The Art & Craft of the Costume Designer

• Assistant Costume Designer
• Costume Designer Consultant
• Professional Costume Designer

The Academic Master in The Art & Craft of the Costume Designer is addressed to graduates holding a Bachelor Degree or other equivalent study title recognized according to the current regulations related to the course and who would like to begin a study path and a career in Costume Design.

To be eligible for the course, students must have:

• Bachelor Degree or Bachelor of Arts related to the course of study of the Master
• Bachelor Degree or Bachelor of Arts different from  the above mentioned and not related to the study path of the Master, upon evaluation of the Academic Directorship on the eligibility of the application
• Professionals with proven experience in the field and students holding a specialization or non-academic study titles related to the study path, upon evaluation of the Academic Directorship on the eligibility of the application

In order to maintain the high quality of the learning experience, the Academic Master in The Art & Craft of the Costume Designer responds to a limited enrolment policy. To be admitted in the course, applicants are required to submit their resume, motivational letter and portfolio for evaluation and to pass an admission interview with the Academic Directorship.

The programme trains Costume Designers capable of shaping character development in all its dimensions, from initial research to the visual, material, and narrative definition of costume. The course places the relationship between costume, character psychology, and dramatic storytelling at its core, combining creative vision, design methodology, and interpretative skills. Alongside this creative dimension, the programme also addresses the organisational and budgetary aspects of a project, which are essential for understanding the practical dynamics of production. A strong tailoring and making component completes the training, allowing students to engage directly with the actual creation and construction of costume. The result is a broad and articulated learning experience designed to prepare professionals able to work across film, theatre, opera, and ballet.

Projects
The programme includes the development of two film projects and five projects across spoken theatre, opera, and one ballet, enabling students to engage with different languages, timeframes, and production contexts. Among these, one film project is developed in collaboration with a director in order to simulate the real costume design process as closely as possible, while a project dedicated to ballet allows students to explore the specific requirements of costume for dance.

Method and Design Process
Each project begins with the reading of the text or screenplay and the script breakdown, a fundamental stage for identifying the artistic, organisational, and economic requirements of the production. From there, students develop iconographic, photographic, and artistic research, carry out the psychological analysis of the characters, and design the costumes, ultimately producing a project book that documents the entire creative process.

Tailoring Workshop
The workshop component guides students through the practical realisation of costume, with a focus on pattern cutting, garment construction, and costume characterisation across different historical periods. Tailoring work enables students to translate design into form, material, and detail, leading to the co-creation of a garment, often period costume.

Specialised Skills
The course is enriched by teaching in women’s millinery and men’s hat-making, stage make-up, and the study of the relationship between music, listening, and the construction of scenic atmosphere. Together, these areas of expertise broaden the ability to build a character in a coherent and fully developed way.

Experiences
The programme is further enhanced through visits to costume ateliers and specialised workshops, as well as opportunities to attend rehearsals for live performances, including ballet and opera. These are concrete occasions for students to engage with live production practices and the real dynamics of the performing arts industry.

Every Academic Master Programme involves Industry Projects in order to make the study experience concrete. To learn more about the projects made in the Academic Master in The Art & Craft of the Costume Designer fill the form to request more information.

The research internship is carried out by the students as a part of the curriculum and carries academic credits and can be undertaken with companies located throughout the national territory.