Open Forum

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

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Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
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Hi, Adam,

Design in theatre covers a lot of territory:

Set design

Lighting design

Costume design

Props design

Sound design

Hair and Makeup design

To make life more interesting, teaching set design is not the same as teaching drafting (by hand or by computer), or teaching construction and painting. They are three separate things. I've seen set design classes that begin by building a flat. Not what you want to do.

Teaching lighting design is not the same as teaching how to hang, focus, and control instruments.

And the same goes for the other areas. If you can be a little more specific, we can point you to lots of resources.

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George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 12:30
From: Adam Hobbs
Subject: Teaching Design

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

------------------------------
Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
------------------------------

I think there are a lot of fantastic digital resources out there a few of which I would mention-- Matt Kizer has a virtual light lab online and can be found at https://scenicandlighting.com/lightlab/  I've used this several times to allow students to develop lighting designs.  We used the online lab, saved JPEGS as screen shots and used Google Slides to progress through the chosen looks.  Students had a great time and his suit of tools allowed us to do some design work  and to have some great discussions.  We would then chose one design to implement and hang and focus which was another great opportunity.  2) "Working in Theater" has a great series of videos on working in the theater, which while they do not explicitly touch on design, the videos do give one some idea of what might be involved in developing a design and in the work of the designer.  3) seeing theater is a great way to learn about design, coupled with talking with the designers, that can be really informative 4) and there are a lot of great books out there such as Richard Pilbrow's lighting works or Adolphe Appia's pivotal work

I think the important thing is just to start simply and to realize that you will grow along with your students as you explore this work.  Floor plans for set pieces in realized scene work, for example, can be a great way to begin to discuss the importance of choices, space, time periods, etc.

I also think that the study of the techniques, tools and process of implementing a design-- such as hang and focus or the parts of a lighting instrument can be pivotal in the growth of a designer's language and concept.  Bill Raoul used to say to me that form itself can reveal design as he was deeply interested in the techniques used to build scenery and employed the use of squares and rectangles extensively in his designs.

------------------------------
Michael Johnson, MA
Retired
Trinity High School
Trinity, NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 12:30
From: Adam Hobbs
Subject: Teaching Design

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

------------------------------
Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 5/17/2025 10:08:00 PM
From: Michael Johnson
Subject: RE: Teaching Design

I think there are a lot of fantastic digital resources out there a few of which I would mention-- Matt Kizer has a virtual light lab online and can be found at https://scenicandlighting.com/lightlab/  I've used this several times to allow students to develop lighting designs.  We used the online lab, saved JPEGS as screen shots and used Google Slides to progress through the chosen looks.  Students had a great time and his suit of tools allowed us to do some design work  and to have some great discussions.  We would then chose one design to implement and hang and focus which was another great opportunity.  2) "Working in Theater" has a great series of videos on working in the theater, which while they do not explicitly touch on design, the videos do give one some idea of what might be involved in developing a design and in the work of the designer.  3) seeing theater is a great way to learn about design, coupled with talking with the designers, that can be really informative 4) and there are a lot of great books out there such as Richard Pilbrow's lighting works or Adolphe Appia's pivotal work

I think the important thing is just to start simply and to realize that you will grow along with your students as you explore this work.  Floor plans for set pieces in realized scene work, for example, can be a great way to begin to discuss the importance of choices, space, time periods, etc.

I also think that the study of the techniques, tools and process of implementing a design-- such as hang and focus or the parts of a lighting instrument can be pivotal in the growth of a designer's language and concept.  Bill Raoul used to say to me that form itself can reveal design as he was deeply interested in the techniques used to build scenery and employed the use of squares and rectangles extensively in his designs.

------------------------------
Michael Johnson, MA
Retired
Trinity High School
Trinity, NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 12:30
From: Adam Hobbs
Subject: Teaching Design

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

------------------------------
Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
------------------------------

Check out the "Working in the Theatre" series by American Theatre Wing on YouTube. They have lots of interviews where designers explain their work, which can be a good jumping off point. They helped my students pick a focus for individual projects.

------------------------------
Laura Butchy
BASIS Independent McLean
VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 12:30
From: Adam Hobbs
Subject: Teaching Design

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

------------------------------
Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
------------------------------

Hi Adam,

I can offer some advice and probably have some resources created for my classroom that might help you get started.  You'll get a wide variety on here of people who want to put a million caveats around things.  I start with talking about the Elements of Design and Principles of Composition and the purpose of each.  We look at photos of various designs and discuss them.  Then we talk about what makes a "successful" design and how you can use certain elements and principles to do so.  Then I break it down into set design and scenic technology through the ages.  Followed by costumes design.  Lighting Design.  Etc.  Each area the students have to do some kind of design project and understand how to make and justify choices using the vocab from the Elements and Principles.  I'm not super organized because I'm a doing an overhaul of my files but I have some slideshows and worksheets and such that I can pool together if you want to email me at kingj1@fultonschools.org.  I'm also happy to help map out ideas if you would like.

------------------------------
Joel King
Theatre Teacher / VPA Department Chair
North Springs High School
Sandy Springs GA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2025 12:30
From: Adam Hobbs
Subject: Teaching Design

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any resources and/or advice on teaching design in my Theatre class, especially as a teacher who is not as skilled or trained in that area. I want to implement design lessons into my classroom much more next school year, but feel a little out of my depth.

------------------------------
Adam Hobbs
Theatre Teacher
Lower Richland High School
SC
------------------------------