Course Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN FOR THE THEATRE - TDDE1 WINTER 2026

Instructor: Mark Guirguis

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday 1:00 – 1:50, Podemos Hall: 1A19

Office Hours: Wednesdays 12-1PM. In-person hours available by appointment.

Galbraith Hall 102. Phone: 858–822-6708. E-mail: mguirguis@ucsd.edu

Theatre and Dance Department Office: located inside Galbraith Hall - grass level, south side

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Discussion sections will meet in-person, in Galbraith Hall, Room 102.

SECTION: Teaching Assistant:

A01-Tuesday: 11:00AM-12:20PM Teresa Naval: tnaval@ucsd.edu

A02-Tuesday: 12:30PM-1:50PM Teresa Naval: tnaval@ucsd.edu

A03-Wednesday: 3:30PM-4:50PM Kimberly Kocol: kkocol@ucsd.edu

A04-Thursday: 2:00PM-3:20PM Scarlett Shi: jis079@ucsd.edu

A05-Thursday: 3:30PM-4:50PM Scarlett Shi: jis079@ucsd.edu

(TA office hours, contact information, and office/studio room numbers announced in section.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is intended to be a survey of contemporary concepts and practices of the theatre design (set, costume, lighting, and sound). It includes reading of plays, introductory design work, visual criticism, and discussion of many studio practices. Students will execute digital models, drawings, as well as use other visual forms of expression to present their design ideas.

READINGS:

Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
TBD

OTHER MATERIALS:

Physical materials for collages

Color medium for rendering projects

All materials will be discussed in class and information provided on Canvas

All worksheets and templates will be available on Canvas

PAPERS / DISCUSSIONS:

*All papers must be typed.

*Students are expected to participate in discussion sections.

* Students are required to see The Three Musketeers, showing Weeks 7 & 8

Please check the Department of Theatre and Dance website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/season/index.html

PROJECTS ARE DUE EACH WEEK IN SECTION: GUIDELINES ARE EXPLAINED IN LECTURE.

FINAL PROJECT –FINISHED DIGITAL MODEL,COSTUME RENDERINGS, LIGHTING+SOUND IDEAS, REFINED.

This is a script-based project. Complete instructions are going to be discussed in lecture

*Students are responsible for keeping their research images throughout the quarter. These will be potentially uploaded with the final project. Keep all research images that you collect throughout the quarter.

REVIEW OF GRADING:

Character collages 50

3-D environmental collage 50

concept ideas collage 50

Initial costume sketches 100

set design: Initial Ideas 100

Initial lighting ideas 100

Initial sound design ideas 100

Completed final project 200

Quizzes 150

Written response of department production. 100

Total 1000 points

100 - 90 % = A+ - A-

89 - 80 % = B+ - B-

79 - 70 % = C+ - C-

69 - 60% = D+ - D-

59 -0% = F

Check your grading option. The department does not approve retroactive grading options.

PASS/NO PASS students must complete all assignments, exams, etc, and must have a passing grade of a solid C. No exceptions.

Attendance is very important. One unexcused absence drops your grade 1 grade point (i.e. A to an A-). Two unexcused tardies equals one absence.

-Projects handed in late will potentially receive a 25% penalty.

-Projects will not be accepted for credit after 3 days.

ATTENDANCE:

Participation in section discussions is expected.

This is a highly visually oriented class. Use of images & other presentations during lectures provides essential information for development of individual projects. This information cannot be obtained without attending lectures and sections.

One unexcused absence drops your grade 1 grade point (i.e. A to an A-). Two unexcused tardies equals one absence.

WEEKLY CALENDAR OF TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS (subject to modification)

TDDE 1 - Introduction to Design for the Theatre

WINTER 2026

WEEK 1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Monday, January 5th:

LECTURE: Introduction to class, organization of sections, introduction to projects, papers, and readings

Wednesday, January 7th

LECTURE: Role of the theatre designer, Visual elements of design.

SECTION: All sections meet this week at scheduled times-

Bring at least 6-8 image samples and materials to section for discussion….

Think about Shapes, Colors, and Textures that reflect you personally.

Plan to present these together as a collage.

All examples you bring should be ABSTRACT

WEEK 2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, January 12th

LECTURE: Reading quiz and discussion of Everybody

Wednesday, January 14th

LECTURE: Elements and principles of design

SECTION: Present character collages--with written statement

WEEK 3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, January 19th

LECTURE: No Class

Wednesday, January 21st

LECTURE: Developing a design concept

SECTION: 3-D environmental collage -with written statement

WEEK 4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, January 26th

LECTURE: Set design

Wednesday, January 28th

LECTURE: Components of a Proscenium Theatre

SECTION: Share initial concept research images-with written statement.

Scale Model Exercise

WEEK 5---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, February 2nd

LECTURE: Weiss Visit ??

Wednesday, February 4th

LECTURE: Costume design

Drawing character figures

SECTION: Initial Set Design Ideas for discussion -with written statement

WEEK 6----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, February 9th

LECTURE: Costumes Continued I Quiz Review

Wednesday, February 11th

LECTURE: QUIZ 1

SECTION: Costume sketches due--with written statement

WEEK 7------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: TBD

Monday, February 16th

LECTURE: Lighting design

Wednesday, February 18th

LECTURE: Lighting design: continued

SECTION: Lighting collage due- with written statement

*Schedule individual appointments with your T.A.

*see The Three Musketeers this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/the-rogues-trial.html

WEEK 8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

READING: TBD

Monday, February 23rd

LECTURE: Sound Design

Wednesday, February 25th

LECTURE: Final Guidelines discussion

SECTION: Sound design presentations-with written statement

*see The Three Musketeers this week. See Department website for details: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/performances-and-events/theatre-performances/the-rogues-trial.html

WEEK 9------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 2nd

LECTURE: Sound Continued | Design Research | History

Wednesday, March 4th

LECTURE: Implementation | Quiz II Review

SECTION: Sections will not meet this week. Schedule individual appointments with your T.A.

WEEK 10--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, March 9th

LECTURE: FINAL QUIZ REVIEW

Wednesday, March 11th

LECTURE: FINAL QUIZ

SECTION: All sections meet for final presentations

FINALS WEEK--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 3/20/2026: 11:30-2:29PM | Submission of Final Project

Office for Student with Disabilities

Students requesting accommodations and services for this course due to a disability need to provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) prior to eligibility for requests. Receipt of AFAs in advance is necessary for appropriate planning for the provision of reasonable accommodations. OSD Academic Liaisons also need to receive current AFA letters if there are any changes to accommodations. For additional information, contact the Office for Students with Disabilities: 858-534-4382 (V); 959.534.9709 (TTY) – reserved for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; or email: osd@ucsd.edu. For more, see: http://disabilities.ucsd.edu.

Standards of Academic Integrity

Each student is responsible to know and observe the UCSD rules concerning academic integrity and plagiarism. Familiarize yourselves and be cognizant of your responsibilities and rights under the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship:

http://senate.ucsd.edu/manual/appendices/appendix2.pdf .

Your responsibilities and rights under the UCSD Student Code of Conduct can be found at: http://ugr8.ucsd.edu/judicial/22_00.html.

A student found to have violated the university’s academic integrity standards will be subject to penalties ranging from failing the assignment or course to suspension or expulsion from the university, and an academic misconduct charge will be noted on your academic record. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it, or how to credit the work of others properly, or how to evaluate sources for quality and reliability, or about any other pertinent issue, speak with your professor or TA. Ignorance of these standards will not be accepted as justification for their violation, so be sure to understand and abide by them.