Various technical subjects form the technical foundation, promote skills and broaden the possibilities for an imaginative design. In the sewing workshop and the workshop for experimental design, students learn to understand and see realisations and to realise basic designs.
Presentation techniques
Whether through analogue or digital drawings, collages, mood boards, photographs, etc., each student is supported in finding their own visual language and in learning or refining classic presentation techniques in order to find a way to communicate and record their own ideas and designs visually, either in a team or on their own.
Realisation
Designs are also realised in 1:1 mode as examples. For this, students need space and knowledge, materials and guidance. These skills are introduced, tested and trained by specialist lecturers in various courses.
Experimental material design
The way we look at materials and the materials themselves is constantly changing. Sustainability is a growing issue. Forms of implementation are constantly being updated and new techniques are being incorporated. Tips, tricks and typical conventional realisation methods are presented, tested and applied by proven specialists.
Patina
Patina refers to the painterly treatment of textile materials to give costumes a certain temporality (aging processes) or a history that helps to understand the characters. There are also craft techniques that costume designers often use for this purpose.
Make-up
Make-up workshops teach the basics of make-up. Part of the subject is linked to the respective semester topic. In the MA programme, the ‘Make-up’ course deals primarily with advanced issues of make-up that are thematically related to the respective semester. Specific techniques and tricks are taught in group lessons and individual consultations to support students in the realisation of their projects.
Photography and camera workshop
Photography is an important presentation technique. Cameras are available for photography in the programme. It is important to learn how to ‘see’ and understand the technical handling. In a one-week camera workshop, experienced cameramen and women introduce students to camera technology, teach and promote an understanding of staged images in which costumes play a decisive role.
Lighting and sound
Lighting and sound are essential elements of the performing arts and have a significant influence on costumes. Workshops teach the basics of lighting technology. In sound workshops, students also learn about the selection of specific materials in costumes with regard to sound.
The workshops
The sewing workshop, a workshop for experimental design and a dyeing kitchen, a technical room, individual studio spaces for students and seminar rooms are located on Lietzenburgerstraße. Sewing machines and materials are available in the sewing workshop. Students learn the basics of cutting techniques, study materials, learn how to operate machines and prepare designs. In the workshop for experimental design, various processing techniques for costumes can be learned: dyeing and patination, moulding and design. Materials and tools are also available here.
The costume storage
The UdK costume library is located in the same building as our workshops, classrooms and studios. Here, every student can borrow costume pieces. This is an important resource for the design process and for realisation. The costume department associated with the costume collection realises costume designs that are produced for the university’s own theatre. Professional costume designers support the students during fittings and production.