Designers – Present your work!

What is it?

This category is open to students who have completed major design or technology projects in areas including Costume, Lighting, Projection, Scenic, and Sound Design. Students will present a design project, comprised of materials which clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, and art of the design. A team of theatre design and technology respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects. 

Eligibility

To be eligible, students must:

• Have designed a fully realized and produced design for a production at their home institution in the previous calendar year (ie. 2023 project for the 2024 Festival). 
• Be a bona fide student at the time of the Regional Festival; and
• Attend the Regional Festival to display their design project and participate in response sessions. 

I’m going to go for it – How do I register?

1. Register for the Festival
2. Register for this event on the DTM registration page
3. Prepare your materials
4. Submit the online portion of your prepared materials

How to Prepare

Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: production photographs, a design statement in outline form, research images, preliminary sketches, white models, color models, color sketches, drafting including sections, recording of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, story boards, costume plates, fabric and trim swatches, costume plot, cue synopsis, tracking sheets, and the like. This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the conceptual approach, process, and the production. 

For more specific details, please visit the DTM How to Prepare page. 

Design at the National Festival

One student in each design discipline (Costume, Lighting, Projection, Scenic, and Sound) will be chosen from each region to attend the National Festival. 

At the National Festival, students will spend a week taking master classes from professional designers, presenting their design projects, and networking with student and professional designers from across the country. Students will be eligible for various professional learning opportunities, fellowships, and awards based on their projects and work during the festival. 

Allied Design & Technology – Present your work!

What is it?

This category is open to students who have completed major design or technology projects in areas including (but not limited to) makeup, projection, properties, millinery, masks, tech, wigs, scenic art, draping & tailoring, technical direction, puppets, special effects, costume craft, audio engineering, etc.

Students will present a design project, comprised of materials which clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, and art of the design. A team of theatre design and technology respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects. 

Eligibility

To be eligible, students must:

• Have designed a fully realized and produced design for a production at their home institution in the previous calendar year. 
• Attend an institution that has entered either an associate or participating production during the year in which the nomination occurs; 
• Be a bona fide student at the time of the Regional Festival; and
• Attend the Regional Festival to display their design project and participate in response sessions. 

I’m going to go for it – How do I register?

1. Register for the Festival
2. Register for this event on the DTM registration page
3. Prepare your materials
4. Submit the online portion of your prepared materials

How to Prepare

Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: production photographs, a design statement in outline form, research images, preliminary sketches, white models, color models, color sketches, drafting including sections, recording of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, story boards, costume plates, fabric and trim swatches, costume plot, cue synopsis, tracking sheets, and the like. This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the conceptual approach, process, and the production. 

For more specific details, please visit the DTM How to Prepare page. 

Allied Design and Technology at USITT

One Allied Design and Technology student from each region is selected to attend the National USITT Conference, with travel, lodging and per diem provided by the Kennedy Center. Students will display their projects at USITT. 

Special Recognition (Affiliated Awards):

In addition to recognition of outstanding work in each of the above categories, there is also additional special recognition given at the Regional Festival. 

Focal Press/Rafael Jaen Showcase Award

The Focal Press/Rafael Jaen Showcase Award is dedicated to first-time KCACTF Design, Technology, and Management entrants in Regional entries. It is meant to inspire young DTM practitioners and encourage their studies in DTM fields.

Respondents will look for work that best answers following questions:

• Does the presentation have design substance in one or all of these areas: clear concept or premise, clear dramaturgical or technical research, and clear specs or workbooks?
• Is there innovation in the project’s approach in the use of technology, materials, design execution, etc? (i.e., a “green” approach, the use of digital software to facilitate the realization of the design, research on the use of new materials, or an innovative presentation style).

If a recipient is selected, it will be announced at the Region III Awards Ceremony. The recipient of the Focal Press/Rafael Jean Award will receive three books of their choosing from Focal Press.