Darby is from Raleigh, NC

At her core, Darby is an interdisciplinary artist–a designer, an engineer, and a manager. She has a decade of experience creating theatre, including work in lighting design, projection design, and stage management. She also has a master’s degree in computer engineering from NC State University and four years of experience as a software engineer.

When you work with Darby, she brings every part of herself to the table. You can expect her to think outside the box, like using a wide-angle camera lens and a 3D printed mount to make a projection ever so slightly wider, while using every resource at her disposal. She will jump right in and learn everything she needs for a production, even if that means learning how to use Blender to create a 90-minute animation of the sun setting across a street of brownstones.

Darby loves finding small ways to make productions appear more real to the audience. From mimicking museum lighting by adding a spotlight on a tapestry to slowly shifting the position and color of sunlight, if you give her a window, she will put a light behind it. She loves using practical light sources, adds texture wherever she can, and almost always prefers using conventional fixtures to LEDs (something she never thought she would say a few years ago).

Accessibility is a priority for Darby. Much of her experience as a software engineer has been testing and remediating accessibility issues on websites, and it has shaped her design philosophy. As much as possible, Darby strives to create designs that are accessible. When specific changes are needed for sensory-friendly performances, she ensures that the experience remains the same for all audiences.

If Darby sounds like a good fit for your next project, visit the contact page and send her a message. If you’re not sure where to start, ask her about her guinea pig noises! She’s still holding out hope that skill will be used for a project eventually.