Design philosophy

Darrin J. Pufall, MFA

Associate Professor of Theatre Arts; Costume Design, Boise State University

Philosophy of Design & Research

Costume design is the most intimate of the theatrical design disciplines, manifesting a character's physical and psychological choices within the world of the play. The silhouette, color, texture, drape, cut and styling of a garment each speak to the many intricate facets of a character’s overt and subliminal expression. A successful design requires a comprehensive process, one which draws on evocative conceptual, emotional and historical research and meets the aesthetic and practical needs of a production. 

As a professional costume designer and mentor, I value quality relationships that foster collaboration and synergy between the many voices of a production team. In each of these disciplines of theatrical design and technology, artists reap the best results by pairing a strong working knowledge of their craft with a commitment to the development of a team. This will allow a cohesive design to thrive, allowing no single production or design element to stand undesirably independent. As theatre artists, it is especially important that we understand the constraints of time and budget as well as the need to foster and support an environment of sensitivity and respect for other artists. 

In addition to my career as a professional costume designer and mentor, I have an interest in traditional research which seeks to document the garb of religious orders of Catholic women to offer suitable and accurate resources for costume designers when producing stories that depict religious communities. In a time when these religious communities are shuttering, this work is more vital than ever in order to prevent the loss of this rich and significantly underrepresented subject.