Production Design Professionals Take Center Stage In ETEEAP
Production Design Professionals Take Center Stage In ETEEAP
13 March 2024
In a brightly lit room full of drafting boards, Ma. Ellawyn Cruz, the chairperson of the Production Design Program at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, sat down for an insightful interview about the College’s distinctive Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) for Production Design. As an academic institution like no other that is the pioneer of production design education in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, Benilde offers a program tailored for working professionals seeking to enhance their craft.
The ETEEAP Program is not merely a condensed version of the traditional Bachelor of Arts in Production Design. It is a dynamic initiative to accommodate individuals already immersed in the production design industry. Applicants must possess at least five years of hands-on experience in the field before considering enrollment. “One of the misconceptions is that it’s a start-from-scratch BA, but it’s more about pursuing a degree while you’re already practicing the craft,” explained Cruz. This distinction marks the first step in understanding the program’s philosophy – it’s not just education; it’s about elevating skills and validating existing expertise.
It is specifically designed for working professionals, providing flexibility regarding deadlines and pace. With a module-based approach, candidates can progress at their speed within the given timeframe. “As long as you meet the deadline, as long as you produce the expected output, then you’re working at your own pace, at your own time,” Cruz explained. This flexibility caters to the demanding schedules of working professionals, ensuring that the program is a facilitator of growth rather than a hindrance. Its faculty comprises all industry practitioners. Having faculty members deeply embedded in the industry offers students a more practical and relatable learning experience.
The validation process allows candidates to leverage their previous academic and professional experiences, enabling them to skip specific courses. “For example, let’s say you already took a BA or any bachelor’s degree before but did not finish. So, some of the subjects can be credited, especially like, for example, the GE subjects,” Cruz clarified. The General Education (GE) subjects serve as building blocks, and if a candidate can demonstrate previous knowledge in these areas, they might not have to retake them. This also extends to core subjects, offering a nuanced and personalized curriculum based on an individual’s expertise. The program allows candidates to hone in on specific clusters such as costume design, set design, and the production and collaboration cluster.
Each cluster demands a unique set of skills, ranging from the history and construction of set design to the intricate details of costume design, including makeup and wigs. “Proof of work is not just about pictures or documentation; it’s about interviews with the portfolio to prove that you know every single step of the work you are presenting,” Cruz explained. This emphasis on the interview as a validation tool underscores Benilde’s commitment to ensuring that candidates possess the skills, understanding, and depth required for a professional in the field.
When discussing what counts as an extensive portfolio, Cruz highlighted the importance of process documentation. From initial sketches to the execution phase and the final output, candidates are encouraged to showcase the evolution of their work. “So, you see that from sketch to execution to final output to maybe a theater production or a music video, you’d see that from start to finish,” Cruz elaborated. The program doesn’t just look for finished products but desires to witness the creative journey, the challenges faced, and the solutions crafted along the way. This emphasis on the story behind the creation distinguishes Benilde’s ETEEAP Program for Production Design, making it more than a degree – it’s a narrative of growth and proficiency. With a keen eye on the future, the program is a beacon for working production designers, offering education and a transformative journey into the heart of the craft.
To begin exploring your Benildean journey, you may call Benilde ETEEAP at (+63) 8230-5100 local 1206, (+63) 908 865 6704 or email eteeap@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit www.benilde.edu.ph/eteeap for more information.
