Chapter 11 The Design Process

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Chapter 11 The Design Process

• Notes taken from Gillettes
• Designing with Light

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Design Process

• Design is a process, not an art
• Just as a roadmap isnt the trip, the process
  isnt the design.
• After you have used the process several times and
  know the process, forget about it.
• Not concentrating on the steps can lead to more
  creativity

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Design Process

• The design process is a method for finding the
  answers
• Problem-solving model
• Commitment
• Analysis
• Research
• Incubation
• Selection
• Implementation
• Evaluation

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Design Process

• Is not simple
• Is not linear
• Check previous steps to ensure you are headed in
  the right direction

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Design Process
6
Design Process

• Commitment
• Most important step
• Wholeheartedly commit your energies to an
  assignment
• Use the word challenge instead of problem
• Overcome negative feelings toward the project

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Design Process

• Analysis
• Gather information to help clarify and define the
  challenge you are facing
• Identify areas needing more research
• Read the play
• Talk to other members of the design team

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Design Process

• Analysis
• Who is producing the play? What is the budget?
  When is the design due? Why are we doing the
  play? How is the equipment we are renting being
  delivered?
• Stream of consciousness questioning
• Asking whatever relevant questions come to mind
  during a discussion

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Design Process

• Analysis
• The Questioning Process
• One of the keys to creativity
• Analyze the script, ask questions of the design
  team, learn what they are thinking, feeling and
  planning, see how it fits in with your reactions
  and plans

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Design Process

• Research
• Write down what you need to research as you work
• Background research
• Previous productions
• Social and artistic history of the period and
  play
• Trends and styles
• Architecture, lighting fixtures

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Design Process

• Research
• Conceptual research
• Multiple solutions to specific design challenges
• Remove perceptual block
• Dont judge or discard any idea

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Design Process

• Incubation
• Provides you with time to let ideas hatch
• Sleep on it
• Time to not work on it consciously

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Design Process

• Selection
• Sift through information and decide on your
  specific design concept
• Discuss with Design Team
• Submit sketches, previsualization, research
• Finished with selection phase when the director
  is satisfied that designs support the production
  design concept

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Design Process

• Implementation
• Begins when you stop planning and start doing
• Produce light plot, lighting sectional,
  instrument schedule, other lighting paperwork
• Hang, focus and run show

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Design Process

• Evaluation
• Occurs with each step of the process
• Did you do everything possible to ensure success?
• Methods and materials used to reach the final
  design goal
• Communication Process