Bringing Costumes to Life: The Power of Real Artifacts in Teaching Costume Design

Devonport, Caroline

Abstract

This presentation will explore the use of real artifacts—such as historical costumes, textiles, and accessories—as a powerful tool in teaching costume design, with a particular focus on new students and group work. By incorporating real-world artifacts into the curriculum, educators can promote inclusivity, enhance student understanding, and provide authentic learning experiences that mirror industry practices. The tactile experience of seeing, touching, and handling these artifacts significantly impacts students’ design, understanding, and making processes, fostering deeper connections to the material and theoretical aspects of costume design.
We will demonstrate how artifact-based learning helps students, particularly those new to the discipline, to grasp complex design concepts, collaborate effectively in groups, and gain a real-world perspective on their craft. The presentation will highlight how this approach aligns with SHIFT 2025’s focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and technology-enhanced learning, while also emphasising co-creation with students and industry partners.

Objectives:
To illustrate how real artifacts help new costume design students engage with the history, materials, and construction techniques foundational to their discipline.
To showcase how group work with artifacts fosters collaboration and inclusivity, helping students from diverse backgrounds to engage in shared learning experiences.
To demonstrate how working with physical objects enhances students’ design and making processes, providing a direct link between theory and practice.
To explore how digital tools, such as virtual and augmented reality, can complement physical artifacts for students who may have limited access to them, ensuring inclusivity in the learning experience.

Themes Addressed:
1.Inclusivity and Wellbeing: For new students, especially those unfamiliar with costume design, working with real artifacts helps demystify abstract concepts. Artifacts provide tangible learning materials that bridge gaps in prior knowledge, promoting equity in the classroom. The sensory experience of handling artifacts also benefits neurodiverse learners, offering multiple entry points into the subject matter and creating a more inclusive learning environment.
2.Socially Just Approaches: Real artifacts, particularly historical costumes, reflect diverse cultural and historical contexts, encouraging students to consider the social implications of costume design. Students are invited to explore the provenance and cultural significance of the artifacts they handle, fostering critical thinking about representation and ethical design. This is particularly effective when students work in groups, allowing for shared insights and collaborative learning.
3.Sustainable, Authentic, and Real-World Approaches: The hands-on experience of handling actual costumes and textiles enables students to learn industry-relevant skills that are difficult to replicate through digital or theoretical study alone. By observing garment construction, materials, and design up close, students develop a deeper understanding of sustainability in design, gaining insights into how historical techniques can be applied in modern, eco-conscious practices.
4.Technology Enhanced Learning: For students who may not always have access to physical artifacts, technology-enhanced learning offers new possibilities. Virtual and augmented reality can bring historical costumes and other artifacts into the classroom, allowing students to interact with objects digitally. This integration ensures that all students, regardless of physical or logistical limitations, can experience the benefits of artifact-based learning.
5.Partnerships and Co-Creation: Working with real costumes and textiles opens up opportunities for partnerships with museums, costume collections, and industry experts. These collaborations enable students to access artifacts from prestigious collections, engage with professionals, and co-create learning experiences that bridge the gap between education and the costume design industry. Group projects further enhance this co-creation process, encouraging peer-to-peer learning and shared exploration of the material.

Relevance to Costume Design:
For costume design students, particularly those in their first year, working with real artifacts provides a direct and engaging way to learn essential design and construction skills. Handling historical garments gives students insights into pattern cutting, fabric selection, and the evolution of style, all of which inform their design processes. This tactile experience accelerates their learning curve and provides a strong foundation for group work, as students share their discoveries and ideas when exploring artifacts together.

Presentation Format:
The presentation will include a showcase of how artifacts have been used effectively in costume design teaching, with examples of student work created as a result of this method. We will provide a live demonstration of how working with real costumes can enhance group discussions, and how digital tools can support those unable to access physical artifacts. We will also discuss partnerships with museums and collections that enrich students’ learning experiences.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Abstract
• Conference Name: SHIFT 2025
• Start Date: Jan 8, 2025
• End Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 26, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed