Meet Kathleen Doyle
class of 1992
Kathleen Doyle with her puppets.
Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
I'm a costume designer, puppet and character designer, stop motion animation and toy theater designer and a stage director. I also write pieces for theater and pop-up installations.
After completing my SFD certificate, I received a B.A. from UMass Amherst, an M.A. in Dramaturgy from Villanova University, and an M.F.A. in Theater Design from New York University.
I’ve had work across the country, from the Honolulu Theater For Youth and Opera Alaska to The Spoleto Festival and The San Francisco Opera, as well as exhibited around the world from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Daegu, South Korea.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue fashion design?
Ever since I was a kid, I've been attracted to fibers, fabrics, knitting, crafts and clothes. And I love the power of story telling in theater! In opera, dance, animation as well... I'm drawn to all kinds of creative story telling techniques around the world, from Vietnamese water puppetry to traditional Hawaiian hula. The theatricality of dressing and conveying messages with our bodies and all physical adornment fascinates me. So theater and costume design provides me with the perfect union of art, performance and character design.
What is one of your favorite things about what you do?
The constant change, evolution, upheaval, struggle and growth keeps me on my toes.
The Snow Queen, directed by Jeffrey Mousseau, Here Arts Center, New York
Cut Paper Collage, Solo Exhibition at Studio 522, New York
"Anyone Can Whistle", directed by Amy Rogers, Pace Theatre, New York
What advice would you give to designers who are just starting out?
Find mentors! But, make it a two-way relationship. Apprentice those you admire. But don't try to “become” your mentor exactly. Find your own voice. Find what makes you special and then share that specialness.
"Qanuk Nanuk", Life Size Polar Bear Puppet, Directed by Kathleen Doyle, American Museum of Natural History, New York
What is one habit that you have incorporated into your daily routine to help you succeed?
I have to be willing to stand back and undo my work and start all over again to make it the best it can be. I have to do that all the time. So I guess I'd say that I need to be willing to be ruthless with my own work, regardless of my time or emotional investment.
How can others support your work?
Follow on Instagram @kathleen_doyle_design and subscribe to my children-focused YouTube channel, The Drama Mama Programa!
Visit Kathleen’s website to see more of her work.