A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Costume Design
Step 1: Costume Sketch
Assignment Description
Choose two characters (from different stories of the play: fairies, lovers, actors) you would like
to design costumes for in the play. Draw pictures of these characters dressed in costumes you
have designed. Make sure that your drawings are detailed and are in color. If details are unclear,
ensure that you label the accessory or costume embellishment so your design team is aware of
what your intentions for the design are. You must include swatches of fabric for each costume
or draw a detailed picture of what you would like the swatch to look like.
A costume is a huge component of the audience understanding the intent of a piece, and the
traits of the character. If the costume is mismatched or does not reflect the intent and traits,
the audience has trouble understanding the theme or message. In order to be successful in
creating a costume, you must understand not only the artistic vision, but also the limitations of
your situations.
To help you get started, consider the following:
Section or Area of Body
Hair / Hats
Top
Waist
Bottoms
Shoes
Accessories(belts, gloves, etc)
Examples /Items… ( a glittering tiara)
Part 2: Written Report
Your drawings must also include a written report discussing why you made the design choices
you did and what impact these choices are intended to have on the audience.
For example: (Let’s create an example for Titania and her glittering tiara)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Note: Your descriptions should refer to the text and character traits that are revealed through the text.
There must be at least one direct example from the text in each of your two responses.
Possible Layout: The following layout is only a suggestion; feel free to be creative and use a unique format to
create your project.
Visual: Costume Design
Swatches for costume
Text: Explanation of costume choices and
intended impact on audience.
RUBRIC FOR COSTUME DESIGN POSTER
Outcome: 1.2.2 Explain Opinions – Explain your costume choices as well as explain how these choices may help to
develop your character (s). Also remember to discuss how the choices may impact the audience and their
perception of your chosen character(s) and their understanding of the play.
Out of Range
Score:
Below Level
0
Response does not explain
opinions or connect to the task
given.
1
2
Demonstrates limited skill
when explaining opinions and
little proof offered as support
when generating or responding
to texts
At Level
3
4
Clear explanation of opinions
with some proof offered as
support when generating or
responding to texts.
Above Level
5
Insightful explanations of
opinions with concrete proof
offered as support when
generating or responding to
texts.
Outcome: 2.1.3 Textual Cues – Explain how your costume choices correspond to the descriptions provided in the
text. At least one direct quotation for each character must be provided.
Out of Range
Score:
Below Level
0
No evidence that textual
cues within support
materials (texts, scripts,
etc) to construct meaning
and interpret texts have
been attempted.
1
2
Demonstrates limited skill
when using textual cues
within support materials
(texts, scripts, etc) to
construct meaning and
interpret texts
At Level
3
4
Clearly uses textual cues
within support materials
(texts, scripts, etc) to
construct meaning and
interpret texts
Above Level
5
Uses textual cues within
support materials (texts,
scripts, etc) to construct
meaning and interpret texts
in a perceptive and
insightful manner.
Outcome: 4.1.1 Generate Ideas – Are your ideas clear. Have you thought clearly thought out the implications that
design choices have on the audience and development of character? Have you followed all of the steps provided
for each task?
Out of Range
Score:
Below Level
0
Unable to generate ideas to
accomplish a task for a
particular audience with a
specific context.
e.g. ideas are off topic; text
and/or ideas are
plagiarized.
1
2
Demonstrates limited
ability in generating ideas
to accomplish a task for a
particular audience with a
specific context.
e.g. vague or superficial
ideas are undeveloped for
the identified audience and
for the stated purpose. A
limited overall effect is
evident.
At Level
3
4
Generate ideas to
accomplish a task for a
particular audience with a
specific context.
e.g. ideas are clear and
adequately developed for
the identified audience and
for the stated purpose. An
overall effect is achieved.
Above Level
5
Demonstrates superior
ability in generating ideas
to accomplish a task for a
particular audience with a
specific context.
e.g. creative and perceptive
ideas are developed for the
identified audience and for
the state purpose. Ideas
chosen enhance overall
effect.
Outcome: 4.2.4 Enhance artistry – Have you attempted to experiment with style/colour/arrangement when
creating your costumes? Do the choices you made reflect the examples you provided in your written
response? Have you considered the various elements of design when creating your poster, including line,
composition, juxtaposition, balance?
Out of Range
Score:
0
Student did not create a
poster that reflects costume
choices with relevance to
text.
Poster choices are made
randomly with no reflection
of the text.
Below Level
1
At Level
Above Level
2
Student demonstrates a
limited understanding of
how costume choices are
relevant according to the
text.
Student demonstrates
understanding of how
costume choices are
relevant according to the
text.
Student thoroughly
demonstrates their
understanding of costume
design and relevance to the
text.
Some design elements are
evidence but poster is not
effective.
Design elements are
evident and are used to
enhance the
understanding of the
poster
Design elements are artfully
integrated in poster design
to enhance the
understanding of the
characters.
BODY TEMPLATES TO USE FOR YOUR DESIGNS:
CHOICES OF GENRES FOR COSTUMES
Athletic
Stone Age
Couture
Anime
Bikers
Traditional
Victorian
80’s
Western
Futuristic
Pirates
Emo
Modern
Greek
1920’s
Formal/Red Carpet/Glam
Cultural
Gangster
Apocalyptic
Think about who your character would be in a show with this genre.
Ex: Athletic – would someone be the stereotypical cheerleader, coach, jock, person trying to make the
team but struggling, water-boy/girl, trainer, therapist, etc.