Justin Thomas Design
Scenic, Lighting, Projection + Video Design for Theatre, Dance, Opera + Performance
I am a multidisciplinary theatrical designer, educator, and collaborator whose work spans scenic design, lighting design, projection design, and video for live performance. My practice is rooted in storytelling, visual composition, accessibility, and inclusive arts-making. I create environments that support performers, deepen audience engagement, and bring theatrical worlds vividly to life.
My designs have been presented nationally and internationally by leading arts organizations including Lincoln Center, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, the John F. Kennedy Center, Arden Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, the National Cathedral, VSA Arts, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and many others. Internationally, my design work has appeared in France, Bangladesh, India, and Russia.
In addition to my professional design practice, I serve as Professor of Theatre and Design in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Grinnell College, where I teach theatrical design and technology, theatre history, dramatic literature, collaboration, and courses centered on disability, accessibility, and inclusive arts practices. Learn more about Justin →
Design for Performance, Collaboration, and Access
I believe design is not simply decorative. It is dramaturgical, collaborative, and deeply human. Whether I am creating the architecture of a scenic world, sculpting space through light, integrating projection and video, or mentoring emerging artists, my approach centers clarity, imagination, and care.
My creative process brings together technical precision, visual storytelling, and a commitment to inclusive collaboration. Across theatre, dance, opera, and interdisciplinary performance, I work with directors, choreographers, performers, students, and production teams to develop designs that serve the story, the artists, and the audience. Learn more about Justin →
Scenic Design →
I create scenic environments that establish place, shape movement, and support the emotional arc of a performance. My scenic design work balances concept, function, and visual impact, offering performers a dynamic world in which the story can unfold.
From intimate theatre spaces to large-scale productions, my scenic designs are grounded in collaboration and crafted to support both the practical needs of production and the deeper dramaturgical life of the work.
Lighting Design →
Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in live performance. Through color, texture, shadow, rhythm, and focus, my lighting designs help define mood, guide attention, and transform the audience’s experience of time and space.
My lighting work supports theatre, dance, opera, and interdisciplinary performance, bringing emotional nuance and visual clarity to each production.
Projections + Digital Media →
I design projection and video elements that expand the world of performance without overwhelming it. My projection work may function as atmosphere, architecture, storytelling, abstraction, or visual counterpoint, depending on the needs of the production.
With a thoughtful approach to integration, timing, and scale, I use projection and video to deepen the live experience and create layered visual narratives.
Teaching →
As a professor, mentor, and theatre educator, I am committed to helping students develop as artists, collaborators, technicians, thinkers, and makers. At Grinnell College, I teach courses across theatrical design and technology, theatre history, dramatic literature, collaboration, disability, accessibility, and inclusive arts practices.
I have created original first-year tutorial courses, supervise credit-bearing practicum work for students involved in creative and production teams, and prioritize professional opportunities that include meaningful collaboration with undergraduate students.
A Career Rooted in Theatre, Design, and Education
I hold a Master of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Communication from Kalamazoo College. My professional and academic work reflect a long-standing commitment to rigorous design practice, inclusive collaboration, and the next generation of theatre artists.
At Grinnell College, my service has included chairing the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, serving as the NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative, and mentoring early career faculty.
Let’s Collaborate
Justin Thomas Design offers scenic design, lighting design, projection and video design, and educational collaboration for theatre, dance, opera, and interdisciplinary performance.
For production inquiries, teaching opportunities, or collaborative projects, please get in touch.
