The International Society of Black Costume Designers (ISBCD) is returning to San Diego Comic-Con with a panel built for fans who love the craft behind the action. “From Sketch to Stunt: Designing Costumes That Survive the Action” will bring five acclaimed costume designers together to discuss how costumes are built for intense film and television productions.
Action Costumes Have to Do More Than Look Cool
Superhero landings, wire work, fight scenes, explosions, and constant movement create serious design challenges. A costume cannot just look incredible on camera. It also has to protect performers, allow movement, survive repeated takes, and keep the production moving.
That makes this panel especially interesting for Comic-Con. Fans often focus on the final look of a superhero suit or fantasy costume. This discussion will dig into the hidden engineering behind those looks, including stretch fabrics, reinforcements, stunt duplicates, and fast on-set repairs.
Five ISBCD Designers Pull Back the Curtain
The panel will feature Trayce Gigi Field from Spider-Noir, Charlese Antoinette from Children of Blood and Bone, Antoinette Messam from The Bluff, Dominique Dawson from HIM, and Jennifer Bryan from The Acolyte. Phillip Boutte Jr., concept artist and co-founder of 9B Collective, will moderate.
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That lineup brings together designers with experience across superhero storytelling, fantasy, horror, action, and science fiction. Each genre has its own visual language, but all of them demand costumes that can perform under pressure.
ISBCD Celebrates Craft, Community, and Representation
ISBCD President Antoinette Messam said the organization is honored to return to Comic-Con and represent the community of Black costume designers. She also noted that SDCC gives the group a chance to share expertise while celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship behind iconic characters.
That mission is central to ISBCD. The nonprofit supports, celebrates, and advances Black costume designers across film, television, theater, live performance, and emerging media. Through education, mentorship, networking, and advocacy, the organization helps expand opportunity while highlighting the creative labor that shapes what audiences see on screen.
A Perfect Panel for Behind-the-Scenes Fans
“From Sketch to Stunt” sounds like a strong stop for fans who want more than announcements and trailer drops. It offers a closer look at the people solving practical problems before the cameras roll.
The panel also highlights something that should get more attention. The most memorable costumes are not only art pieces. They are tools, performance gear, character statements, and production problem-solvers all at once.
“From Sketch to Stunt: Designing Costumes That Survive the Action” takes place Thursday, July 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at San Diego Comic-Con. ISBCD is sponsored by Rochefort Montreal and Parsons New York.
Which costume designer are you most excited to hear from? What action costume do you think deserves more behind-the-scenes attention? Are you interested in learning how superhero and stunt costumes actually survive production? Share your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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