Application of Knowledge Management in Costume Design: The Case of Measure for Measure

Theater is a form of communication, whereas knowledge management (KM) is a type of strategy. Knowledge management application in costume design is still at early stage in Asia. Through case study and content analysis, this paper probed into costume design management from the perspective of knowledge accumulation of costume design. Using costume design of a recent production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure as an example, this paper digitalized and organized the documents of text analysis, role analysis, character relationship chart, body measurement chart, and costume. It further analyzed the design knowledge generated in costume design in different phases, planed the business framework of knowledge management, and constructed modules of the costume design process. Through design creation, conceptual integration, design record, modification, and renewal, continuously accumulated knowledge is fed back to the knowledge system. This paper thus constructed a knowledge system of costume design. As the nature of costume design is often perceptual, this paper developed the systematic method and procedure of carrying out costume design through the use of a computer design system database and digital calculation. Through design creation, conceptual integration, design record, modification and renewal, the knowledge is fed back to the knowledge system and continuously accumulates. Communicating the theory of knowledge management to costume design is a groundbreaking attempt in the theater field. Providing a working model from an analytic script to stage costume with a project example, this paper also verifies that KM = (P + K) S can and does improve work efficiency in the field of costume design.