NG2S806 - Entertainment Lighting Design 01 Jul 2017 - 31 Aug 2024 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG2S806
Module Title: Entertainment Lighting Design
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Information and Electronics
Faculty Sub Group: Electronics
Module Leader: Rob Locke
Module Team: Ian Williams
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100163 - electrical and electronic engineering
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Jul 2017
Valid To 31 Aug 2024

Module Aims

To consolidate and develop ideas introduced in the first year. The lighting designer's palette is expanded with a focus on the processes and techniques required to create, develop and implement lighting schemes in a range of contexts.

As as a designer it is important that you understand how to developing creative concepts, collaborate effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and respond to external circumstances in a flexible manner. This module will give you the experience of working with constraints of time, budget, equipment and personnel. You will have the opportunity to research, design and implement an appropriate lighting scheme for a project.

Content Summary

In this module you will:

  • Acquire further understanding of the role and responsibilities of a lighting designer.
  • Examine professional lighting designers and their work within different mediums.
  • Expand your knowledge of lighting technologies (choice and application), including luminaires, projection and show control systems.
  • Study a range of different staging formats and genres, and the lighting techniques associated with them.
  • Develop further the ability to analyse and interpret source material such as play texts.
  • Develop skills in recording and communicating ideas with contractors, clients and within a design team.
  • Investigate special effects available to the lighting practitioner.
  • Develop skills in selecting special effects considering the development, technology, and safe and use of.
  • Learn to develop designs that fit within environmental, budgetary and other constraints.
  • Expand your ability to develop and communicate your design to other members of the creative and technical team(s).
  • Work as part of a team to develop a creative response to the initial brief.
  • Establish your role within a team and develop effective working relationships with other team members.
  • Use a range of research strategies and resources to develop a design scheme.
  • Plan, prepare and set up a production lighting system.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 16
Practical classes and workshops 32
Independent Study 72
Directed Study 80
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Identify, select and justify processes and technologies appropriate to the artistic and technical requirements of a production in relation to established conventions and traditions.
LO2 Present information, ideas and arguments using communication techniques appropriate to the intended audience.
LO3 Specify the design and use of lighting technologies in written, oral or diagrammatic forms in response to a given brief.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project 1 Lighting design realisation project 0 2500 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Research project exploring lighting design techniques 0 2500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Project 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Jackman, J. (2010) Lighting for Digital Video and Television, Focal Press 

Porter, L. (2014) Unmasking Theatre Design: A Designer's Guide to Finding Inspiration and Cultivating Creativity, Focal Press 

Staines, J. (2000) Lighting Techniques for Theatre-in-the-Round, Entertainment Technology Press

Pilbrow, R. (2008) Stage Lighting Design: The Art, the Craft, the Life, Nick Hern Books

Louis, S. (2013) A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, The Crowood Press