Teaching Philosophy

My goal as an instructor is very simple: To share with my students everything I know from my professional life in the theater.

Realizing that goal, of course, is more complicated. Let's break it down a bit to see some individual objectives more clearly.

At the undergraduate level, my introductory coursework is intended to help emerging artists appreciate the contributions and process of a costume designer. To do this, we "try on" the role of the costume designer, engaging in steps from throughout the professional designer's workday world. By "walking in the shoes" of a costume designer, literally doing each step of the design process, each student gains a vivid understanding of the demands and opportunities in this exciting field.

Particular areas of focus include:

• Research that supports the individual characters and the world of the play
• Communication in both verbal and visual formats
• The discipline and time management skills required of the costume designer
• Building a design that truly reflects the play at hand

A parallel goal at this introductory level is simply to help students, no matter what their prior experience might be, discover the joys of drawing and painting!

At the graduate level, we have the advantage of working even more closely. Here the goals have an even more "custom fit." My first effort is to help identify the strengths and aesthetics of each individual. By starting in this learner-centered way, we can tailor our curricular programs to suit the needs of each early-career designer. We then build specific skills and strengths so that the graduating costume design student can confidently handle each step of the professional process with grace and flexibility.

Here we address the following:

• The value of engaged collaboration
• Expectations of the professional designer
• Visual and verbal presentation skills, working in a variety of media
• The attributes of different fabrics and other materials
• The importance of a rich costume history background
• The appropriateness of a costume to the text: It's important that designers can talk about the play itself, not just the characters.

Our work together balances tradition and innovation, and encourages great proactivity on the part of each design student. I share my experiences from years in the field and focus on artistic ideas, ethics, and work methods that lead to success so that UCI graduates can leave ready to take on the joys and challenges of the professional design world.

Find out more about Shigeru:

:: Brief Bio
:: Resume
:: Design History
:: Teaching Philosophy