Elements and Performance Criteria

Specialised costumes may include:
armoury
latex
industrial textiles
science fiction
distorted human
abstract costumes
human puppet costumes

Materials that may need to be incorporated into the costume may include:
wire
plastics
foam
clay
latex
vinyl
composite fabric
surgical textiles
industrial textiles

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

overview of the scope of the types of specialised costumes that can be constructed
different materials, their properties and uses in specialised costume construction
techniques for working with materials other than fabric in costume construction, including moulding and the integration of different materials and fabrics within the overall construction
typical problems and challenges encountered with specialised costume construction, including issues surrounding the need for costumes to withstand the demands of performance, comfort of the performer and use of costume doubles

Linkages to other units

This unit has linkages to a range of other costume units and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate, eg:

CUECOS02B Apply art finishing
CUECOS15A Construct hard and soft sculptured specialised costumes

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

ability to use appropriate techniques to construct costumes which incorporate materials other than fabric
knowledge of different materials and how to use these in costume construction

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills through the production of specialised costumes for an actual production

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

evaluation of costumes created by the candidate in relation to creative and production quality
oral questioning/interview aimed at evaluating the processes used in developing costume specifications
evaluation of sketches, drawings or specifications developed by the candidate
third party reports and portfolios of evidence
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

costume designs from which the candidate can develop specifications and undertake construction
equipment, tools and materials used for construction of specialised costumes

Communicating ideas and information
Researching information (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Making suggestions for construction methods (2)

Planning and organising activities
Selecting and preparing appropriate materials and equipment (2)

Working with others and in teams
Liaising with colleagues on costume requirements (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Taking measurements (1)

Solving problems
Responding to exacting performance requirements for costume (2)

Using technology
Using tools and equipment (1)