December 6, 2025 

UTA Theatre Design & Technology area hosted the annual Student Design Exhibition showcasing standout work from Design & Technology BFA students from UTA and Baylor!  

Bold ideas, sharp visuals, and innovative tech from the designers who are shaping the future.  

The exhibition was open to the public 6:30-8, our students from UTA and Baylor gathered early in the day for a student mixer to connect with peers across the metroplex. After, we all gathered as a community for an industry roundtable with the following guests:  

Bella Barnett- freelance scenic painter, prop builder, set designer, art director, production designer, puppet fabricator, and many more. Bella is currently working as an assistant art director on the new Yellowstone spinoff Rio Paloma.  

Sarah Brown- a Dallas-based Art Director and Scenic Designer whose work spans theatre, film, and television. Sarah currently serves as Associate Professor of Practice in Set Design at SMU, where she mentors emerging designers and guides them in the collaborative processes of scenic design, construction, and storytelling.  

Avery Evans- stage and production manager extraordinaire. Evans has dedicated his career to making a change ethically in the industry primarily focusing on representation and equity, as well as youth and community outreach.  

Aaron Johansen- a Dallas based lighting designer for theater and live events, and the resident lighting director for the Dallas Opera.   

John Slauson- head of props at Dallas Theater Center.