Costume Designer

Also called: Theatrical Designer

Job Description: Costume Designers research and design authentic period, country or social class costumes. They work primarily for motion pictures, television, concerts and stage companies. With any given project, costume designers must get a feel for the mood, time period and setting in which the action occurs. They do research, create sketches of costumes, and develop costume budgets for the entire production. A good costume designer plays a big part in character or time period to vivid life on stage or screen.

Salary Range: $500 to $150,000
Entry level pay may range from $500/ production
Experienced pay is around $20,000/production
Top names can make around $150,000/production

Outlook: Employment opportunities for costume designers depends largely upon the Entertainment Industry. As demand for movies and theater grow and the productions themselves become increasingly rich in design and costume, demand for costume designers should follow. Aspiring costume designers usually start as assistants - often as unpaid volunteers in college productions. With the right skills, experience, perseverance, and a little luck, this hard work should enable the designer to land a higher-paying job in the television and film industries.

Qualifications:
Education - A college degree in Costume Design, Fashion Design Theatre is helpful. Coursework in Sewing and Art History is also plus.
Experience - Experience in designing and creating clothes accessories is helpful, as is participation is doing costumes for college or independent theatrical productions.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Creativity; knowledge of fashion history and art history, as well as general world history; good research skills; technical skill in designing and dressmaking; ability to work and collaborate with other professionals; ability to handle stress from deadlines.

Career Path: Design Assistant, University/Regional Theatre > Costume Designer, University/Regional Theatre > Costume Designer, Broadway/Off-Broadway Productions > Costume Designer, Television and Film

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