As paper becomes pixels and careers go digital, the Longwood Theatre department took one step closer toward the future of set design.
This past weekend, a two-day workshop was organized by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre David Griffith with help from the Longwood University Parents Council.
The workshop introduced students to Vectorworks, a computer-aided design and building information modeling software program developed by Nemetschek Vectorworks. The program is multifunctional and is becoming a staple in an increasing number of occupations, including those involved with architectural design, machine design and lighting and theatrical set design.
The workshop was held in room 202 of the Center for Communication Studies & Theatre. A two-day workshop, the time was broken up into three sections, the first on Jan. 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the second and third on Jan. 19 form 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To participate in the workshop, Longwood students were required to schedule reservations and pay a $10 fee prior to the event.
The workshop was lead by Gregg Hillmar, a professional VectorWorks trainer and lighting and scene designer. Hillmar currently works as associate professor in the theatre department at Randoplh-Macon College in Ashland, Va. where he teaches theatrical design, technical production, stage management and more.
Hillmar described Vectorworks as an “up-and-coming way ... [that people] will be able to access information about building.”
“It’s no longer actually cranking out blueprints and making pretty pictures,” said Hillmar who further stated, “The process is always evolving.”
Because of the ease of use of Vectoworks, Hillmar commented that many employers are leaning more toward a computer file, which can be created much faster, rather than drafting by hand.
On the first day of the workshop, Hillmar focused on introducing the program to the students and familiarizing them with the different components and tools available therein. The second day involved the students creating their own designs and then rendering them into a three-dimensional space through the program.
While the students who participated in the workshop had up to three years worth of experience in hand drafting sets and light designs through previous Longwood Theatre courses, none had yet to gain experience with a computer aided design program like Vectorworks.
While introducing the program to the students, Hillmar focused on giving more of an idea of what is capable with Vectorworks rather than trying to make experts out of each student with only two days possible.
While leading the workshop, Hillmar said to the students, “I will say it is a very powerful program, but it’s not as daunting as one may think. It really is pretty simple once you get down to it. The power is there without a doubt.”
Describing what makes Vectorworks so much more powerful as a tool in comparison to hand drafting, Hillmar commented that it is the ability to create a three-dimensional world out of two-dimensional drawings that makes it such a necessity.
Holding up examples of his own printed designs of a theatre set, Hillmar said, “Part of the thing to remember is actually first off this [the final design] is not the final product, right. The final product is what we do when we’re sitting in the dark in the theatre, experiencing what everybody does altogether.”
Hillmar described the designing, drafting and all the work done by a set designer as simply a method of communication.
“Our work actually supports everybody else’s work; everybody’s work supports our work, and we all collaborate,” he said.
With the ability to develop theatrical set designs in a fast, easier to use and up-and-coming method of communication, the Longwood Theatre Department is becoming more prepared for after graduation and more experienced for a career in set design.
Special thanks are given to the Longwood University Parents Council for making the workshop possible.
