WDI's ImagiNations Design Competition Reflects Diversity and Innovation.
Some of the brightest young minds from around the world came together in 2008 for the 17th annual ImagiNations Design Competition, bringing their creative, innovative and globally diverse ideas for original Disney attractions, hotels, restaurants or entirely new experiences.
"ImagiNations was started to attract young people from a wide variety of backgrounds to become the next generation at Walt Disney Imagineering," said Marty Sklar, Imagineering executive vice president and a key supporter of the program. "When guests visit our parks, they feel most welcome when they recognize something of themselves there. So it makes sense that the people creating our attractions and experiences should reflect the diversity we see in our audiences."
Sixty-seven teams submitted project proposals in early spring, using media such as artwork, models, videos and computer graphics to tell the story of their idea. Semifinalists were announced in April, and the final six teams of 17 individuals representing a range of nationalities, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds were named a few weeks later.
In June, these finalists traveled to Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, Calif., for an intense, 10-day experience touring Disney facilities and theme parks, meeting Disney legends and working with mentors to put the finishing touches on their proposals. After presenting to an executive committee, they learned who among them took top honors - Lauren Baldesarra and Jason Yeadon of Syracuse University in New York. The duo won Best in Show for their concept that would use location-aware technology and cameras installed throughout Disney properties to capture favorite moments and provide families with a three-dimensional representation of their visit.
"Being around all this creativity and ideas at Imagineering has been amazing, overwhelming," Jason said. "You have a perception of what Disney's all about, but everything we've seen has blown away our expectations," Lauren added. Jason and Lauren as well as most of the other finalists had the opportunity to interview with hiring managers for roles at WDI and were also offered summer internships, where they worked alongside creative professionals on a variety of projects for several months.
For 2008 finalist Manuel Arredondo, a lifelong dream to be an Imagineer came true when he accepted a full-time role as an associate on the WDI Blue Sky team. "I remember going to Disneyland as a kid then staying up all night drawing everything I had seen," Manuel said. "I didn't know the word 'Imagineering' back then, but I always knew I wanted to design rides."
"I was so thrilled with this year's finalists and the quality of their projects," said Carmen Smith, a Disney executive who helps guide ImagiNations. "These are the Imagineers of tomorrow, the creators of the inclusive products and experiences that will make our parks exciting and relevant to guests for many years to come."
ImagiNations invites college students to use their technical, artistic or writing skills to design an attraction, hotel... even a land within an existing Disney theme park or resort! Pre-qualified teams of no more than four members submit their materials in storyboard, model or video format to WDI, and a team of Imagineers selects finalists to travel to Glendale and complete their projects with hands-on input from WDI staff.
Dream, Design, Diversify!Click Here to Enter the 2009 ImagiNations Design Competition.
Stanford & University of California, San Diego Finalists
