2024 | SUMMER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 

Make sure to Enroll Today!

Themed Environment Design

Themed Environment Design

An 8-week course focused on theme park design and creating story-driven guest experiences
cover image

Design your imagination into a unique reality

Build a portfolio displaying a deeper understanding of environment design by creating an immersive story-driven experience with responsibility to real-world spatial constraints. In this course, students will refine their use of design fundamentals and gain an understanding of master planning, guest experience, iconic attractors, architectural scale, and spatial responsibility. Students will tell their stories through the use of character, prop, vehicle, and architectural design. This class is a rare opportunity for designers who want to learn to translate their imagination to reality through this unique design process.
Registration Now Open
Registration Period
Apr 24, 2024 - Jul 15, 2024
Course Start
Jul 11, 2024

Course Format

Standard

Skills Level

Intermediate to Advanced

Duration

8 weeks

Q&A

Once a week

Feedback

Individual recordings

Lecture Type

Pre-recorded
Assignment
Due each week. Expect to spend 8-10 hrs/wk viewing lectures, Q&A, and time on assignments.
PREREQUISITES
Strong draftsman skills in environment design, perspective, digital painting,
MATERIALS
Photoshop, SketchUp optional

The more you know, the better.

Course introduction: What is themed environment design? | Using a design process | Iconic attractors – Creating Weenies | Demonstration – Developing an Icon
A Brief History of Architecture | Genre/Archetypal Storytelling | Demonstration – How to add color to your value | Demonstration – 3D build and Render
The fundamentals of Elevation | Looking over examples of elevation | Ride system implementation | Design with Park Operations in Mind | Demonstration – designing in elevation
Custom Brushes | Creating an Architectural Kit | Forcing Happy Accidents | Demonstration – Designing with custom brushes
Queue Lines and their functionality | Park Operations – emergency egress and circulation paths | Think about the Guest Experience | Demonstration – Creating a Plan to your elevation
Building just enough | Create a compelling composition | Render Passes | Demonstration – 3D Massing Model in Modo
Understanding Visual Weight – balance and rhythm, tension and release | Design with 4 Values | Defining with Pools of Light | Leading the eye with paths | Demonstration – Painting with a 3D render
The proper use of scale | People are people | Area Development – The devil is in the details | Rendering with expression | Demonstration – Final Rendering

Real heroes don't wear capes, they teach

Experiential Designer
LECTURES BY Luc Steadman
Course Start: Jul 11, 2024
Luc has over ten years of experience designing and creating world-class destinations, attractions, shows, and products for a wide range of domestic and international clients. Among other distinguished projects, Luc was a designer on the recently-opened Shanghai Disneyland Castle, the largest and most intricate to date. With his passion for sharing design experience and understanding, Luc teaches Entertainment Design at ArtCenter College of Design. Luc is currently working as CEO and Principal Designer at Steadman Design Studio in Pasadena, CA.

Clients: Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers Studio, Samsung, Paramount Studios, Dreamworks, National Geographic, MNC Land, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Warner Brothers, Resorts Worlds and many more.

Instructor's Gallery

Concept Art
Concept Art
Concept Art

PRICING SCHEDULE

Even though our courses are the most affordable for the quality of education, these finance options allow you to focus on your goals instead of the barriers that keep you from reaching them.

3x Payments

$233

2x Payments

$349.50

Full payment

$699

Summer TERM REGISTRATION Now Open
Apr 24, 2024 - Jul 15, 2024
COURSE BEGINS on Jul 11, 2024
Themed Environment Design

What makes this learning experience unique?

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK

Receive personalized feedback on all assignments from the industry’s top professionals.

LIFETIME ACCESS

Enjoy lifetime access to the spectrum of course content, including lectures, live Q&As, and feedback sessions.

CERTIFICATION

Show off your Certification of Completion when you turn in 80% of course assignments.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING

Learn anywhere, anytime, and at your own pace with flexible, online course scheduling.

Need guidance? We’re Here to Help.

We can help with admissions questions, portfolio review/course recommendations!

What are you interested in?