Christopher Beri Tangka

2023
Industrial Design. Theatre.

While my older brother was desperately trying to get me to understand sports, as a kid I was always running around the house, creating worlds for myself, and generally being curious about the world.  Eventually, when the time to think about college started to approach, half-jokingly, I stated that I wanted my college major to be “Shapes”. Clearly, “Shapes” is not an actual major, but it led me to applying my love of creation to the field of Industrial Design. Here, whether on the page or prototyping in foam, I could explore shapes, materials, and how careful decision making, with a touch of love, can imbue any object with lasting meaning and purpose.

Concurrently, I had always loved performing. Chorus, Theater, Dance, and eventually, Band. I love the process of crafting something with all my closest friends and getting the opportunity to present an experience. I never, however, thought the two would combine until arriving here at Notre Dame. Somehow, I had thought that I had left theatre behind, but when I saw PEMCO’s (Pasquerilla East Musical Company) production of The Wild Party in the spring of my first year, I knew I had to return. There, I discovered Costume Design. By being an assistant costume designer for a couple of shows in my sophomore year, I grew to love this space where my tendency for building impactful shapes, and a good schedule combined with the ability to affect people and the idiosyncrasies of the human body, which I grew to learn during my time performing. From here, my fascination with clothing and what a simple garment can say swiftly included an interest in fashion as a vessel for expression.

Long gone are the days as a child where clothes were merely a thing I let my dad pick out for me; now every outfit is a journey, every new day a chance to state a message, and I cannot help but be excited to learn how one of the best in the industry sculpts the landscape and language of what we wear every day.