Chandler Caroccio
Lighting Designer
Design Teacher
Artistic Statement
What journey are you taken on as you watch the play unfold? How the designer answers that question while also providing new perspectives for the audience to ponder is both the challenge and the power of design. The visual impact a designer has on their audience inspired me to pursue design. I am fueled by the collaboration amongst designers and how that collaboration creates a new world with each dramatization. I find myself drawn to a darker aesthetic where I lean into shadow and contrast. I draw inspiration from creative problem solving when approaching a play. Design allows me to explore how to support a play through visual storytelling. I try to invite audience members into a unique experience with every show they attend.
Teaching Philosophy
As an educator and designer, I believe in finding creative ways to get students excited about learning. It’s our job as educators to help facilitate a link between our students’ lived experiences and the material we present to them. Students are going to engage with and show interest in subjects they can connect with. From this perspective, teaching becomes a collaborative conversation between teacher and student.
The two most important concepts I strive to convey to my students are collaboration and troubleshooting. We talk about collaboration a lot as designers, but a true understanding of the word’s meaning and application is crucial to any designer’s success. Collaboation relies on our skill to work together to create a cohesive world for each play. Our ability to find success thorough collaboration is only as good as our ability to communicate effectively and listen actively. This is true for both the teacher-student relationship and a creative team working together on a production. Troubleshooting is instrumental in creating a well-rounded student. Familiarity with the process gives students a sense of bravery in a space. If they can use critical thinking to find solutions, they will take pride in both the mess of the creative process and the outcome.
It's important to me that I provide my students with the tools they need to be successful in and beyond the classroom. I would like for my teaching to empower students in their daily lives.