Romeo and Juliet:

Scenic Experience Design

Team: Trini Rogando, Kate Morgan

Timeline: 8 weeks

Skills: Spatial design, sketching, rapid prototyping, stakeholder collaboration, set construction, theatrical design, iterative problem-solving

Photo Credit: Frank Chen

Project Summary

Prompt

My partner Kate and I designed a high-visibility outdoor set for the Stanford Shakespeare Company’s 1960s-themed Romeo and Juliet.
We worked within constraints of time, budget, physical space, and available manpower.
Research and Ideation

Through close reading and initial ideation, I sketched out initial ideas with cross-functional stakeholders.
Soon after, rapid-prototyped my spatial design with tape in the space, physically identifying areas of design opportunity and dimensional changes ahead of time, before anything was permanently built.
Prototyping

Working with our Technical Directors, the company iteratively translated our prototyped sketches and designs into a full set.
This culminating in a sold-out run of Romeo and Juliet that engaged hundreds of audience members in an immersive outdoor setting!

Indoor/Outdoor Experience
- The structure should balance comfort (shade, sense of enclosure) with openness (airflow, natural light, visibility).
Temporal Use
- The set only exists for 4 days, so it must be created from easily dis/assembled materials - reflecting respect for time and available resources.
Feasibility & Resource Constraints
- The build should be achievable within a targeted, limited budget and built within 7 weeks.
Acoustic Needs
- Performers and audience members need clear sound projection. A reflective back wall is required to enhance the acoustic experience.