dimanche 29 mars 2015

What Costume Design Students Should Know

By Jennifer Marie Anderson


There's no denying the fact that costume design holds a tremendous amount of weight. Those who have been involved in this endeavor for years will be able to say the same, especially when you think about just how many iconic costumes have been made over the years. Each of these have been able to find their place in theater, TV, and digital media as well. How can those who are just starting to get their feet wet, though, prove capable in this sense?

To start off, you have to make sure that the colors used complement each other nicely. Think about the way in which black and white work together, and how one can work with the other to create more striking visuals. This is especially recognizable in comic books, seeing as how the best art direction can bring these two shades together. Color is one of the initial points to consider, as far as creating gripping costumes is concerned.

There's also the matter of measurements to take into consideration. Costume design is only as effective as the amount of knowledge that art students have with measurements. These aspects include - but are not limited to - shoulders, waist, hips, and legs. Each of these, and others, must be taken in so that costumes can be made well. Without them, the attires that are required of various forms of media are not going to fit nearly as well as they should.

There's no doubt that costume designers should make costumes for comfort reasons as well. For example, if you've ever seen a play, you will know that there is a high degree of physical acting to take into account. What this means is that costumes made should not weigh heavily on the bodies of those who wear them; otherwise, movement will be hindered. This is yet another crucial factor that no designer should overlook.

Costume design, as you can clearly see, entails a number of talking points and not a single one of them should be overlooked. The aesthetic component is worthwhile, which goes without saying, and the costumes themselves should be designed with comfort in mind as well. Of course, these concepts may go overlooked by novices in the field. Once you keep these in mind, though, you'll find yourself creating much more effective costumes for artistic reasons.




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