Brief:
Louis Sullivans famously coined phrase “form follows function” was fundamental to modernist architecture and design e throughout the 20th century. The function or purpose of the design defined its shape and form. But increasingly Designers are asking what if form followed something else, what if it story and/or narrative become as important as function. Theatrical Production and film set designers are more accustomed to using narrative and thematic design to create believable, or indeed unbelievable worlds and environments inspired by the story in the screenplay/ script and the dramatic vision of the director.
Form Follows fiction-Othello
I chose Othello to create a set design piece for this mini project 6 brief. I chose Othello because of the darker meaning and themes behind the main story. Othello is about deceit, revenge, lies, and love. Once I had analysed the script, I came to notice that although the play is Called Othello, the most prominent character for me in Act 1 was Iago. Iago is the puppet master and the catalyst. He starts and influences all the change at the very beginning and plays an evil protagonist along side Othello and Desdemona. All of his actions are because of envy and jealousy and it does not change through out the play. I wanted to base my set design off the first scene in Act 1, portraying the dark and envious and themes of Iago.
I began by watching the movie to get a strong idea of a theme that I wanted to focus on. The theme or so ideology I decided to go for was "strings attached" Everything, every lie, every kiss, every argument or every loving look has already been sparked by a previous domino. The monologue from Iago which really inspired me and started me on this thought process is here bellow
This quote/monologue is from the script of Othello 'http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html' The interest began for me here as the basis of what he is saying here is that he is only friends and only serves Othello to one day over turn and replace him. It's a story of back stabbing, extreme jealousy, lies and betrayal. Basing my initial opinion of the play on this I began to create some research sketches to experiment with the direction I wanted to head with my set design.
The sketches and drawings, are my mood board and presentation that In theory I would take to a meeting to show directors my vision. When it comes to showing your theory and idea to a customer it is important to prepare a lookbook/moodbook of themes and experiential ideas that you want the customer to feel and experience while you are talking them through the ideas you have in order for them to really envision. It is an excellent way to communicate with the customer through imagery but also on a personal level really helps the designer to collate, control and track their own thought processes. So for this exact reason during my initial research phase I kept an A6 sketchbook by my side to put these ideas down.
The sketches and drawings, are my mood board and presentation that In theory I would take to a meeting to show directors my vision. When it comes to showing your theory and idea to a customer it is important to prepare a lookbook/moodbook of themes and experiential ideas that you want the customer to feel and experience while you are talking them through the ideas you have in order for them to really envision. It is an excellent way to communicate with the customer through imagery but also on a personal level really helps the designer to collate, control and track their own thought processes. So for this exact reason during my initial research phase I kept an A6 sketchbook by my side to put these ideas down.
I did this while looking through the book ' A time Travellers Guide To Elizabethan England' March 2012. I. Mortimer. I also did research into who was leader of the monarchy at this time. Shakespeares plays are always, like all writers, influenced by government and monarchist and obviously, the time period they were written. Which is why I recognised it so was important to study Which new inventions were created around at this time, as to continue the authenticity of the play and story the Elizabethan period which was the monarchy period just before Othello was written in 1604, chimneys around this time had just become popular for the aristocracy to have inside their homes and governmental places of work. The first indoors scene in Othello act one. Everyone has gathered to discuss Othello and Desdamona's marriage. Here they have chimneys which I included in my set design for authenticity.
Moving on from this, after my factual research I did some experimental sketches aside from my mood board. Sketches to inspire me while making my set design. While drawing them I was inspired to use other materials such as thread, and tracing paper. Cutting into the paper making squares and different 'view points'. All of these different elements came together in my final set design.
Shorty after editing and sorting through my experimental drawings and multi media sketches, I decided to create some basic rough plans for how I want my set design to look. Using graphite HB pencils and fine liners. Just as a rough idea of where I want structures to go and how I want the set for Othello to be portrayed by the audience. Below are my first rough sketches before I decided to create my 'White Model' as specified by the brief.
Here below are some images of my 'White Model' which is a working model, un painted and to scale. These images involve the process I went through to create this basic set design and in the order I did them in from right to left.
Once I had a basic idea of where everything was going and to what scale I was prepared to make it. I began to add more and more detail to the set, I started painting and decorating the inside of the box. Using blue white and grey paint to create a water effect as in Act 1 of Othello they are in 'The Moors Of Venice' calling up to the window of Desdemona's father. Also if you flip the set it will turn into another set from Act 1. Below are the final Images of my set design. The reason I decided to have a multi functioning set was because of the key themes behind Othello, the key themes being deceit, betrayal, jealous and I thought the fit of a dysmorphic set would be very suitable as a form of communication toward the audience.