Planit


Costume Designer

Costume Designer Image

Costume designers create costumes for film, television or theatre productions. In small companies they will also fit, alter and repair and clean them.

The Work

You could be:

Pay

Pay rates vary, depending on:

Starting salaries for qualified costume designers in the UK tend to be around £16,000 to £18,000 a year. Some experienced designers may be able to earn between £18,000 and £28,000 a year with highly experience designers earning £35.000.

Freelance costume designers charge a fee, which varies depending on the production and their reputation. The better known they are, the more they can charge. The trade union Equity can help with negotiation. The BECTU website lists minimum pay rate desirable for costume designers on a low budget production (under £1.5 million) as about £290.91 for a 10-hour day and £1,454 for a 5-day week.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

LMI data powered by LMI for All

Getting In

For art school courses you need to apply through UCAS. 

Application to the RCS is through UCAS Conservatoires. The application date can differ from other courses. Details are on the RCS website.

Entry to this work is very competitive. You need to build up contacts through amateur and voluntary work. You can advertise yourself and your specialist skills on the Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD) website.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2022
3390
1.3 %
RISE
2027
3433
  United Kingdom
2022
53723
2.3 %
RISE
2027
54942

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need to be:

You need to have:

Training

Getting On

More Information

Young Scot and Creative Scotland operate the 'Nurturing Talent - Time to Shine Fund', which aims to support young people aged 11-25 and interested in developing creative or artistic skills. Both individuals and groups can apply for funding up to £1,000. For more information see the Young Scot website.

Take a look at The Stage online magazine for information on jobs and auditions.

For more information on creative careers see Discover Creative Careers Finder

Kozzii is a new costume and wardrobe industry magazine offering invaluable advice, news and feature articles. Visit their website or see them on Instagram (@kozziimag).

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

BECTU Scotland (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union)
Tel: 0141 370 1590
E-mail: info@bectu.org.uk
Website: http://www.bectu.org.uk
Twitter: @bectu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BECTUOfficial

Chartered Society of Designers (CSD)
Tel: 020 7357 8088
E-mail: info@csd.org.uk
Website: http://www.csd.org.uk
Twitter: @csdminerva
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charteredsocietyofdesigners

Creative and Cultural Skills
Tel: 020 7015 1800
Website: http://www.ccskills.org.uk/
Twitter: @CCskills
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccskills

Creative and Cultural Skills is the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts.

Discover Creative Careers Finder
Website: https://discovercreative.careers/#/
Twitter: @CreativeCareer5

ScreenSkills
Tel: 020 7713 9800
E-mail: info@screenskills.com
Website: https://www.screenskills.com
Twitter: @UKScreenSkills
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKScreenSkills

ScreenSkills (formerly Creative Skillset) works with the UK’s screen-based creative media industries to develop skills and talent from classroom to boardroom.

Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD)
Tel: 07809 721047
E-mail: admin@theatredesign.org.uk
Website: http://www.theatredesign.org.uk/
Twitter: @weareSBTD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/46932887747

Was this article useful?
Please help us improve Planit by rating this article.