Open Forum

There are no programs that will help you design a set. That pretty much all happens inside the designer's mind, following a process of script analysis, research, and discusions about the director's intentions behind this particular production of the play. That's what leads to the initial inspiration and visual concept.

However, there are programs that can expedite the process of sketching it (once you know what it is), refining it, presenting it, and preparing the construction drawings. A very popular one is SketchUp.

I've been using it for years in my design work, but it's just a tool, not a shortcut. You can read about the overall process -- including how most of us use SketchUp -- on my blog, at A set design from start to finish.

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George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-27-2018 06:03
From: Frieda Gebert
Subject: Set Design Software

I really my Intro to Theater class to design sets this year. We don't have a shop or a theater in our district so everything needs to be done digitally. Can anyone recommend a software package that would help 25 novices design a set?

Good afternoon,

Sketch-up is an amazing program and a tool. You still have to have the vision and transform that into sketch-up. As lighting designer it’s great that I can move the set into my lighting design software as a layer.

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Crit Fisher
Lighting/Sound Designer
New Albany High School
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-27-2018
From: Frieda Gebert
Subject: Set Design Software

I really my Intro to Theater class to design sets this year. We don't have a shop or a theater in our district so everything needs to be done digitally. Can anyone recommend a software package that would help 25 novices design a set?

Original Message------

I really my Intro to Theater class to design sets this year. We don't have a shop or a theater in our district so everything needs to be done digitally. Can anyone recommend a software package that would help 25 novices design a set?

Vectorworks is the industry standard and it's available free to students. 
Here's some great YouTube tutorials. Sean does a great job. He has VectorWorks and SketchUp tutorials.
Sean O'Skea

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John Perry
Retired Theatre Teacher
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-28-2018 07:54
From: Amy Sando
Subject: Set Design Software

We use the SketchUp, but I also let my students use shoe boxes for their set designs, which my more artsy students like to use.

Original Message------

I really my Intro to Theater class to design sets this year. We don't have a shop or a theater in our district so everything needs to be done digitally. Can anyone recommend a software package that would help 25 novices design a set?

I'm with everyone else here. Once students have a design concept, I get them going with scale models of their designs either using cardstock paper, foam, wood and other crafting/construction materials or digitally in the free program Google Sketch Up. Some will work in Vectorworks (though I think the students generally have a preference for Sketch Up which I could go into my theories on why, but that's not relevant here). I had to ask IT at the school to load Sketch Up on to some school computers for me so that students could learn and play on it even if they didn't have their own devices that could load it (older/slower computers can struggle with it). If they are building models the generally construct the stage itself out of foam board (Dollar Tree and Amazon Prime available in black and white) and then have at it with a variety of materials from there. I've also had them do this entire project using only heavy weight cardstock paper or old manilla folders. In both digital and non-digital scale models we will sometimes just do white models and sometimes get into detail work, depending on what the goals of the assignment or the needs of the show are and availability of time and materials. 

There are TONS and TONS of tutorials online for using Vectorworks and Sketchup and for crafting scale model sets from various materials. Don't feel you have to be the expert or know all about how to do all of this, sometimes it's good to offer the students the opportunity to play around, fail a little, and find their own answers and pathways. There are many options on a limited budget. Good luck!

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Kathleen McNulty Mann
mcnulkl@bay.k12.fl.us

Program Director
Arnold High School Theatre
Thespian Troupe 6371
Panama City Beach, FL

District 10 Chair & State Logistics
Florida State Junior Thespians

Board Member
Membership Committee Chair
Florida Association for Theatre Education
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-27-2018 06:03
From: Frieda Gebert
Subject: Set Design Software

I really my Intro to Theater class to design sets this year. We don't have a shop or a theater in our district so everything needs to be done digitally. Can anyone recommend a software package that would help 25 novices design a set?