When most people hear the words, “climate change,” their brains shut off. Even though it’s one of the most important issues that all of us Earth-dwellers need to learn about, most of us are bored stiff by it, or overwhelmed by the problems it entails. The Chabot Space and Science Center sees climate change a little differently: for them it’s an approachable issue with tangible and even fun solutions. [caption id="attachment_5901" align="alignnone" width="560" caption="Kids crowd around a retired spacecraft at Chabot's "Beyond Blastoff" exhibit"][/caption] Chabot has historically been a space-centric science museum, but it recently started focusing on earth sciences to cater ...
Stuart Brown, founder and president of the National Institute for Play When I drove up to the headquarters of the National Institute for Play, it seemed entirely fitting to me that there should be a treehouse and swinging rope adjacent to Stuart Brown’s office-in-the-woods. When he is not traipsing the continent spreading wisdom about the importance of play, Stuart works in an intimate, clubhouse-like room amongst the trees, running the NIFP and finishing his second book. [caption id="attachment_5671" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Swinging rope under his treehouse"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_5630" align="alignnone" width="168" caption="Stuart's first book"][/caption] Having already written the book on play (literally), Stuart shares his findings ...
Sitting on a park bench is usually a simple activity, consisting of people watching, relaxing, and perhaps some sandwich eating – but not much personal meaning. For Richard Ford, however, sitting on a park bench in the center of San Francisco’s Presidio felt like a walk down memory lane. Within a turn of his head were three major entertainment companies that played an important role in defining his career: Lucasfilm, The Exploratorium, and Disney (represented by the Walt Disney Family Museum). [caption id="attachment_5328" align="alignnone" width="560" caption="Richard Ford rides with his sons across the SF bay with the Giant's Stadium coke bottle"][/caption] Starting ...
Ever wanted to go to a museum where touching the exhibits is actually allowed? At the Exploratorium in San Francisco, children and adults alike are not only allowed to play, create, and interact with exhibits, they are encouraged to do so. With a name like “Exploratorium,” one would expect nothing less. Far from a traditional science museum, the Exploratorium has “explainers” rather than docents, a “tinkering studio” rather than a special exhibits gallery, QR codes for Internet and Smartphone interaction instead of just explanatory placards, and a consortium of artists and scientists instead of traditional curators. At a place where ...
Christopher Stapleton calls himself a Creative Venture Catalyst. His goal: to help shape the next generation of experiential learning. In our information-packed interview with Chris, we got a chance to understand his vision for the future of education. Chris currently runs Simiosys Real World Laboratory, a creative think tank that aims to transform education into compelling entertainment. His work combines story structure, play primitives, and game mechanics with learning theories. [caption id="attachment_4886" align="aligncenter" width="560" caption="Simiosys Real World Laboratory: Dmitriy Dryagin, Sam Neblett, and Dana Mott"][/caption] Highlights of Chris’s career include the design and production of Broadway shows, feature films, and theme park rides ...
EntertainmentDesigner.com recently had the opportunity to sit down with Nils-Erik Winther, an executive at Bakken, which is thought to be the world's oldest theme park. Bakken has been around as a tourist draw since as early as the 1500's, and we were curious to hear what the park is like today. Here is what Nils-Erik had to say: **** EntertainmentDesigner: What is your role at Bakken? Nils-Erik Winther: I am the CEO of A/S Dyrehavsbakken – the facility company owned by the “tent-holders” from Bakken. My role is to facilitate the amusement park from marketing, security, and renovation. Our main objective is to ...
When one hears the word “conference,” what comes to mind is a stuffy auditorium full of briefcase toting, suit-clad people viewing Powerpoint slides of charts and graphs. At the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, this stereotype was far from true. The first thing one sees when descending the escalator into the city-sized Orange County Convention Center is the glimmering top of a working carousel, a giant lizard atop an inflatable slide, and the flashing lights of hundreds of games. The convention floor is a hubbub of dings, wooshes, buzzes, and other playful noises. Exhibitor booths ...
Nestled in the trees on the edge of Lake Merritt and hidden amongst the drab, cement buildings of downtown Oakland sits an enchanting world where fairytales come to life and kids are the ones in charge: Children’s Fairyland. EntertainmentDesigner.com had the unique opportunity to tour the 10-acre park and see dozens of storybook attractions, including the “Wonder-Go-Round,” a carousel with Alice in Wonderland characters, “Peter Rabbit’s Village,” where live bunnies reside in storybook houses, and a life-sized pirate ship turned playground. Fairyland is not only a fun and imaginative place for young kids; it is also a historically significant park because ...
EntertainmentDesigner.com recently had a chance to sit down with Andrew Gartner, founder and creative director of Gartner Design Company, which does everything from creating brand identities and film sets to designing hotel interiors and interactive museum exhibits. Just as Gartner Design Company’s repertoire is diverse and extensive, its founder’s background is equally varied. After studying architecture at UC Berkeley, Andrew designed interiors on both coasts, including California, where he was part of a team that designed a movie studio for George Lucas. He then started Gartner Design Company in New Mexico, but not before he designed museum exhibits, film sets, ...
Visit The Totally Fun Company website. If you’ve ever been to Universal Studios, you’ve seen the work of our latest interviewee. While you may not know Peter Alexander or The Totally Fun Company, you are guaranteed to know the rides E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, and Earthquake. These entertainment experiences, along with many others, highlight the work of The Totally Fun Company, which does everything from designing rides to master planning of theme parks to producing shows and building family entertainment centers. We had the privilege of spending some time with Peter Alexander, president of The Totally Fun Company, ...
Written by: Brendan Brehm Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 .
Audience members at this year’s Coachella Music Festival were stunned when deceased rapper Tupac Shakur appeared alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to perform two songs before vanishing into thin air. In the aftermath of the festival, we’ve been reading ... Read More
Written by: admin Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 .
Aboard Disney’s newest cruise liner, Disney Fantasy, guests have more than a few options when it comes to dining; but there is one restaurant that certainly boasts more magic than any of the others. The Animator’s Palate, featuring the “Animation ... Read More
Written by: admin Friday, April 20th, 2012 .
Walt Disney World’s fastest ride is now closed while it undergoes a major overhaul. The Test Track Attraction at the Epcot Center has been a guest favorite since it opened back in 1999. The simulated GM test center was part ... Read More
Written by: admin Thursday, April 19th, 2012 .
Typically the designers we feature here are adults with child-like sensibilities; but today we’re featuring a young designer who is still officially a kid. At just nine-years-old, Caine Monroy of Los Angeles, California has already received international attention for his creative ... Read More
Written by: admin Thursday, April 19th, 2012 .
Here’s one of the more unusual projects we’ve come across in a while – and trust us, we come across some pretty far-out ideas on a regular basis. What we have for you today is La Villa Hamster in Nantes, ... Read More
Written by: admin Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 .
Lighting design plays a huge role in most of the projects we feature here on entertainmentdesigner.com. The lighting designers involved with these projects dedicate their lives to developing innovative new ways of incorporating light into entertaining experiences. But no matter ... Read More
Written by: admin Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 .
Just recently we ran an article on the booming zip line industry in which we showcased some of our favorite zip line tours from around the world. As you may’ve noticed, all the zip lines had one thing in common: ... Read More
Written by: admin Saturday, April 14th, 2012 .
At “Sleep No More,” the latest production from the British theatrer company Punchdrunk, you’ll have to check much more than just your coat at the door. You’ll need to ditch any previous notions you may’ve held about what theater is, ... Read More
Written by: Brendan Brehm Friday, April 13th, 2012 .
There is no longer any need to wait for Halloween to visit a haunted house if you’re a resident of Mesa, Arizona. Starting tomorrow, Friday the 13th, residents and visitors can dine year-round in a horror-themed nightclub and restaurant called ... Read More
Written by: admin Thursday, April 12th, 2012 .
If you love chocolate, then you need to head over to the U.K. ASAP. Earlier this week we reported on a chocolate-themed visitor attraction in York, England; today we are back with yet another chocolate attraction, but this one will ... Read More
