Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546058
S P O T L I G H T By Kathleen Qiu Kourtney Coats ourtney Coats didn't grow up thinking he would end up a Costumer. While studying transportation design at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Coats envisioned a future in cars, but his education and experience in hard surface modeling soon attracted the attention of Legacy Effects, a visual effects studio specializing in creature design, prosthetics, animatronics, and specialty suits. "I started at Legacy Effects where I worked as a 3D modeler—3D sculpting, 3D scanning, 3D printing—I worked on costuming, props, and creatures. They were working on a lot of hard surface parts, like helmets and armor, so they saw my hard surface modeling as beneficial to being able to transition into that type of work. From there, I moved on to Creative Character Engineering, where it was not only costuming, but also props, along with organic modeling for special effects and makeup." Coats soon met 705 Specialty Costume Manufacturer Javier Gonzalez, who recommended that Coats work with Supervisor Linda Matthews on the TV series Jupiter's Legacy, where he got his permit and began working as a Costumer. He followed Jupiter's Legacy with other superhero and sci-fi projects such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Rebel Moon (both parts), Captain America: Brave New World, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. As part of his process, Coats explains that he always starts with the concept artwork. "Typically, I'm going to get a piece of artwork that has been deliberated by the designer, illustrator, and producers. My main focus is interpreting that and creating a 3D model. I really have to nail whatever that is, and from there, I create renders and produce 3D samples in a program like ZBrush. Once that's done, we move toward 3D printing, which then gets turned over to other specialty costumers to get molded and painted." This process requires collaboration from beginning to end, which is one of Coats's favorite parts about working as a Costumer. "Being able to work with the folks I've been able to work with: the other Specialty Costumers, the Pattern Makers, the Stitchers, the Tailors, the Molders, the Casters, who the average person doesn't think about being behind the scenes, that's one of my favorite things. It makes you smile to start a new project with new people, new creative processes, new personalities." Being in 705 has also provided Coats the opportunity to be more involved in the costume-making process. "On Black Panther, I was able to go to set several times and help with making repairs to costumes and making sure things fit and attach properly, which was a new experience. On 705 Specialty Costumer and Digital Designer Kourtney Coats 10 FALL 2026 K