If the play is about the joy and freedom of nature, then the designer could use flowing water on stage to symbolize life and joy. For instance, if the play's point of view is about restriction and frustration, then the designer could use the metaphor of a brick wall that blocks the characters from reaching their goals. Sometimes the stage designer will find a visual metaphor about the play. This is where art departs from realism and the design becomes more powerful.
It is the designer's job to find this point of view and express it through the art of design. Usually there is a deeper meaning within the story that connects with the designer and audience. However, there is more to the art than just recreating reality. For instance, if the play takes place in a diner, then the stage designer can easily recreate that diner on stage. Stage designers must create sets, costumes, sound, and lighting to serve the purpose of the play. The main function of stage design is to support the story of the play. So how does a stage designer achieve this? Below are some basic principles and functions that all stage designers follow to create the world of the play. It is the designer's job to create a physical and theatrical world that enables the actor to do this. What Jones was saying is that the actor's job is to tell the story of the play. The famous American director and stage designer Robert Edmond Jones said that the primary function of a stage designer is support the natural powers of the actor. From a simple painted backdrop to sophisticated LED projection screens that can project almost any image imaginable, the stage designer has always been an indispensible member of the creative production team. Over the many centuries of theatre, all over the world stage designers have created their amazing art for plays, musicals, operas, and worship productions. "West Side Story" Stage Design: Cameron Anderson, Lighting Design: David Martin Jacques, Costume Design: Alice Bristow