Maiko Chii

Set & Costume Designer

New York, NY
maikochii@yahoo.com

Profile

Set and costume designer with over 20 years of experience working in theatre and educational productions in the United States and Japan. My work ranges from classical plays and musicals to new works and collaborative projects in university settings.

Alongside professional design practice, I have taught set design, scenic painting, and collaborative design processes for directors and playwrights. My teaching focuses on how space, budget, and artistic dialogue shape theatrical storytelling.

Professional Experience

Freelance Set and Costume Designer
2002–Present

Designed productions for universities, theatres, and new play development programs across the United States and internationally.

Selected venues include:

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • The New School – School of Drama

  • Western Connecticut State University

  • City College of New York

  • Ramapo College

  • New Ohio Theatre

  • Luna Stage

  • Ensemble Studio Theatre

Teaching Experience

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Set Design & Scenic Painting
2016–2025

  • Teach undergraduate courses in set design and scenic painting

  • Guide students through concept development, drafting, model building, and collaborative production processes

The New School – School of Drama (MFA Program)
Design for Directors and Playwrights
2017–2021

  • Taught graduate students how directors and playwrights can develop productive dialogue with designers

  • Focused on collaborative storytelling, spatial thinking, and visual dramaturgy

Selected Design Credits

Educational and University Productions

  • Little Women (Musical) – Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • 9 to 5 – Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • She Kills Monsters – Drew University

  • Into the Woods – Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • A Little Night Music – Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • Avenue Q – Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • Company – Western Connecticut State University

  • Uncle Vanya – Western Connecticut State University

  • Cabaret – Fairleigh Dickinson University

Professional Productions

  • Fernando – New Ohio Theatre (Ice Factory Festival)

  • Reparation – Luna Stage

  • White People – Ensemble Studio Theatre

  • Marathon – Ensemble Studio Theatre

Assistant Set Designer

  • Rock of Ages – Broadway

  • Miss Julie – Cherry Lane Theatre

  • The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow – Yale Repertory Theatre

Visual Merchandising

Freelance Visual Merchandiser
2008–2015

Designed and installed window displays for luxury fashion brands including

  • Donna Karan

  • Ralph Lauren

Education

Yale School of Drama
MFA, Design

Hunter College (CUNY)
BA, Theatre / Studio Art

Keio University (Japan)
BA, Human Relations

Awards

  • Merit Award – The Drunken City (Western Connecticut State University)

  • Donald and Zorka Oenslager Fellowship in Design – Yale School of Drama

  • Charles Elson Award in Design – Hunter College

Professional Affiliation

  • Member
    United Scenic Artists Local 829

Skills

Design Software

  • Vectorworks

  • Photoshop

Technical Skills

  • Model making

  • Hand drafting

  • Scenic painting

  • Set decoration

  • Costume styling

Languages

English/Japanese