Stage Design Education at Nihon University College of Art | Vectorworks Use Case
An article featuring Nihon University College of Art's Theater Department using Vectorworks educational licenses for stage design education and practical examples.Summary
This article is part of the 'Vectorworks Use Cases' series on the design information site JDN, focusing on stage design education at Nihon University College of Art's Theater Department, which utilizes Vectorworks educational support licenses. The department consists of three courses and ten majors: 'Stage Concept,' 'Acting and Dance,' and 'Design and Technology,' providing an environment where theory and practice are studied in parallel. Takuya Aoki, a full-time lecturer and stage designer, teaches Vectorworks from basics to applications, drawing on his professional experience. Students begin practical work in the 'Theater Production' course from their second year, culminating in a graduation project where students from all majors collaborate. Vectorworks is a primary tool for stage designers to create drawings, using plans, sections, and 3D models to share information with directors and staff. It also plays a crucial role in actual production processes, such as marking positions in rehearsal spaces and verifying sightlines. The article uses the 2025 production of the musical 'Hetalia,' designed by Aoki, as an example to illustrate presentation methods combining hand-drawn sketches with Vectorworks 3D models, and the importance of adjusting drawings for each theater. Student Riho Shimada learned the necessity of 'communicative drawings' through staging exercises, improving her Vectorworks skills. Overall, it demonstrates how Vectorworks is indispensable in stage production and how its use is advancing in education.
(Source：デザイン情報サイト[JDN])