Stephanie Petagno

Stephanie Petagno is a Professor of Production Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), specializing in costume design, immersive experiences, and cross-disciplinary production. Her career spans theater, film, opera, and music video projects with a focus on historical authenticity, avant-garde experimentation, and narrative-driven aesthetics.

Education: M.F.A. in Costume Design from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), B.F.A. in General Sculptural Studies from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Professional training includes roles as co-instructor at CalArts' Community Arts Partnership (2020) and guest designer at Chavez Ravine (2019).

Research interests include: 1) Costume design as narrative driver in theater/opera, 2) Immersive environments in music videos and installations, 3) Historical costume curation techniques, 4) Special effects makeup for film and theater. Notable projects include award-winning designs for The Day Shall Declare It (Stage Raw Awards), ZONA (2019 film), and Museum of America (30 Seconds to Mars collaboration).

Recent work trends show increasing focus on interdisciplinary projects blending theater, film, and interactive media. Her 2016-2019 projects demonstrate expertise in dystopian narratives (The Last Shift), historical drama (Chavez Ravine), and avant-garde experimentation (LORE immersive experience).

• Received Encore! Producer's Award (2016) for innovative production design
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Craft Grant (2014)
• Selected as guest instructor at multiple institutions including CalArts and LA Mission College

Labs/Teams: Works closely with Moving Art Collective, Son of Semele Productions, and Wilderness Collective. Current projects emphasize collaborative approaches to costume design and immersive storytelling.