Costume design is storytelling. And to do it successfully, you need to
understand the five functions of a costume: to connect to plot and
theme, establish the structure of society, put in a specific time and
place, indicate personality, and reveal a passage of time. It is an
exciting and challenging craft that involves a thoughtful and thorough
examination of these various elements in order to give a costume life.
In animation, games, and illustration, in particular, the designer needs
to be acutely aware of the unique characteristics and limitations of
each medium--from solid research approaches and basic production
pipelines to audience experience and ideal tools of the trade. Talking
Threads: Costume Design for Entertainment Art, backed by decades of
experience of five industry professionals, provides an in-depth
exploration of these functions and format considerations to equip
artists with the necessary knowledge and mindset to develop strong
narrative-informed costume designs. Each chapter is packed with creative
exercises, detailed tutorials, inspiring designs, and invaluable
insights that will help artists of all levels confidently and
efficiently tackle their next costume adventure.