Ghia Pacheco

Stagecraft 2

04/29/2019

Career Focus

A prop designer:
- Takes a script and makes a list a of props used in the show
- Creates realistic concept drawing of props that are approved by director
- Communicate designs thoroughly with other designers
- Communicate prop design concepts with production team

Being a prop designer requires:

- Good communication skills
- Proficiency
- Ability to express clear ideas through drawings
- Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
- A team player - that collaborates well with others
- Strong time management skills
- Ability to work unsupervised

1. First off, what was your most recent show?

2. How long have you been designing props professionally?
3. What lead you to creating your prop design career? Why did you decide to continue with prop design?
4. What was your first prop?
5. What is the most difficult thing when starting a new show?
6. What has been your favorite show to work on?
7. At times do you feel restricted by what a director wants for the show? Or is it easy to create something that matches the director’s wants?
8. After creating a list of props are any of them cut for the script after you make them?
9. Where did you receive most of your knowledge? Was it all trial and error?
10. Any tips to someone who is looking for a career in prop design?

Stacey Galloway
Associate Professor of Costume Technology/Design
Design/Production Area Coordinator
University of Florida
School of Theatre and Dance

How did you start your costume/prop design career?

While in college as an undergraduate, I took a costume design class as an elective because a
friend was a theatre major. I got a work study job in the costume shop because I knew how
to sew and because I was interested in costuming. I became involved in designing costumes
for the theatre department on the side while pursuing my business degree and then decided
that I wanted to pursue an MFA in Costume Design.

How long were you in this profession?

I have been a costumer for over 20 years.

What advice do you have for a novice designer?

Be open to learning and hungry to experience. There isn’t a formula for how to be a good
designer. There are some specific skills that make it easier to express creativity and turn
your ideas into reality, but the process of designing – coming up with ideas that help tell a
story or have an emotional impact – is something that requires a lot of exploration. History,
Art, Fashion, Psychology, Photography, different cultures, current events, poetry, music, and
on and on, are all things that feed into the design process as inspiration. Don’t limit yourself
to just what you experience in your own life or what you see through social media and the
internet. Engage the world more fully and draw from that the inspiration to think creatively.

What got you into this career?

See answer #1
How could I get into the profession?
There are many schools that have programs to train students in the skill sets that are useful
and that allow the develop of communicating design ideas. Going to school and receiving a
degree doesn’t guarantee a job in the profession, but it allows for a safe environment to build
skills and develop a design voice.

What your daily life as a costume/prop designer?

Each day can be completely different. Each new project has different needs and different
deadlines.

Why did you give up your career as a costume/prop designer to become a professor?

I wanted to be a part of training the next generation and try to prepare them for the realities
of the profession. I continue to work in the profession and bring that experience into the
classroom.

What are the basic skill needed/required?

The biggest requirement isn’t a skill, it’s creativity. The skills that make it easier to express
that creativity in relation to costume design is script analysis, drawing/painting,
communication, organization of information, understanding of clothing construction, and
collaboration.

Do you still enjoy/ how do you keep your interest in costume/prop design?

Yes. One of the aspects of costume design that I enjoy the most is that each new project is
something new. It could be learning about a different part of history, researching the
clothing of a particular time period or culture, figuring out who the characters are and their
relationships with each other, or a multitude of other things. It’s never the same thing twice.