Period Research
Period Research is an essential skill in costume design where professionals study historical clothing, fashion trends, and social customs from specific time periods. This research helps costume designers create authentic looks for theater productions, movies, or TV shows set in different historical eras. It involves examining historical documents, photographs, paintings, and surviving garments to understand how people dressed during particular times in history. This skill is similar to historical research or fashion history research, but specifically focused on clothing and accessories for theatrical or film production purposes.
Examples in Resumes
Conducted extensive Period Research for Victorian-era theater production
Led Period Research and documentation efforts for Netflix historical drama series
Created detailed costume designs based on Period Research for 1920s-themed musical
Typical job title: "Costume Researchers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Costume Researchers
Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage research for multiple historical periods simultaneously for different productions?
Expected Answer: A senior researcher should discuss organization systems, digital and physical archives, time management, and delegation skills. They should mention experience with managing research teams and maintaining research libraries.
Q: How do you balance historical accuracy with practical production needs?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to make informed compromises between historical authenticity and modern production requirements like budget, actor comfort, and stage/camera requirements while maintaining the essence of the period.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What resources do you use for period research?
Expected Answer: Should mention various sources like museum archives, historical photographs, paintings, fashion plates, surviving garments, and digital databases. Should explain how to verify source reliability.
Q: How do you document and organize your research findings?
Expected Answer: Should describe systems for cataloging research, creating mood boards, maintaining digital archives, and sharing findings with the design team.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's your process for researching a specific historical period?
Expected Answer: Should outline basic research steps: identifying the time period, gathering reference materials, understanding social context, and creating initial research boards.
Q: How do you determine what's historically accurate for a given time period?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic verification methods, use of primary sources, and understanding of reliable historical fashion resources.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic research techniques
- Understanding of historical fashion periods
- Creating research boards
- Basic costume terminology
Mid (2-5 years)
- Detailed knowledge of multiple historical periods
- Advanced research methodology
- Research documentation systems
- Understanding of costume construction needs
Senior (5+ years)
- Expert knowledge of fashion history
- Research team management
- Budget planning for research needs
- Collaboration with production teams
Red Flags to Watch For
- Limited knowledge of basic historical periods
- No experience with research documentation
- Unfamiliarity with primary research sources
- Poor understanding of how costume pieces work together
- Lack of knowledge about different fabric types and historical materials
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
From Panic Pacing to Productive Hiring: How to Truly Improve Recruiter Efficiency
The Cryptic Secrets of Data-Driven HR: Metrics that Actually Matter (and Some That Might Make You Laugh)
Recruitment Metrics That Matter in 2025: Moving Beyond Time-to-Hire
