Lighting Design

Dramatic purple and blue stage lighting shine down onto a performer sitting at a piano in a production of “Preludes” at the School of Drama.

Illuminating Possibilities

The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama’s lighting design program offers a holistic view of lighting as an art and craft, requiring both aesthetic and technical training and skill. With access to top-flight facilities and equipment, students are prepared to design across a wide array of venues and genres. Our faculty and alumni work throughout the industry, and are instrumental in helping new graduates launch their professional careers.

A lighting design student wearing all black and a headset sits at a table with a large computer monitor in a dimly lit theater space.

Lighting Design Curriculum

Lighting students learn processes that explore all aspects of light as a visual design element. Learning to communicate ideas verbally, visually and in written documentation is central to the program. Students gain knowledge and expertise in the latest technology including automated lighting fixtures, LED fixtures, computer consoles, visualization software programs and media design software. Additionally, Lighting students learn to become efficient in focus and cueing, Vectorworks and Autocad drafting, designer and master electrician paperwork, lighting design for a range of genres, scales of productions and different types of spaces.

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alumni stories

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