major actually entail - work-wise?

Lots of work. If you're going for a BFA, don't take the small amount of academics as another way of saying this is going to be easy. With credit hours not ever being enough to show off how much time is spent on the many assignments you'll be given, you better really know you want to do this… otherwise you might easily give up. It's a lot harder than it looks, folks- but if you know you want to design then it's a great major to go into.

What kind of jobs do you get with it?

Designing for Theatre, TV, Movies, Amusement Parks, etc.

What are the fellow students like (personalitywise) in it?

Some are snobby, but mostly they are just theatre dorks who love clothing and art as much as they do the magic of theatrical extravagance.

Common Misconceptions

You have to have prior design exprience to get into a school (most schools only require an art portfolio. A few might even let you in on an interview.)

If you want it going in you're going to want to do it all along.

Designing is easy.