As those pre-production tasks finished and filming began, Mr. Dixon became a valuable presence in the production room. He watched and listened to the contestants as they planned their designs, making notes for the show’s on-camera hosts and mentors on anything he found particularly interesting.
For example, when a contestant indicated that they wanted to create something with velvet – a notoriously difficult material – Mr. Dixon recommended asking them if they had ever worked with that fabric before, to make sure they knew the challenges they’d face.
“We wanted every contestant to have a real shot at doing what they do and doing it well,” he said.
Mr. Dixon, who has been at Seneca since 2012, found that watching designers work their magic and getting more involved when circumstances warranted closely resembled teaching – with one big difference.
“It was a lot like me in the classroom. It was me in the role that I have at Seneca, but I’m visible at Seneca,” he said.
Another similarity was experience levels. The students who come to Mr. Dixon’s classes have varied backgrounds in the industry, similar to how the contestants on the show arrived at different stages of their journeys as designers.
Whether seeing students in the classroom or contestants in the production room, his approach is the same: be ready to help if needed while giving them space to showcase their creative skills.
“Even in my classroom, everyone might have the same assignment but their approach might be a little different,” he said. “I love discovering people with unique voices.”