OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Twitter Friends 2.0

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Twitter Friends 2.0

Another person I have befriended (somewhat) over Twitter was a fellow named Ian Giles, currently a Graphic Designer but past winner (twice) of the Disney ImagiNations competition.

The ImagiNations competition is presented to students from the creative arts to resolve problems or raise ideas for new themed environments/ attractions with vague, difficult briefs. I really longed to enter it but it is now only open to students who are enrolled in a college/ university in the US. Luckily, Ian (being Canadian) entered it just in time before they closed the competition to international students.

Obviously, being an ImagiNations winner I was in awe of his achievements, and decided to send him an email. Another great response came back, I was astounded!

He mentioned the DDG ( Disney Design Group) and the Disney Yellow Shoes as two other great places to aspire to being. DDG is responsible for all of the Disney World merchandise and DYS do all of the kind of marketing aspect, both of which are heavily involved in Graphic Design. 

He also spoke about a little company called Wrenhouse Design, who are based in Orlando and design logos and graphics for the Disney attractions. 

When I asked him about what he thinks it takes to be useful in this particular industry as a graphic designer he said "I'd say you need a good understanding of typography. Not just kerning and such, but also time periods and knowing what font fits the theme."

I also asked if he was trained in engineering at all, as I feared that this was a requirement, as collaboration with an engineer is the usual practice when designing rides. He said : 

No I'm not trained as an engineer. My background is actually theatrical design. I studied graphic design only recently. I was a set and lighting designer for years. My passion for theme parks really came from the show building facades and show scenes such as Pirates and Haunted Mansion. I loved it from the perspective of putting on a show. I loved how there was a "backstage" and how employees were called "cast." I wanted to be a part of that I guess. "

I am truly overjoyed at what a great response I had from him, and have kept in touch over twitter.

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Magazine subscriptions

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Magazine Subscriptions

After making all these friends on twitter, I would often find that they would be talking about current events in the themed entertainment industry that I didn't find out quite as fast. So, to keep up with the news, I subscribed to several different magazines. 

In print I subscribed (for free) to Park World Magazine, which comes monthly and is a great little publication perhaps on the more business side of things, but nonetheless a really interesting and informative read.

Online I subscribed to InPark Magazine, Amusement today and the TEA online posts on their LinkedIn profile. 

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Twitter friends

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Twitter friends

An unusual title for a blog post, I know, but I have been actively making friends (I don't want to call it networking or connections because it's really informal) over Twitter with people who live and work in the attractions industry in Orlando! I have met some incredibly charming and warm people who have so much time to help you and talk to you it's really flattering and inspiring. 

I acquired Twitter purely to create an active feed of the people and events happening in Orlando, Florida and not really for personal use like my Facebook account. I have followed over 500 accounts to get a real broad range of creatives, companies and organisations that have helped me shape together a sort of calendar of things I can do this summer.

It has also pointed me towards some great blogs - first up I will talk about is Brice Croskey's Progressland. Words cannot describe how intelligent and intellectual this blog is it's simply amazing. The blog's nature is a more theoretical look at the themed entertainment industry and 'The Art of Environmental Design and the Architecture of Reassurance'. It's so brilliantly written and to find out that he is a student just starting an MFA is even more impressive. This MFA is only the MFA in Themed Entertainment I am interested in pursuing held at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. The blog invites you to contact him via email - so I did!

And such an amazing piece it is! 

I had had troubles contacting SCAD requesting a prospectus and had no replies from them at all, so this was reassuring/ further worrying to hear I guess!

 It was great to hear him confirm that I will gain valuable experience just from working in Operations at the Disney Parks.

I had heard of the Themed Entertainment association through being subscribed to InPark magazine and Slice Creative Network.

He then went on to personally recommend loads of really fantastic books that are sure to be not only interesting, but great for referencing in my third year dissertation, which I hope to write on Theme Park theory:

I couldn't have asked for a better response. I may even take up his suggestion of going to Savannah (about 4 hours north of Orlando, but I have family that live in Tallahassee, about 3 hours north of Orlando) to have a look around the University (SCAD).

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy - Getting a job at Walt Disney World

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Design Strategy

Ok, so if I'm honest, I have really not been keeping up to date with my PPP blog. I regularly actively seek out new contacts and find new interests in the industry but never realise I am doing it! So now I'm going to be finally updating my blog and recording all the things I've been getting up to in the past few months.

August 2013

Way back in August of last year, with my love of theme park design relentlessly taking over my life, I found a way to an application to work in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida through the Disney International Program. The program is only open to students enrolled at university all over the world, to be employed for a short period of time in one of WDW's 4 famous parks. 
Of course, only entry level roles are offered on the program, but nevertheless I took the opportunity, dreaming of getting placed in a position where I could work on the rides themselves, as I saw it as the best kind of work experience I could get without a degree in my area of Themed entertainment design. To be able to work on the rides at entry level, you would be able to see the design and the workings of each ride, how things are run and be able to hopefully meet like minded individuals.

At first, my application was rejected by the in-country recruitment team, Yummy Jobs. I was so disappointed but couldn't see, (obviously from my point of view) any fault in my application. So I decided to email them to ask what I could do next time and for some feedback on my CV etc.
The response to this email was that there was no fault in my actual application, but that my availability dates must be from the 10th June 2014, and I had written in a later date because I wasn't entirely sure!
I managed to confirm more of a certain date and it turned out I was fully available! Thank gosh that I sent that email!

October 2013

In October, I was invited to a group interview in Manchester with the Yummy Jobs team. The interview was really informal and thankfully I had no problems with any of the questions they asked me about the Walt Disney Company (which I surprisingly knew an awful lot about, I didn't even realise) and I was fully comfortable with the thought of sharing a flat/ bedroom - I currently live with 11 other people!

Confirmation of success from Yummy Jobs!

November 2013

I was overjoyed when I found out I had passed the Manchester interview and was invited by Disney themselves to their offices in London for another interview the following month. The interview would be one-on-one this time, with Disney representatives from Orlando giving a talk, too. The interview was really nerve racking, and when they asked me what roles I was interested in I couldn't tell her enough that it would be Operations and Attractions and my reasons.

December 2013

When I received a confirmation email saying that I had gotten a place on the program, I was over the moon! I was also placed in Operations! It was the best Christmas present I could have wished for. This meant I would be living and working in Florida for nearly three months in summer 2014!

Confirmation of success from Disney!

April 2014

Since December, I have been busy booking flights, getting CRB checked, getting insurance, and getting my US Visa in London on 11th April. It was a stressful event taking over 3 hours waiting for the interview, but it was worth it when I went to pick up my passport last week with my VISA page all ready to go!

I have also been planning all different activities to get up to in my two months away, which will be put in some following posts, as there's a lot! I plan to set up a new blog for my trip away which I hope to keep updated whilst I'm there to record everything.

OUGD502 - PPP - Life's a Pitch - Final presentation & Thoughts

OUGD502 - PPP - Life's a Pitch - Final presentation & Thoughts

The presentation:

Today we presented our pitch for our fictional company, Lacuna. After first doing it I felt that it was a success, and we had covered most aspects of a real company with the potential to start up tomorrow! It was only when I watched a couple more presentations such as SubLime and Stvdio when I thought that there were a lot more aspects we could have looked into, and how much there actually is to think about when setting up a new company, and I was thoroughly impressed!

I would really like to study more into this kind of thing, this business orientated module has been extremely beneficial but I feel like we've only covered the tip of the iceberg!

OUGD502 - PPP Life's a Pitch - Content for presentation

Content of our presentation/ website/ about us:

Here at Lacuna we are a focused and proactive team of designers who are excited about brand YOU! Through various mediums, such as graphical signage, interior design and a pinch of storytelling we are sure to deliver show stopping, one-of-a-kind exhibition spaces that capture and inspire your audiences. 

What is Lacuna?

Lacuna definition: an unfilled space; a gap.

Here at Lacuna, we all share a belief that no one should be treated as a client, a target audience or an accumulative market statistic. We believe that people are people and everyone has the potential to become your friends. We know that design should be immersive, engaging, inspirational and above all, fun!
But don't take our word for it, let us show you what great design can do for you.


Who is Lacuna

Lacuna was formed in 2010 when five people together realised that they all shared the same passion for design that gets people talking. All of the team boast experience in the design and business fields, with BA Hons qualifications in Graphic Design. We share a passion for powerful and immersive user experiences through quality design.



Our Work

Since we came to be back in 2010, Lacuna has grown leaps and bounds with lots of popular exhibitions under our belt such as the Pro Beauty Show in Manchester Central, the Spring Fair in Birmingham NEC and the Destination & Caravan show in Event City. Because of our rapid growth over the years we've been able to expand our range of products and designs we can provide, now offering everything from full blueprint and digital 3D models, to fully constructed exhibiting stands.

Our Services

Our goal is to realise our clients' ideas into immersive structures, compelling visions and inspirational moments. We do that through a range of services:

Graphic Design

>Vinyl Transfers

>Inkjet Graphics

>Retail window graphics

>Floor Graphics

Digital Design

>Video and Animation

Our Creations

>Exhibition stands
>Furniture and Prop Rental
>Tables and Mini Kiosks

Our Clients

We don't work for you, we work with you to create something ensured to be exactly what you envision and more. 
Here are some of the people we've had the pleasure of sharing ideas with:
"Mamas & Papas" at the Ideal Home Show, Earls Court, London.
"1 Wall" at the Spring Fair, Birmingham NEC.
"Allinson" at the Cake and Bake, Event City, Manchester.
"Advance Beauty" at the Professional Beauty Show, Manchester Central.

OUGD502 - PPP Life's a Pitch - Further Research into our company

Further Research into our company

After another meeting with my group, we each agreed that the accommodation I had found was appropriate, even if it was a little small... We also decided that we weren't going to go down the packaging/ branding design route and instead go into exhibition design!

In exhibition design we can include;

• Branding 
• Identity
• Promotional material
• Point of sale design
• Interior Design

We would also have a broad range of secure clients in this closely related market that pays relatively well.

We decided to name our company 'Lacuna', a conceptual take on the exhibition space design we do:

These are the roles and responsibilities I have to have completed due the next group meeting:

Get full/ more information on accommodation space, Find names of exhibition spaces and shows, and names of organisers & write the content for our presentation.

****

Accommodation space:

Names of exhibition spaces: 

Birmingham NEC
Manchester Central (MCCCL)
Liverpool Echo Arena
Event City
Yorkshire Event Centre (YEC)
New Dock Hall

Names of notable exhibition shows:

Peugeot Show at Manchester Central
Multiple Sclerosis Society at Manchester Central

Krufts at NEC Birmingham
Ideal Home Show at NEC Birmingham
Spring Fair at NEC Birmingham
Pro Beauty Show at Manchester Central
Great British Cake and Bake at Manchester Central
Yorkshire Show at YEC
Golf Show at Event City
Bike Show at Event City
Tattoo Tea Party at Event City
Baby and Toddler Event at Event City
Destinations & the Caravan Show at Event City

OUGD502 - PPP - Studio Brief 1 - Creative Mornings Orlando

After speaking to Ian on email, there was a prompt to have a look at the Creative Morning sessions held down in Celebration! Here are some of the really interesting videos of past sessions: