The Imagineering Process: Using the Disney Theme Park Design Process to Bring Your Creative Ideas to Life (The Imagineering Toolbox) - Softcover

Prosperi, Louis J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 168390138X ISBN 13: 9781683901389

Publisher: Theme Park Press, 2018

Synopsis

A Master Class in Imagineering

When we think of Imagineering, we think of Disney theme parks. But Imagineering is a creative process that can be used for nearly any project, once you know how it works. Lou Prosperi distills years of research into a practical how-to guide for budding "Imagineers" everywhere.

The Imagineering Process is a revolutionary creative methodology that anyone can use in their daily lives, whether at home or on the job. Prosperi will teach you first how the Disney uses the Imagineering Process to build theme parks and theme park attractions, and then he'll show you how to apply it to your own projects, "beyond the berm."

You'll learn how to begin as the Imagineers begin, with an evaluation of needs, requirements, and constraints, and then you'll delve into the six stages of the Imagineering Process: blue sky, concept development, design, construction, models, and the "epilogue," where you hold your "grand opening" and assess the effectiveness of what you've built.

From there you'll see the process in action through a selection of interesting case studies drawn from game design, instructional design, and managerial leadership.

At the end of your master class, you may not be a bona-fide Imagineer, but you'll be thinking like one.

About this title

About the Author

Lou Prosperi worked in the game industry for 10 years as a freelance game designer and writer, and product line developer at FASA Corporation, where he worked on the Earthdawn roleplaying game. After leaving FASA, Lou went to work as a technical writer and instructional designer and has been in that role for the last 20 years, providing user and technical documentation and training for enterprise software applications. He currently manages a small team of technical writers and curriculum developers for a small business unit of a large enterprise software company.
Lou has been interested (or obsessed depending on who you ask) in Disney parks since his first visit to Walt Disney World on his honeymoon in 1993. A self-described "student of Imagineering," Lou has been collecting books about the Disney company, Disney parks, and Imagineering for the last 12+ years. He rarely passes up an opportunity to add new books to his Disney and Imagineering libraries, and is nearly always thinking about his next trip to Walt Disney World. Lou lives in Wakefield, Massachusetts, with his wife and children.

Review

"Everything is hard if you don't understand it. Everything is hard before it is easy. If you want to understand how Disney Imagineering is able to create such wonderful one-of-a-kind parks around the world, then study this book. The Imagineering Process will show you how to use Disney's creative processes to create magic in your own organization. Without creativity your business will be ordinary and quickly become irrelevant. It's never too late to get better!"--Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president, Walt Disney World Resort, and author of Creating Magic, The Customer Rules, Time Management Magic, and Career Magic
"Imagineering is the creative scheme that brings Disney theme parks to life. In The Imagineering Process, Lou Prosperi unlocks the magic toolbox so you can bring your own creative ideas to vivid reality with all the charm and magic of a trip to Disney World."--Daniel Pink, author of When and Drive
"Creativity is merely the arrangement of existing forms into new relationships. Lou has taken a complex creative process, Disney Imagineering, and has broken it down into easy to understand and transferable rules that will guide anybody who is trying to do something wonderful. This book is sure to become the "go-to" book for themed attraction designers and those interested in the art form. In fact, the book is an instructive guide for anybody who is seeking a creative methodology to overcome any obstacle or opportunity. Yes, Lou has done it again."--Sam Gennawey, author of Walt Disney and the Promise of Progress City, The Disneyland Story, and Universal versus Disney
"Lou Prosperi lifts the veil on the art and science o f creating magic the Disney way! In the experience economy, no business leader can be without this elegant roadmap for winning the hearts and minds of customers."--Matthew E. May, author of The Elegant Solution
"With The Imagineering Process, Lou Prosperi does a great job of breaking down the Imagineering creative process...or ANY creative process for that matter. Well-researched and filled with wonderful insight and a lot of passion, this book should be a "must read" for anyone looking to expand their understanding of how Disney Imagineers create some of the most iconic theme park attractions in the world!"--Brian Collins, former Imagineer & WDI Show Writer
"Ever wonder how to bring the magic of Disney creativity to your everyday work? The Imagineering Process translates Disney's seemingly mysterious creative process into simple, applicable insights you can use on any project."--David Burkus, author of Friend of a Friend, Under New Management, and The Myths of Creativity
"The Imagineering Process points the way toward the elusive meeting point of two crucial needs: the need for new ideas, and the need to produce real things in the real world. Past that, it tethers its thinking to some of the most successful manifestations of creativity and production ever--the Disney theme parks--to show that these ideas work. If you make things, or want to, this is a book for you."--Jeff Tidball, COO, Atlas Games, co-founder of Gameplaywright, and Origins Award-winning game designer
"The Imagineering Process is the perfect companion to Lou's previous book, The Imagineering Pyramid--where that book left off, The Imagineering Process continues. As a retired Imagineer I can tell you that through much research, Lou has managed to illustrate in a concise, easy-to-understand manner the process that Imagineers use to bring ideas to life, and to correlate that process to other disciplines beyond the berm of the Disney parks. Once you understand this process you will be able to implement it into your personal work with success."--Louis L. Lemoine, retired Walt Disney Imagineer and Disney Legacy Award recipient

"The Imagineering Process is a welcome addition to the study curriculum of all lifelong students of "themed entertainment." In this book, Lou Prosperi shines a spotlight on the importance of sincere collaboration and honest teamwork in the creative process. The greatest resorts, parks, attractions and shows in the world have all come about by adhering to this process in some way, shape, or form. Creating happiness for the world is not easy, but it is worth it."--Josh Shipley, Chief Creative Officer, Evermore Park and 21+ year Walt Disney Imagineer
"Thank you, Lou, for writing this book to help us crack the Disney Imagineering code. What makes Imagineering one of the powerful divisions of the Walt Disney Company is that they don't just have ideas, they make ideas real. If you've ever had big ideas that you wanted to make real, the process in this book will help you have people standing in line for your creations. It's time that those that create remarkable theme parks don't get to have all of the fun."--Terry Weaver, speaker, consultant, and author of Making Elephants Fly: Getting Your Dreams Off the Ground

Edition details

• Publisher: Theme Park Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 168390138X
• ISBN 13: 9781683901389
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 258
• Editor: McLain Bob