GUIDELINES for FORMATTING DESIGN EXHIBIT
PRESENTATIONS
KCACTF strives to promote uniformity and fairness
in the exhibition of design entries whenever possible. Individual regions therefore
strive to provide each design entry with a minimum of sixteen square feet,
and a maximum of twenty-four square feet, of display space. Such limitations
also help to determine the overall exhibit space necessary at each regional
festival.
The specifics of each design exhibit may change from year to
year (based on the host school) and region to region – be sure to check
with your regional design chair for details and restrictions before planning
your exhibition display.
The following suggestions are intended to help the student
designer organize and display their work to best advantage. Please check individual
award categories for specific requirements.Arrange your design materials on
panels that are uniform in size. Avoid using panels or mat board that is larger
than 24 inches by 40 inches (the largest dimensions allowed by the USPS). Minimum
space allocations will accommodate no more than four such panels.
Remember to label the back of each panel with the designer's
name and return address. Make sure that the front, or individual elements
attached to the panel, show the play title, playwright's name, and identify
act and scene when necessary.
Organize your display in a way that makes the relationship between script,
design idea, and finished design, as clear as possible. Help lead the respondents
to your work through it in a logical and coherent path. Often the best way
to accomplish this is to clearly display your process .
Print your statement of design approach in a readable font size. Mount
your design statement in a place that is logical, focused, and separate from
other paperwork.
Remember that process is a key to a good design, and can contribute
greatly to your exhibit. Arrange your work in a way that makes the steps
that helped you to arrive at your final design visible in your display. Arrange
the parts of the process in a logical and coherent fashion. Judges and respondents
look for clues to the development of the final design. Consider
showing the progression from initial idea, through first rough drafts, to
final sketch or model. Include as much documentation as possible: For sets ,
this could include research (specific and emotional), perspective sketches,
photographs of the model, floor plans, and production photos; for costumes this
could include research (specific and emotional), thumbnail sketches, finished
renderings, fabric swatches, and production photos; for lighting this
could include research (specific and emotional), rough light plot, finished
light plot, paperwork (including hook-up and instrument schedule), color
key (palette) for the production, and production photos.
Set models and three-dimensional pieces may supplement the panels – but
be sure to determine in advance if table space (and how much) will be available
to you.
Poor quality photographs plague displays, undermine the quality of your
finished product, and hamper the evaluation process. Extreme care should
be made in selecting production photos for design panels.
