DTM Expo: Design, Allied Design & Technology

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, Scenic, Sound, and Projection 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 professional theatre design and technology respondents will serve as selection panelists and give feedback on 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. 2024 project for the 2025 Festival). 
• Be a bona fide student at the time of the Regional Festival; and
• Register for 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, magic sheets, recording of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, storyboards, costume renderings, fabric and trim swatches, costume plots, 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 – Design page. 

Design at the National Festival

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

At the National Festival, students 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, properties, millinery, masks, tech, wigs, scenic art, draping & tailoring, technical direction, puppets, special effects, costume craft, audio engineering, etc.

Students will present a project, composed 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 built/produced/composed all, or part, of a particular element of a fully realized production at their home institution in the previous calendar year (January 2025-December 2025).
• Register for and attend the Regional Festival Conference 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 Conference
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 outlining your concept and ideas, research images, preliminary sketches, white models, color models, color sketches, drafting including sections, magic sheets, recordings of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, storyboards, costume renderings, fabric and trim swatches, costume plots, 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 – Allied Design and Technology page. 

Special Recognition (Affiliated Awards):

In addition to recognition of outstanding work in each of the above categories, there are also additional special recognitions given at the Regional Festival Conference. Each year offers different opportunities. Past opportunities have included a fully funded trip to the national United States Institute for Theatre Technology Conference, books and prizes from Guest Respondents, books from publishers such as McGraw Hill, monetary awards and prizes from KRYOLAN makeup company, recognition and prizes from ETC, and many others. Recognition and awards will be announced and presented at the Awards Ceremony on the last day of Festival Conference.