What to study to design costumes for film?

Costume design is silent storytelling. Through colors, textures, volumes, and details, each garment reveals who the characters are before they say a word. Designing costumes for film is not just about creating clothes: it is about understanding the visual and emotional language of stories. If you are passionate about design, art, and cinema, this master’s is a gateway to the professional world.

At ECPV – Basque Country Film School, we offer you an intensive one-year master’s program designed to train you as a professional in film costume design, combining theory, practice, creativity, and direct contact with the industry.

"Clothing is a character’s external skin." — Jacqueline Durran, Oscar-winning costume designer

Why specialize in costume design for film?

Costume is not an aesthetic accessory, but a narrative tool. Good design adds depth, reinforces the setting, and dialogues with art direction, cinematography, and performance. This master’s is designed so you can face any production with technical and artistic criteria, from initial design to final delivery.

You will learn to design, plan, supervise, and execute fiction costumes from a professional cinematic perspective, and you will also acquire skills applicable to theater and fashion performance.

What will you learn in the master’s?

• History of costume and dramatic character analysis.
• Costume design, characterization, and functional design.
• Knowledge of materials, fabrics, and their narrative uses.
• Costume tailoring for film: techniques, cuts, and finishes.
• Script reading and breakdown from the costume perspective.
• Team organization and department coordination.
• Setting, makeup, hairdressing, and integrated characterization.
• Labor rights, contracts, and professional management.

Training connected to real shoots

During the master’s, you will collaborate in joint practical sessions with students of directing, cinematography, editing, and production. You will participate in shoots and complete a final master’s project applying everything you have learned. The approach is practical, transversal, and collaborative, just like a real costume team.

The master’s has been designed by active professionals with experience in film, series, theater, and platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and EiTB. You will learn from those who are currently working in the industry.

What career opportunities does this training offer?

Upon completion, you will be ready to work in:

• Costume design for film, series, theater, or advertising.
• Costume assistance, tailoring, and styling on set.
• Costume department supervision.
• Collaboration with art, makeup, and directing departments.

You will also be able to start your creative path with personal projects or integrate into professional teams with a clear vision of real on-set work.

Perhaps it is time to transform your visual sensitivity and passion for detail into a solid profession within cinema.

See the full Master’s in Costume Design for Film program here.