Had a class with Bridget today. It was so good to finally get to do some design again. Obviously we have our design projects to work on but having had the class with Bridget I'm much more inspired about designing for Opera. Out of all the classes we've had I think this one has been the best for improving the way I approach a design. I came out of the class full of anticipation for the classes that we have coming up. Now considering the next class is computer based and I'm an infamous technophobe that really is saying something! I was so impressed with the quality of the drawings Bridget had produced I thought she had actually scanned them into the computer. Once again I'm realising how computers are an aid to your work and not a hinderance. On the whole the class has made me determined to raise my game. Working with the second years was really good because I felt there was a good dynamic amongst that group that would make you want to produce the best work you can.
After that I returned to the scenic department. I'm enjoying it more than props mainly for the fact there's plenty of work to be done and I can find a certain amount of satisfaction in completing tasks set to me just for what they are. However I still don't feel I'm cut out for the applied arts and I'd be lying if I said given the choice I wouldn't rather be doing another design project but I still think it's going to be a valuable experience and I'm quite content to work away and be involved in productions.
Talking to the Applied Artists who I'm familiar with I get a real sense that they can find designers frustrating and looking at some of the sources they are given to work from I can see why they become pissed off. If your designing something I guess it can become entirley clear how it should be in your head but the challenge is to make it clear to the AA's also. The only problem that would worry me with being too concise is that it might take all the creativity and challenge out of the job for the Artist.
Anyway I'm in a good mood just now so I think I might have a look at the life goals I set out with Jamie. I feel like a bit of an emotional nut job just now becuase one minute I'm happy and the next I'm raging I think it must be down to the fumes in the Scenic department. The cocktail of substances on the go can be over-whelming; shellac, turps, meths; all very addictive!
About Me
- Andrew Wilson
- I'm studying at the moment, doing set and costume design for the theatre. I'm a big outdoors person and thats the only down side I'm finding with studying is being cooped up all the time. Aside from set design and nature I'm really interested in politics but I don't think I have a particular belief in any party or system.
1 comment:
Hi Andy,
Interesting to read your blog. I know sometime us production students can find some designers irritating when you spend days, possibly weeks putting-up a set and the designer asks for it to be moved an inch or two to the left and I assume it is the same for the applied artists who spend days painting something to find out it should be a tiny bit darker.
If the design must fit a certain period or is designed with a certain symbolism or message in mind then it must be exact, but often we are never told the reasoning, just "that table must be 6 centimeters taller and 4 1/2 centimeters wider in diameter. And we are left thinking "Why, there are no practical implications" (eg, it fits in the space and peoples legs fit under it when they sit at it).
I guess all you can do as a designer is try to communicate your ideas as precisely as possible to avoid misunderstandings, appreciate the work put into the design already and appreciate the time it will take to make changes. Moving a set a few inches left may not not take 2 minutes, but 2 hours. I guess this is one benefit of rotating around the applied arts, since you understand the process they take, a skill which some designers in the outside world will lack.
I always wondered how far a designer should take their design. For example, if we are looking at a set design, surely a designer should draw up a ground plan and create a model box, but is it your responsibility to provide solutions for your design (for example if you wanted the floating staircase from Dying for It, should you be providing information about how you want this problem solved). Is it your responsibility to draft up construction plans?
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