CMU School of Drama


Thursday, March 23, 2023

A Disney Imagineer Shares Why It’s Important To Dream Big, And What It’s Like Creating Unique Attractions

www.forbes.com: When Ann Morrow Johnson steps into her office every morning, her mind is flooded with the endless possibilities that could eventually be coming to Disney Parks around the world. As the Vice President of Blue Sky and Creative Development at Walt Disney DIS +1.2% Imagineering, Johnson leads a team of creators and big idea thinkers to imagine what could come to the Disney Parks, Resorts and Disney Cruise Line.

5 comments:

John Alexander Farrell said...

The article about a Disney Imagineer sharing the importance of dreaming big and the process of creating beloved attractions is a fascinating insight into the world of creative design. It highlights the fact that imagination and creativity are integral to the process of creating something truly special and memorable.

One of the key takeaways from the article is the importance of having a clear vision and a willingness to take risks. As the Imagineer notes, many of the most beloved attractions were born out of bold ideas that required a leap of faith to bring to life. This willingness to take risks is something that can be applied to many aspects of life, not just creative design. It requires a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown.

Another important point made in the article is the value of collaboration and teamwork. The Imagineer notes that every project involves a diverse group of people, each with their own unique skills and perspectives. By working together, they are able to bring the vision to life in a way that would not have been possible on their own. This is a reminder that, no matter how talented we are, we cannot achieve greatness alone.

Ava Notarangelo said...

This was a really cool article to read and it made me think a lot right now about the way that I have grown to appreciate my own work as an artist, as well as my work as a student. before senior year, I didn't really believe that I could do big things, and I didn't even think that I would apply to Carnegie Mellon, never mind get in and end up going. I didn't really realize that what I was doing as a freshman lighting designer was Monumental for the school and the more praise that I got my confidence grew as a designer and I Felt like I would actually be able to do big things. when I first started I felt very closed in by wanting to do things technically correctly, rather than taking my own creative Liberties as a designer. as I started doing more and more I was able to think outside of the box because I was able to play with the dark lighting that I enjoyed doing.

Hailey Garza said...

Being a Disney Imagineer has just the right amount of creativity and imagination that I would hope to have in a career one day. Don’t get me wrong, I love the theatre and that’s what I want a main part of my career to be in. I think it would be very neat to be an Imagineer for a part of my career as well. It focuses on such a different aspect of entertainment, one that’s more up close and physical in a sense. I can’t light a rollercoaster that the audience goes in on the stage, but I can do that at a Disney Park. Disney Imagineers also have access to some really cool new technology that you just don’t see in theatre. And, Disney’s heavy focus on women in the entertainment industry makes it an inviting place for people like me.

Selina Wang said...

Becoming an Imagineer has been my dream for the past decade or so. I truly believe in the magic that Disney creates and now I’m taking a class in school specifically about how this magic is created. One of the most important concepts that Johnson talks about in this article is putting themselves in the shoes of the guests. This allows them to come up with different possible themed experiences and after this vision is generated, the Imagineers then make it come alive. Sometimes the experience can be small – it might just be a small game stall around the park right outside a restaurant, but it still provides entertainment and immersion for the guests. The article also talks about the use of technology in Imagineering, and I believe that technology shouldn’t be used just for the sake of using it; rather, it should be used to make the experience better for the guests. I think right now we are living in a world where we have too many choices in technology and I believe that only choosing those that serves the purpose is a difficult but crucial step.

Jordan Pincus said...

UH OH it’s an Imagineering article!!!! It’s not a secret that this is my DREAM of dreams. Seeing and reading the article makes me want to jump out of my skin. I have a list of notable Imagineers in my notes, and she is one of them. Theme parks and immersion and magic are what I want to do with my life. Very often I picture the dream of getting to create and render and model and imagine concepts that will eventually be brought to life and (somewhat) immortalized for people to experience? It sounds so cheesy, but like, you can identify that feeling of when you know what you truly dream of. I want to be an Imagineer so bad it consumes me, and it is an even more comforting thing to know that the success of Imagineering has been shared by women. There is NOTHING like going to Disney Parks. The amount of love and detail that this work takes in every step of the process is exactly where I feel like I belong. This was mainly a rant about my dreams I guess whoops