Performance Costume (BA) W451

Introducing BA Performance Costume

This unique programme teaches costume design and costume making.

Our curriculum includes:

• costume design for stage and screen
• costume making
• historical pattern cutting
• puppetry
• character and text analysis
• life drawing
• textiles
• millinery
• set design
• model making
• computer skills

Why Edinburgh

You will be encouraged to be an innovative, individual and adaptable designer and maker. Our programme is highly respected by the industry, demonstrated by our impressive graduate employment rates and the international profile of alumni work.

We have many links with the film and stage industry. These provide invaluable work experience opportunities while you study, giving you the best chance of employment on graduation.

What you will learn

Through concept, colour, cut and texture, performance costume designers' ideas can respond to:

• the written and spoken word
• music
• movement
• location
• historic period

You will learn to become skilled at producing accurate recreations of costumes as well as expressing imaginative flair.

Performance costume crosses a range of art forms, including:

• theatre
• dance
• opera
• television
• film
• performance art
• music video
• installation

We encourage innovative and individual creative responses while balancing a strong craft and technical expertise.

You will study Design and Screen Cultures courses alongside your studio work. These provide a contextual and theoretical understanding of contemporary design.

How will I learn?

Most design teaching and learning is through involvement in a range of experiential courses situated in a studio environment.

Conceptual, material and technical issues are explored through:

• seminars
• workshops
• lectures
• tutorials
• critiques

Your development is influenced by research and critical thinking, as well as the following contexts that shape creative design practice:

• visual
• intellectual
• social
• professional

These elements are taught through Design and Screen Cultures courses and involve participation in:

• exhibitions
• competitions
• collaborations
• live industry projects

How will I be assessed?

We use continuous formative assessment throughout your study. This helps give meaningful feedback and encourages experimentation in the studio and beyond.

Formative assessment for compulsory courses can include:

• portfolio
• presentations
• essays against course learning outcomes

There is a mid-session review, usually at the mid-point of any course you study.

Summative assessment at the end of all courses is informed by your:

• your academic progress
• creative progress
• performance throughout

Your course grades are calculated through this summative assessment plus a moderation process.

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of English language competency, regardless of their nationality or country of residence. These requirements are listed by programme.

Many of our graduates go on to work in the screen and stage industry in roles such as:

• costume designers
• costume makers
• costume assistants
• costume supervisors
• costume illustrators
• stylists

The professional skills and abilities developed on the programme prepare our graduates for a rewarding career path in the creative industries.

Many of our alumni are now successful practitioners. Recent credits include:

• Dune
• The Father
• JoJo Rabbit
• Wheel of Time
• Shadow and Bones
• Downton Abbey (both film and TV series)
• The Crown
• Game of Thrones
• Outlander
• Poldark
• Peaky Blinders
• Scottish Opera
• Northern Ballet
• V&A Museum in London