DesignFest: Showcasing the Designers of Today and Tomorrow!!!

Educators,

Please help us get the word out about TETA’s DesignFest!  In 2007, DesignFest had 73 participants!  Three years ago, the event only had 5.  Last year we increased to 45!!  Let’s bring the participation back up to the levels of 9 years ago!  If you or a student is planning on attending TheatreFest, please consider showcasing your technical work!!

There are two initial ways to gain information and show your support.

1. Go https://sites.google.com/tetatx.com/tetatx/theatrefest/designfest?authuser=0 for more information
2. Join the discussion on Facebook by joining the discussion in the DesignFest Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/946200142127325/

Continuing from last year, we are going to have five separate sections to the DesignFest area:

• Section #1, The DesignFest Contest! – This will be an area for all high school and college students wanting to enter the DesignFest competition.  
• Any Texas high school and college student may compete.  
• This is a great additional opportunity for those high school students entering into this year’s UIL Technical Design Competition.  An opportunity to receive a professional critique during TheatreFest, before the UIL deadline!
• In addition to the possibility of a $200 DesignFest award, universities and colleges have been known to award scholarships based on the display, as well.
• This section will receive a professional oral critique by the DesignFest professionals listed below.
• TETA Membership and Convention Registration is required.  
• Students can display work from designs in scenic, costume, hair/makeup, lighting, sound, props and stage management.
• Each participant can display a maximum of 12 items at DesignFest.  One 4’ x 8’ vertical foam panel or one table will be supplied for each student. The student should bring all necessary materials to safety display their work.  The work will be judged by a group of TETA design/technology/management members to determine awards.  
• Deadline to register: Jan. 9th
• Section #2, TETA Technical Scholarship Auditions – This will be an area for all high school and college students that have entered the TETA Technical Auditions.  
• This year, ALL students participating in the Technical Designs will also be entered into the DesignFest Competition.
• Each participant will display the same as all DesignFest participants.
• Deadline to register: Jan. 9th
• Section #3. Bring and Showcase Your Art! – This will be an area to feature non-DesignFest Competition artwork for those already attending the Convention.  Just pack your designs, and bring them with you!
• Non-competitive entries:
• Theatre Texas faculty and professional.  
• High School and college students that are already attending Convention may bring their design work with them and display.  
• Displays are not subject to the DesignFest competition, but is a great way for Texas artists to showcase and share their work with other educators.  
• Section #4, 2016 UIL Technical Design State Winners! – This will be an area to showcase last year’s winners of the UIL Technical Design Competition.
• TETA DesignFest would like to showcase these young artists.  Those that attended the UIL State OAP Competition last year got to appreciate their work, but no one else.  Let’s let the rest of the State appreciate it, as well!
• No cost to register for the Convention, unless the student wants to actually attend the Convention.
• Just email the Co-DesignFest Chairs that you want to display.
• Bring or ship your designs to TheatreFest, and have someone that is attending the Convention bring the designs back to you.
• Deadline to send the email for intent to participate: Jan. 21st
• Section #5, Spotlight on Local Theaters! – This will be an area to showcase local Professional and Community Theatre designs.
• This is a new section to showcase the host city to TETA’s Convention’s educational and professional artwork!
• Entries
• Local professional theatre companies
• Local community theatres
• Local educational theatrical institutions (all levels of public education)
• No costs to register for DesignFest or the Convention, unless a representative wants to actually attend the Convention.
• Just email the Co-DesignFest Chair, John Ogden, jogden@newcaneyisd.org, that the theatre wants to display.
• Deadline to send the email for intent to participate: Jan. 21st

As you can see, there are some exciting changes to DesignFest!  It will be come more than just a competition, it will be a home to showcase Texas Technical Theatre!

Such wonderful opportunity!!  Let’s make DesignFest GREAT!!

If you have any questions, please contact the DesignFest Chairs. We look forward to seeing you and your work at TheatreFest!

************

History of DesignFest

Beginning as “Design Texas” in 1982, DesignFest was renamed in 1993.  The event, taking place at the TETA TheatreFest Convention, allows educators an opportunity to bring emphasis and recognition to the study and actuation of theatrical design and stage management.  It is an opportunity for professionals and students to celebrate and share ideas about design, stage management and theatre technology.  DesignFest allows participants to showcase their design work to over 1500 theatre artists from all over the United States, and allows student participants to compete for cash awards!

When and where will DesignFest take place?

Technical work will be on display at the 2017 TETA TheatreFest Convention held on January 25 – 28, at the Moody Gardens Hotel in the beautiful island of Galveston! 

Who may enter DesignFest?

• DesignFest is open to:
• Students enrolled in Texas undergraduate and graduate programs
• High school students
• Texas residents - faculty and professionals
• Each year a Guest Artist in the field of theatrical design is selected by the DesignFest committee. The Guest Artist will attend the appointed TheatreFest Convention and will adjudicate the DesignFest entries.  DesignFest participants will be able to attend a critique session by this artist who will evaluate the participant’s work.
• In addition to the above entries, each year a Featured Designer shall be chosen by the DesignFest committee. The Featured Designer shall be from a TETA Institutional Member (Texas) institution and their work will be prominently displayed at the annual Convention.    

Awards

• DesignFest awards are given to student designers and stage managers to recognize excellence in the study of design, technology and stage management each year up to 4 college and 4 high school awards are given.  These $200 cash awards are for the purpose of furthering their training in these fields. Student designers included in DesignFest shall have their work adjudicated by a panel of professional designers/technicians. It is recommended that the panel assign awards in the following design categories: set design, make-up design, costume design, light design, properties design, sound design and stage management.
• In addition to these awards, students who are also entered in the scholarship auditions may be offered scholarships to various institutions of higher learning.  See below.

What to Enter?

Each designer is limited to twelve pieces from no more than three productions.  Any special display materials needed as their area of emphasis requires, such as dress forms, slide projectors, head forms, sound equipment (use headsets only), etc., must be provided by the designer.

How to Enter?

Registration for DesignFest is be part of the Convention registration and will be limited to the first 100 that register and pay (50 from the Technical Auditions).  Early registration is due on December 15th.  In order to register for DesignFest, please follow these steps:

           Step #1. Register for TETA membership.  Go to this link and register for TETA Membership (the cost will be $20 for students and $50 for adults) - https://tetatx.wildapricot.org/join-us

           Step #2. There are two ways to register for DesignFest.  First, register for the regular TheatreFest Convention Registration and then select one of the following:

1.      Select that you wish to participate in DesignFest, only. Or…

2.      Select that you wish to participate in the Technical Auditions and DesignFest.

This must take place after you have registered for TETA Membership, go to this link and register for the Convention (Note:  There will be no additional charges for DesignFest and/or Auditions).  https://tetatx.wildapricot.org/event-2677154/Registration  

           Step #3. Upon registering for the Convention, you will receive a confirmation email with an invoice.

           Step #4. You will receive two separate emails for invoices.  One for TETA Membership, and another for Convention Registration.  Use this if you did not pay each with a credit card while registering above.

           Step #5. The final step in the DesignFest process will be to follow the directions sent to you in an email from the DesignFest Chair.

Who to contact for more information?

John Ogden, New Caney ISD, DesignFest Chair, jogden@newcaneyisd.org

Ms. Nina Saunders, Goose Creek ISD, Auditions Chair, gcmtheatredept@gmail.com