SPECIALISATION
Theatre and opera, Media and events

DEPARTMENT
Design and Applied Arts

INSTITUTION
NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - Milan Campus

ACCREDITED BY
Italian Ministry of Education and Research

TITLE AWARDED
First Level Academic Degree

CFA
180

LANGUAGE OF TUITION
Italian or English

COURSE DURATION
3 years

The course introduces the students to the varied world of scenography, proposing, from the second year, two specialisations: Theatre and opera and Media and events. On one side, during the Theatre and opera course the student will face everything that is related to the live performance, the lyrical opera, playhouse, musical and concert.

On the other hand, during the Media and events course, students will face a new way of scenographic set-up for artistic performance, exhibition, events, music videos, fashion shows, advertising set, photographic set, shop windows, television and cinema sets.

Over the three years of the course students develop the discipline of set design through cognitive teaching, projects and workshops. Here the students learn to analyse the most significant scenarios of nowadays cultural production, as well as to develop their own projects - using methods they are fully aware of, and that will allow a correct approach to the professional world.

This three-year study course prepares students for the job: field experience with professional teachers and show business as well as staging experts represent the strong points of the teaching method, always updating and aware of the newest forms of representation.

Constant confrontation, team work and experimentation lead the students towards a mindful choice of the professional career that best suits their inclinations, making them potential professionals able to relate to the ever changing contemporary world.

The ideal candidates are motivated to study the live performing arts world, and inclined to develop and visualize concepts in compositions, to be translated into technical drawings that will be then understood and built by specialized laboratories.

They show an interdisciplinary attitude, that makes them very flexible in the use of different expressive media. They enthusiastically take part into group work on the field, in it different instances: theatre, television, cinema, exhibitions, events, fashion shows. They are interested in both the cultural and technical aspects of the design process.

For admission procedures, please refer to the Academic Regulations.

The course aims to develop:

• Knowledge and understanding of languages, processes and professional methodologies of art direction, as well as of their application aimed at the independent use of the skills

• Ability to analyse texts and concepts and to develop ideas, also accounting for their project proposals with adequate arguments

• Understanding of the cultural context in which they work

• Familiarity with the tools that allow for the visualisation of their projects, and their translation into technical drawings in order to communicate with production laboratories

• Use of professional methodology, ability to work in groups, respect of timelines and deadlines

During the course, students are engaged in different kind of activities, according to the specific learning goals. Those activities may include:

• Front lectures

• Debates, presentations, peer assessment

• Use of tutorials, videos or other multi-media material

• Exercises and revisions

• Laboratories

• Seminars and workshops with industry professionals or visiting lecturers

• Intensive seminars on specific topics

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

• Visits to organisations within the professional field of interest

• Individual sessions and tutoring

The achievement of learning goals is generally assessed at the end of the term, although intermediate evaluations may occur. Assessment methods vary according to the learning goals being assessed and may include:

• Oral exams

• Written exams

• Practical demonstration

• Graded exercises

• Graded revision

• Exercises

• Completion of comprehensive projects

• Submission of exercises, projects or research works

Throughout the three years of the course, the students have the opportunity to explore different areas of the set design world, experimenting with techniques that are associated with specific branches of learning. They will develop their individual professional profile in the world of performing arts. At the end of the course they will be able to mindfully opt for a professional scope or a higher-level study cycle. The goal of the first year is to provide the students with the basic knowledge that enables them to understand the performing arts world, and with graphic visualisation tools, both manual (through the courses in set design and stagecraft) and digital (with the course in digital technologies and applications). The curriculum also includes theoretical subjects such as History of modern art and History of costume and of fashion. In the second year, the students will choose between two specialisations: Theatre and Opera, and Media and Events. In both cases, the study will start from a project idea, and the students’ technical knowledge will be deepened to allow them to turn their ideas into feasible projects. They will also be guided into in-depth study of the discipline through field-based professional work experiences. Over the third year, the students will reach full awareness of their own professional profile:

• They will constantly be engaged on projects to be developed on actual briefs, working with theatres, production houses, internationally renowned museums, etc. The students, working in groups with the support of expert professors and sector professionals, will deal with complex projects and devise sophisticated creative solutions;

• The choice of one specialisation, together with the elective courses of the third year, will make it easier for the students to work towards their final projects, and towards a professional career that most suits their inclinations.

Successful Set Design graduates have all the theoretical, technical and design tools to start a career in different fields.

Students from the Theatre and Opera specialisation will be guided towards professional choices in the following areas:

• Set design for opera, ballet, and drama theatre

• Costumes for opera, ballet, and drama theatre

• Set design for musicals

• Set design for concerts

Students from the Media and Events specialisation will be guided towards other professional fields:

• Artistic performances

• Staging of exhibitions

• Staging of events

• Costumes for events

• Set design for music videos

• Staging of fashion shows

• Set design for advertising

• Staging of photography sets

• Window display

• Set design for cinema and television

• Costumes for cinema and television

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Discern the different fields of performing arts, the different professional specificities and their related career paths.

• Discuss the languages of performing arts, from theoretical aspects to professional applications and their effects on a contemporary audience.

• Analyse the potential of new technologies and their application as combined to the traditional methods.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Deal with complete show staging projects with professional approach and language, and with the accurate use of analytical, creative and technical methods.

• Adapt staging project to different show environments.

• Present a complex project in a simple way using conceptual and visual synthesis tools: visualization, technical data sheets, models.

• Master all software applications used in the own professional field.

• Create a portfolio using narration and visual techniques that are consistent with the own professional profile and with the application tools that have been used.

In compliance with the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area - QF for the EHEA, at the end of the first study cycle, students will have developed the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding: graduates must have knowledge and understanding in a field of study that builds upon their general secondary education, and must typically be at a level that, whilst supported by advanced textbooks, includes some aspects that will be informed by knowledge of the forefront of their field of study.

Applying knowledge and understanding: graduates must be able to apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to their work, and have competences typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within their field of study.

Making judgements: graduates must have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) to inform independent judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

Communication skills: graduates must be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning skills: graduates must have developed those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Decode elements and languages proper of the performing arts world and its cultural context.

• Analyse complex issues in performing arts, and identify the most appropriate and effective among different solutions.

• Elaborate suitable and efficient creative solutions based on a solid methodology, supported by research and analysis.

• Support the own individual project solutions through consistent and mindful explanation of the creative choices that have been made.

• Critically evaluate the own and others’ work using field-specific criteria and vocabulary.

• Correctly interpret the information given by the creative brief and interact with the professionals involved in the design and production process.