Overview of the role
Costume designers are responsible for designing and creating the costume requirements for a production. They visually interpret the script and collaborate with directors, producers, writers, the production designer, and hair and make-up teams to shape the overall look and storytelling.
Costume designers begin by breaking down the script, researching, sketching, and developing mood boards to establish characters’ styles and then determine what needs to be created, purchased, or hired. They work within budget and deadlines, recruiting a team, scheduling purchases and hires, and ensuring costumes are ready for fittings. With the team, they arrange and photograph fittings, sharing options with the producer and director for approval before filming.
When working with children, costume designers must follow child performance regulations, coordinating fittings around restricted hours, ensuring safeguarding protocols are observed and communicating clearly with parents, guardians and chaperones. Finally, the costume designer establishes costumes on set, maintaining continuity and addressing any creative or practical adjustments as filming progresses.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the size of the team and the scale and budget of the production.
- Interpret the script to assess production scale, overall visual style, and costume requirements.
- Create a detailed costume breakdown, confirming the number of costumes, their timeline, and budget allocation.
- Conduct costume research in line with the brief, gathering information on the period/genre for use within the department and to share with creative HODs.
- Identify key garment construction techniques, appropriate materials, and any storyline action points requiring special costume provision.
- Assess the impact of special effects or stunts on costumes, liaising with relevant departments.
- Map how the story and timeline affect the evolution of each character’s look.
- Define the creative and technical requirements to produce the designs.
- Plan the making process with the costume supervisor and assistant costume designer.
- Estimate cost and timescale of manufacture with the costume supervisor and production team.
- Confirm costume requirements, production schedule, and budget with the line producer and unit production manager, implementing sustainable practises where possible.
- Recruit costume personnel with appropriate skills and within budget; negotiate terms with the costume supervisor and line producer, ensuring compliance with current agreements.
- Agree with the line producer or production manager whether enhanced DBS checks are required for team members and coordinate with production.
- Discuss with the line producer or production manager requirements for dressing rooms, costume trucks, workspace, storage, facilities companies, and other specific needs.
- Incorporate continuity requirements into planning from the outset.
- Arrange fitting times in consultation with the 2nd AD and costume supervisor or appropriate member of production team, ensuring they align with the production schedule and child working hours where applicable.
- Select, prepare, and line up costumes and accessories.
- Conduct fittings according to fitting room etiquette, including lockable and single-dress areas.
- Ensure a chaperone is present when children are being fitted.
- Communicate politely, sensitively, and professionally with performers including in a manner appropriate to young actors and performers.
- Assess garment make, fit, and finish, identifying faults or adjustments needed.
- Consider costume rigging and special effects requirements during fittings.
- Confirm and communicate alterations and deadlines to the relevant personnel; check fit after alterations.
- Ensure multiple costume options, special effects, and implications for other departments are considered and communicated.
- Select costumes and accessories according to the script and feedback from directors and producers.
- Confirm that costumes and accessories are correct, in good condition, and appropriate for the script.
- Prepare costumes in story arc or scene order, in line with the production schedule and call sheets.
- Collaborate with the costume supervisor to assign responsibility for raising and approving purchase orders.
- Check and sign off all purchase orders, departmental expense claims, petty cash, and company credit card transactions.
- Establish budgeting and staffing spreadsheets; liaise with production accounts to utilise existing systems where appropriate.
- Set up planning sheets for the production as required and ensure timesheets are completed in line with established processes.
- Determine responsibility for conducting inventories of opening stock, incoming stock, general stock, closing stock, and designer-supplied kit.
- Discuss the next day’s call sheet with the 2nd AD to confirm team call times and ensure sufficient time for cast fittings, in line with child working hours where applicable.
- Set up new costumes on set with the standby, confirming specific dressing and costume requirements for each character.
- Follow on-set etiquette, including rules on mobile phones and other communications.
- Assist performers with dressing and provide guidance on how to wear costumes correctly.
Skills
Check out the role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of costume designer in children's TV.
- Costume design and creativity: ability to conceptualise and realise costume concepts.
- Industry awareness: from knowledge of the history of dress and garment construction to remaining up to date with sustainability initiatives, from employing recycled/pre loved fabrics to post shoot donations.
- Industry experience: competence in script breakdowns and communicating costume requirements.
- Compliance expertise: thorough knowledge of all relevant legislation on working with children including licensing and safeguarding, developing compliant schedules and ensuring the team is full briefed.
- Communication: the ability to contributors and cast at ease particularly when working with under-18s including very young children and their families.
- Financial: management of costume budgets and resources.
- Collaboration: liaise with other departments to address continuity and design changes, including hair and make-up, and props.
- Communication: interpret others’ requirements and convey the costume department’s needs clearly to cast, crew, and colleagues.
- Leadership: uphold ethics and respect, support and encourage junior team members.
- Teamwork: collaborate effectively within the department and with other departments.
- Problem-solving: plan contingencies and resolve issues with supplies, changes, or scheduling to maintain production progress.
- Negotiation: balance the needs and working practices of all production personnel to achieve effective collaboration.
- Research and analysis: plan practical requirements in line with the script, brief, and production vision.
- Adaptability: respond efficiently to changing schedules and evolving production needs.
- Resilience and enthusiasm: adapt positively to shifting priorities, meet deadlines, and proactively explore innovative solutions.
- Ethics and Integrity: act honestly, inclusively, and respectfully, meeting professional ethical standards.
- Flexibility: listen, learn, and adjust to changing priorities while maintaining high-quality standards.