Moving Forward
– Riley Naughton –
Dr. Sandra Starkey has taught all of my design classes at Nebraska and she’s been the one really pushing me to do research, try new things and hone my style. I started doing undergrad research with her that ties into my past experiences dealing with poorly designed color guard costumes.
I did color guard all through high school and noticed that the costumes didn’t fit very well, especially in the arms—which is obviously important for color guard performers. So I started using the body scanner that we have in our department to look at how body measurements change during performances, and then I apply that to different patterning techniques to allow for more movement within costumes.
I'm on my second year of doing this project which is funded through (the university’s Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program). The first year was a lot of observational research, watching videos upon videos of performances, finding those moments where you can obviously see something's wrong with the costume, going to practices and performances and talking to performers about their experiences with costumes. This year, I'm working more with our body scanner to identify measurements in movement. The goal by the end is to have a good pattern or a good kind of solution to keeping the style but allowing for full-range, comfortable movement.
It’s really helpful to have Dr. Starkey there to help me because she’s known me long enough now that she knows if I’m not giving something my best effort. She’ll call me on it—which is always a good thing— and she challenges me to push my abilities.
Future Implications
I know the research I'm doing is also going to contribute to the research Dr. Starkey is doing with fit, up-cycling and using the body scanner and new technologies to make better clothing. And I know if I go into costuming, dance or performance-wear after graduation, companies will definitely be interested in seeing and using my research.
I’ve also applied to grad schools, and I know the research I’ve done will look really good on my applications, especially applying to a Master of Fine Arts program. It’ll stand out more because you don’t usually hear of people doing undergrad research in the arts—it’s usually more physics and chemistry, so I think my experience will draw attention to my applications.
Tools & Space to Create
I’ve gotten to use a lot of other campus tech too. Michael Burton teaches a lot of the visual arts courses, including my surface design class where we learned how to design textiles and print them. He took us to the Innovation Campus and we were taught to use the laser cutter and screen printing stuff, but then we were totally on our own to create our own textile prints. There were people there to help, but we had complete freedom to do what we wanted. Everybody’s textiles came out completely different and it was such a neat experience.
People have used tech like this a little bit in the costuming and design fields before, but it's really still a new practice in the fashion industry, so to be able to use it in college is awesome. I definitely haven't heard of other colleges having the tech or making use of it on a regular basis like we’re able to here.
When you think about the Midwest you don't think of it as a big fashion area. Usually, people think mainly New York and then like San Francisco, but I’ve had so many opportunities to show the work I’ve done here. Omaha has a huge fashion week and it’s actually a big deal, and not just anybody can get in—but I’ve gotten help from my profs and been able to show my pieces there. My department gives us so many opportunities to show our garments and to get ourselves out there. I did not expect that when I came here.
Making Connections
My textile apparel design major also requires me do three internships while I’m here. I started my first one the summer after my first year at the local playhouse in Des Moines. I had taken one basic sewing class and I ended up creating over a hundred costumes in under three weeks.
It was crazy, but that’s what really pushed me toward costuming. Being required to do internships has improved my skills so much. To learn stuff in class, like patterning, construction, and how materials work together and then be able to apply it right away to costumes people will actually perform in has worked together perfectly.
Through other students in those classes, I’ve gotten to work on two shows with the Lied Center for Performing Arts: Motown and The Sound of Music. I worked in wardrobe as the dresser for a couple actors. I made sure all their costumes were ready to go. If there were repairs, I got them fixed, made sure that the costumes were cleaned, washed and pressed. And I was in charge of all their quick changes. If they have 15 seconds to change from costume and other, I’m the one who has to make that happen. So yeah, it’s high pressure, but it really helps to understand first-hand what the costumes I make need to be able to do and how they need to function. Plus, it’s really fun.
It’s like, there isn’t just one solid experience I’ve had at Nebraska that will set me up
for my future—it's a culmination of everything
I’ve gotten to do. 
