2022 Diversity In Design Scholarship Recipient: Sunaina Singh

Sunaina Singh is a rising freshman at Carnegie Mellon University in the design/production program in the School of Drama. While Singh started out as a scenic designer at her high school, her work began to transition into digital media and projection design due to the pandemic, when production went online.

Singh believes that the main purpose to her artistic credence is to broach new ideas and bring together different worlds of design. In the future, she hopes to explore digital media and projection design and its applications in non-traditional and innovative ways. Her experience includes theatrical shows at her school, graphic design, and film.

She spoke to Live Design about her hopes for the industry, her career goals, and what the scholarship means to her.

Live Design: Why did you apply for the Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarship?

Finding scholarships dedicated to theatre technicians, nevertheless technicians of diverse backgrounds, was difficult. I was recommended to apply to this scholarship by a guidance counselor, and seeing how closely the criteria aligned with what I was pursuing and could aid me in achieving those goals, I decided to apply.

LD: What made you interested in the field of projection design?

Due to the pandemic, live shows were put on hold, and because of that, our scene shop closed. As a result, I had to improvise and work with new media, such as digital media, to create environments in a virtual theatre space. Later on, I took those skills to create curtain warmers and small animations for live shows.

LD: What are some of your career goals?

I would hope to be able to explore different design media and work in more avant-garde spaces that consider different perspectives in creating for the stage.

LD: How can the industry better serve underrepresented communities?

Allowing more opportunities and spaces, I believe. I was lucky enough to stumble into technical theatre as a result of a public school magnet program. Scholarships like these also provide immense help to those who are underrepresented or are just starting out. I also believe design itself, allowing for more cultural immersion and influence in western theatre can really change the game for underrepresented designers and technicians.

LD: Who or what are your influences, in terms of people or events?

I love many scenic designers, such as Es Devlin. However, I also draw a lot of inspiration from innovative design groups like teamLab, architects such as Zaha Hadid and Rem Koolhaas, contemporary artists, and photography. I also have a particular fondness for works by Salvador Dali and prints from Piranesi.  

LD: Are there particular challenges you have faced?

I have been lucky enough to have experienced no physical hurdles or obstacles in the way while pursuing technical theatre. I would say the only challenge I have faced so far is really believing in myself and having the courage to continue to do what I love, it has faltered at a few points.

LD: What is your number one bucket list item?

I don’t really have one yet. I would simply love to continue doing theatre and working in more abstract spaces. I still have a long way to go and from there I believe my bucket list will eventually form.

LD: Has the pandemic changed how you view your work or the industry?

Yes, and drastically. A lot of my old mindsets and traditional guidelines were thrown out and I was put into a space with many limitations yet so much creative opportunity. It challenged my creativity, capabilities, and opened my eyes to new forms of design and new ways to look at design in any space.

Meet the other scholarship recipients here.