Theme Park Designer

Working Schedule

• Theme Park Designers may work as project-based contractors. Thus, they could work full-time for a period of months, then have to find another contract after that. As Themed Attraction writes, this type of contract-based work “is not for the faint of heart.” However, certainly, some designers do find work as full-time employees. 

Typical Duties

• Since there are many types of careers that fall under the Theme Park Designer umbrella, the duties depend on the exact role
• For example, designers who focus on concept creation and illustration will develop and draw ideas for structures, landscapes, and rides
• Graphic designers will specialize in exterior signage and other observable details 
• Architects will review concepts for feasibility and draft up models that capture the spirit of those ideas in a realistic manner
• Interior and industrial designers will also work from concepts and will focus on how objects and spaces appear as well as how humans interact with them
• Engineers are tasked with figuring out how to bring developed concepts into the physical world while ensuring functionality and safety
• Landscape architects lay out the overall park design and ensure compliance with environmental standards
• Other roles include working in research and development, software, music, planning, consumer insights, fan engagement, marketing, props, sets, and light designers

Additional Responsibilities

• Be an expert in one field but maintain general knowledge of the others
• Collaborate with other Theme Park Designer roles to come up with workable ideas that can be implemented within budget
• Understand budgeting, planning, timelines, and project management
• Share, maintain, and organize documentation and files

Soft Skills

• Ability to follow directions closely
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration 
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Organization skills
• Perceptiveness 
• Presenting 
• Problem-solving 
• Time management 

Technical Skills

• Applied skills with various artist tools, including pencils, pens, paints, and digital tablets like the Wacom Cintiq
• Document management 
• Familiarity with computer-aided design and drafting programs like AutoCAD 
• Familiarity with illustration software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
• Graphic design 
• Illustration
• Knowledge of art, design, landscapes, architecture, engineering, and marketing principles 

• Theme parks
• Self-employed

Without Theme Park Designers, we wouldn’t have amazing recreational and educational centers like Disneyland Park, Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld, or Six Flags. But the sheer scale of such undertakings is enough to boggle the mind. 

Since the very first fairs of the Middle Ages, such attractions have consistently grown in size in order to compete with each other and grab the world’s attention. This constant need to “outdo” other parks has led to leaps in innovation…and mountains of pressure for workers! Adding to the stress is the unpredictable nature of various factors such as weather, pandemics, economics, and societal pressures. 

Theme Park Designers have many more things to consider than ever before, while simultaneously juggling bigger and bigger investments. The stakes have never been higher, but neither have the potential rewards. Per Statista, “in the United States, the revenue generated from amusement and theme parks is forecast to amount to over 22 billion U.S. dollars…and this is expected to continue to rise in the future.” 

The Covid pandemic deeply impacted theme park profits, which typically rely on packing as many visitors into a space as possible. Social distancing requirements have forced some to make alterations to boost safety without cutting down visitor numbers too much. Safety trends include implementing more “touchless technology” as well as AI that can track safe capacity rates. 

Still, fewer visitors equates to higher ticket prices to turn a profit. As a result, parks have turned to more immersive experiences with heftier price tags. Disney’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel experience is a perfect example of this “luxury pricing model,” with visitors spending $6,550 for two nights (for a 3-person family stay). 

Meanwhile, Theme Park Designers are incorporating Internet of Things tech to streamline supply issues and provide real-time data for visitors. They’re also adding additional virtual and augmented reality features to create more immersive 3D experiences. To learn more, check out Linchpin SEO’s Theme Park Marketing & Industry Trends Shaping 2022!

Like all of us, Theme Park Designers probably enjoyed the animation, TV shows, and movies growing up. They may have dreamed about interacting with the characters and settings they watched…until that fateful day when they finally got to visit a theme park, where they fell in love with the “magic” of it all. Visiting a theme park as a child inspires many designers to learn more about how such places of wonder are built and managed. 

Another trait many Theme Park Designers share is an early knack for drawing. Having both the creative and technical skills to draw complex settings and worlds is a huge benefit for anyone wanting to break into this career field. But designers also need to be team players who can collaborate with a wide range of professionals to envision park spaces, rides, and attractions. Such teamwork skills are often learned through group activities in school.