Costume design

Josiah B. — Portfolio

My name is Josiah, and I am a senior currently taking Tech Theatre 1 and 2. I am a musical theatre student who enjoys acting, singing, and dancing. I am interested in learning more about the technical side of theatre and everything that happens behind the scenes to bring a production to life.

At a glance

Focus: Costume design
Tools: Software, muslin, sewing machine, needle thread.
Productions: Hairspray, Addams Family, Guys and Dolls, Mean Girls, The wiz, A Chorus Line
Currently: Currently working on lightning design

My approach

Research helps me understand the time period and character, while the character’s personality and the materials available help shape my costume choices.

Sketches, construction and finished costumes

2026-27

Enchanted Forest Costume

Flat muslin to finished garment in four weeks. The costume unit takes Technical Theatre 1/2 students from a flat pattern to a garment that fits a body and survives wear. Each student developed a character against a shared theme, worked it through research, sketch and color rendering, then moved to the shop floor: reading pattern markings, laying out and cutting on grain, threading machine and bobbin, and sewing straight seams with backstitching. Every piece is muslin, the unbleached cotton a costume shop mocks up in. In one color, the design has to be carried by silhouette and construction. The finished work includes paneled corsets laced through hand-set eyelets, installed zippers, elastic waistband casings, tiered and circle skirts, applied trim and hand embroidery. Several students drafted their own patterns from their measurements.

How a design comes together

Character research
I learned that a bunny character is playful, energetic, and cute. I researched bunny features and used them to help create the costume. I also considered how the character would fit into the time period and setting the view.
Renderings
My sketches showed the character thought color and shape. I used soft light colors and exaggerated the bunny features with the fur and ears to make the bunny recognizable.
Fabric and construction
I used muslin to create the costume because its an easy starter fabric to begin with. These materials were easy to work with and cut through and helped me work fast.
Fittings
It fit well and perfect to my size and truly just fit me.

I learned that being a costume designer is really hard. There is so much time, effort, and detail that goes into every costume. I have a much bigger respect for anyone who works in costumes because of how challenging their job is and how much work they put into each costume.

What I have learned

Resume

Production credits

Guys and Dolls — Ensemble — 2024
Mean Girls — Shane Oman — 2024
The Addams Family — Ancestor — 2025
The Wiz — Tinman — 2025
Hairspray — Duane — 2026
A Chorus Line — Mark Anthony — 2026
In The Heights — Grafiti Pete — 2027

Skills

Leadership,Time Management, Communication, Performance

In the gallery

Working on sewing projects at the machine stations
Josiah B., Phillip L.
Sewing unit
Checking the project steps while the class sews
Josiah B., Phillip L., Maiya L.
Sewing unit
Unrolling a printed paper pattern at the cutting table
Anjali S., Josiah B., Cathleen W.
Sewing unit
Tracing a pattern piece on the floor over a cutting mat
Josiah B.
Sewing unit
Hand-sewing pieces together at a shared table
Cathleen W., Josiah B., Quincy R.
Sewing unit

Design & production

Josiah Briggs — Creative Projects

This page shows the creative projects and art I work on outside of school, especially on weekends. These projects matter to me because they give me a chance to be creative, explore new ideas, and express myself outside of the classroom.

See my work

2026

Sunset View

I took this picture at the beach at because I loved the view and I truly felt like this is what San Diego is.

2026

Floral Bundle

I created a floral arrangement using yellow and white flowers with greenery to create a soft, fresh, and balanced design.

2026

Theatrical Character Makeup

Stage makeup designed to enhance my charecter's appearance under performance lighting, using defined facial features, and adding grey to give myself an older appearance a mature look.

2026

Senior Box

My senior box is a creative project I made to represent my senior year and the memories I’ve made along the way. I made it as a way to celebrate this important time in my life and create something I can look back on.

Video awaits availability review.

Projects

2026-27

Enchanted Forest Costume

Flat muslin to finished garment in four weeks. The costume unit takes Technical Theatre 1/2 students from a flat pattern to a garment that fits a body and survives wear. Each student developed a character against a shared theme, worked it through research, sketch and color rendering, then moved to the shop floor: reading pattern markings, laying out and cutting on grain, threading machine and bobbin, and sewing straight seams with backstitching. Every piece is muslin, the unbleached cotton a costume shop mocks up in. In one color, the design has to be carried by silhouette and construction. The finished work includes paneled corsets laced through hand-set eyelets, installed zippers, elastic waistband casings, tiered and circle skirts, applied trim and hand embroidery. Several students drafted their own patterns from their measurements.

2026-09-16

Costume Project

Build a wearable garment and document the whole process, start to finish, in one presentation. The garment is direct evidence of every skill in this unit: cutting, machine operation, and construction order. The presentation is where you show the design thinking behind it.

2026

Sunset View

I took this picture at the beach at because I loved the view and I truly felt like this is what San Diego is.

2026

Floral Bundle

I created a floral arrangement using yellow and white flowers with greenery to create a soft, fresh, and balanced design.

2026

Theatrical Character Makeup

Stage makeup designed to enhance my charecter's appearance under performance lighting, using defined facial features, and adding grey to give myself an older appearance a mature look.

2026

Senior Box

My senior box is a creative project I made to represent my senior year and the memories I’ve made along the way. I made it as a way to celebrate this important time in my life and create something I can look back on.