*click on most images to enlarge
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The Concept Illustration Process
The two drawings shown at right are examples of the ‘concept’ sketches that are always the first step in the design process of a theme park attraction once a script is written and approved. These two drawings were quite unique in my experience at WED.* *Walter Elias Disney - The theme park design arm of the Walt Disney Company. Located in Glendale. As I finished these sketches, The art director for the project grabbed them up and started away. "Wait, I shouted. Let me finish these and do the comprehensives." "I like them just as they are," she said. And I did not see the drawings until two years later; when I learned that she had the two sketches blown up, photographically, to eight feet high. And used the blow ups to build to the exact look of these sketches. |
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Presentation Drawings
This is an example of the type of illustration used to show what the finished area of a section of a theme park might look like. Illustrations like this are used by the model makers, art directors and all other members of the design team as hundreds of decisions are made. This particular drawing was one that I did while working with a sub-contracting design firm; for what eventually became LEGOLAND. These presentation style drawings are used as referrals: touchstones, by the entire team. And are updated and reworked as the project goes on.
This is an example of the type of illustration used to show what the finished area of a section of a theme park might look like. Illustrations like this are used by the model makers, art directors and all other members of the design team as hundreds of decisions are made. This particular drawing was one that I did while working with a sub-contracting design firm; for what eventually became LEGOLAND. These presentation style drawings are used as referrals: touchstones, by the entire team. And are updated and reworked as the project goes on.
Universal Studios
I began work at Universal Studios soon after they went into the business of designing and building the Hollywood and Florida theme parks. My job was much like set designing only it was called show designing. The work was much more complex, in that we were designing show and set pieces and ride vehicles that were permanent and not built for the short session of filming. As a concept show designer, all of my work was subject to in depth approval and reworking by architects, building contractors and safety experts. Shown here are several of the concept drawings and illustrations.
I began work at Universal Studios soon after they went into the business of designing and building the Hollywood and Florida theme parks. My job was much like set designing only it was called show designing. The work was much more complex, in that we were designing show and set pieces and ride vehicles that were permanent and not built for the short session of filming. As a concept show designer, all of my work was subject to in depth approval and reworking by architects, building contractors and safety experts. Shown here are several of the concept drawings and illustrations.
The ET Ride
ET is not one of my favorite movies! Because I had to sit through it about five times in order to research the story for my work on the design team, designing the ride track layout, the vehicle, and the sets; particularly ET's home planet and environment; which was never shown in the movie version. The color illustration and a couple of the set designs (shown here) illustrate some of the complicated steps in creating a theme park ride from the film version.
ET is not one of my favorite movies! Because I had to sit through it about five times in order to research the story for my work on the design team, designing the ride track layout, the vehicle, and the sets; particularly ET's home planet and environment; which was never shown in the movie version. The color illustration and a couple of the set designs (shown here) illustrate some of the complicated steps in creating a theme park ride from the film version.
The King Kong Ride
The King Kong Ride for Universal Studios is another example where the theme park attraction was developed after the story was told in film. In the case of King Kong, it had been told many times in many different versions. The design team had a great deal of research material to help in the creation of concept drawings, but the challenge was in editing the vast amount of previous images of the King Kong story to come up with a unique attraction that was true to the iconic character.
The King Kong Ride for Universal Studios is another example where the theme park attraction was developed after the story was told in film. In the case of King Kong, it had been told many times in many different versions. The design team had a great deal of research material to help in the creation of concept drawings, but the challenge was in editing the vast amount of previous images of the King Kong story to come up with a unique attraction that was true to the iconic character.
EPCOT
The design of EPCOT Center: Walt Disney's dream, was begun and supervised by the remaining artists, sculptures, animators and employees who knew Walt and were charged with keeping his dream alive. We, the younger people who joined the W.E. D. team in the seventies, had the advantage of working with the older men and women when the decision was made to finally design and build EPCOT.
The design of EPCOT Center: Walt Disney's dream, was begun and supervised by the remaining artists, sculptures, animators and employees who knew Walt and were charged with keeping his dream alive. We, the younger people who joined the W.E. D. team in the seventies, had the advantage of working with the older men and women when the decision was made to finally design and build EPCOT.
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Spaceship Earth Ride I worked on these two scenes in the Spaceship Earth Ride, which is the ride located in the famous silver dome pictured above. The ride tells the story of mankind: from cave dwellers to space explorers. I recently found the two images here on the web. They depict the cave scene, and the Gutenburg Printing Press scene that the ride passengers view as the moving cars travel through several sets depicting history. The cave scene is a full color depiction by one of Disney's great team of illustrators. The lower photo shows what the guests actually see as they ride past. I was amazed at how closely these two scenes resemble the original concept drawings that I did for this attraction. I also worked on the track layout for this ride. |
Six Flags Over Texas
When I began work with Sid and Marty Krofft, my first job was to create concept and finished drawings and illustrations for the new rides and attractions at Six Flags Over Texas, in Arlington: the first park to carry the Six Flags name. Below is one of the first designs for the park’s people-mover, the Aztec Train Ride. The Concept and finished drawings; and the actual building of the sets and show pieces were done at Sid and Marty’s studios in Los Angles and shipped and installed in Texas. This drawing: the Aztec train ride, was the very first design, for the park. Six Flags theme parks are now a multi billion dollar empire. (Aztec Train Ride Concept drawing to be replaced soon)
When I began work with Sid and Marty Krofft, my first job was to create concept and finished drawings and illustrations for the new rides and attractions at Six Flags Over Texas, in Arlington: the first park to carry the Six Flags name. Below is one of the first designs for the park’s people-mover, the Aztec Train Ride. The Concept and finished drawings; and the actual building of the sets and show pieces were done at Sid and Marty’s studios in Los Angles and shipped and installed in Texas. This drawing: the Aztec train ride, was the very first design, for the park. Six Flags theme parks are now a multi billion dollar empire. (Aztec Train Ride Concept drawing to be replaced soon)
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Knott's Berry Farm During my employment at Knott’s, as a consultant designer, I worked with the in-house design team to make design changes and new innovations for new and existing shows during the time the “Peanuts” characters became part of the theme park’s attractions. I also produced a couple of illustrations (shown here) that were used as promotion images for the Park. The dark image is an illustration I made one year for what they call Knott's Scary Farm. It happens every Halloween. |
KOREAN DESIGN PROJECT
While working as a freelance designer, I was asked to go to Seoul Korea to meet with a team of Korean artists and designers working on a new theme park. The team provided me with research material to produce concept drawings and elevations for a large ride that featured a trip though time where guests could experience the history of Korea. The drawing at right is an example of a concept drawing taken to the next step in the long process of design development. These, more 'conceptual' drawings show much more detail of design elements; such as the people-moving train in the background.
While working as a freelance designer, I was asked to go to Seoul Korea to meet with a team of Korean artists and designers working on a new theme park. The team provided me with research material to produce concept drawings and elevations for a large ride that featured a trip though time where guests could experience the history of Korea. The drawing at right is an example of a concept drawing taken to the next step in the long process of design development. These, more 'conceptual' drawings show much more detail of design elements; such as the people-moving train in the background.
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Concept Drawing in Film Set Design Concept drawings are used in set designing for the film industry as well. During the making of Marooned, I worked with scientists at NASA to obtain the information, photographs and pieces of hardware that I needed to design models, props and sets of space vehicles. The picture at right shows a hatch door that I had to draw in detail. The door had to be built to fully function for the actors to exit the space vehicle. This was the kind of designing I really enjoyed: working with specifications from NASA to make the drawings, then seeing my drawings brought to life by the prop makers for use in the film, was very rewarding. The film won an Academy Award for special effects. |
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