Rotary Arts Conversations
Tap into the minds of some of the most creative talent in our community. Our guest this evening is Susan Smythe who has had a varied career as a designer of many things, ranging from costumes and buildings to design objects. In 2007, she created her own housewares and accessories company called Crooked Dog Designs.
Susan Smythe
Susan Smythe has had a varied career as a designer of many things, ranging from costumes and buildings to design objects. In 2007, she created her own housewares and accessories company called Crooked Dog Designs.
Susan began her career at People’s Light theatre as the costume shop manager and designer before moving on to Swarthmore College where she ran the Performing Arts Center, and was also the resident designer for dance and theatre. For 25 years, Susan worked alongside her husband, Robert Smythe, in his critically acclaimed company, Mum Puppettheatre. She also worked for other Philadelphia theatre companies, including InterAct, PIFA at the Kimmel Center, Tribe of Fools, The Beserker Residents, Hedgerow Theatre and for the Drexel University theater department.
After transitioning away from doing theatre full time, Susan now works at Swarthmore College as a Senior Project Manager in the Facilities Department. She enjoys collaborating with architects and interior designers to solve design and construction problems with more permanent solutions than those found in theatre, which is a very transitory medium.