Welcome to Design and Technology in the School of Theatre, Television and Film at SDSU!

Our programs

As theatre and film practitioners, our focus lies in storytelling. We strive to impart the art of storytelling to our students through applied research, aesthetic competence, critical analysis, mastery of discipline-specific techniques, and business competence in the field. A key aspect of the Design and Technology education we provide is based on the practice of collaboration. We believe this to be the core principle that elevates our students and helps them succeed after graduation. Collaboration enhances the creative process, fosters synergy, welcomes reflection, and creates a safe space.

 Our program provides a creative and challenging environment that enables our students to grow in the areas of design and technology. Through theoretical work and hands-on experience, our students are constantly challenging themselves, learning new skills and improving others, and advancing into the designers and technicians that they dream to be. A strong emphasis is put on teaching current industry practices and cutting-edge technologies. The entertainment industry is constantly evolving, and we have a responsibility to train our future design and technology practitioners to be leaders within their fields.  

 We strive to provide an individualized approach to teaching; each student is unique and their personal, professional, and educational background is vital to their success in the program and beyond. The education our students receive at SDSU prepares them for careers in theatre, television and film, themed entertainment,  and the many other related fields within the entertainment industry.

 Along with our course offerings, our students get to experience many more educational opportunities, such as exclusive guest lectures, visiting guest artists, masterclasses, specialized area meetings, post-performance critiques, community building activities, and more. In addition, we connect our emerging professionals with all of our partner theatres and organizations in Southern California and beyond. 

 

In the Design and Technology Area, learning never stops.

Our faculty

The faculty and staff of any university is largely responsible for the excellence and uniqueness of its program. This is particularly true of the Design and Technology Faculty of San Diego State University. Our faculty has achieved excellence in the academic world as well as in the field of professional entertainment and continues to design and innovate at the regional, national, and international levels. 

Mentorship is key to the success of our students’ education, and we provide individualized mentorship to help each student achieve their future goals. The Design and Technology faculty and production staff consider each one of our students as a member of one big creative family. Attending a university program is an important investment and the faculty in the School of Theatre, Television, and Film are honored to be part of this significant phase of our emerging designers and technicians’ lives.

Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where students from all walks of life and levels of experience can thrive within our community of artists and grow into the professional that they want to become.

Our alumni

Alumni from our program continue on to pursue many different applications of their emphases. These talented individuals represent SDSU in education, freelance design, and corporate entertainment, and at some of the country's most prestigious theatres and performance venues. Some of the companies that have employed our graduates are: Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Theme Parks, LAIKA Digital, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Old Globe, Broadway productions and tours like Hamilton, Cats (the revival), and The Who’s Tommy the Musical, Visual Terrain, Knott’s Berry Farm, Nautilus, Lux Machina, La Jolla Playhouse, Cygnet Theatre, San Diego Opera, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Santa Fe Opera, The Diversionary Theatre, MOXIE Theatre, the Hemsley Lighting Programs, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Independent Films and Video. Some of the television productions our designers have gone onto include Mad Men, Glee, The Good Place, This is Us, Silicon Valley, Orange is the New Black, Let’s Make a Deal, The Mandalorian, MTV Video Music Awards, Hollywood Game Night, The Academy Awards, and the Golden Globes Awards, among many others. In the film industry, our alumni have also worked on films such as Avengers Infinity Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Captain America: Civil War.