- Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I went to Ringling College of Art and Design, and majored in Illustration with a minor in Visual Development. I don’t believe Visual Development is offered anymore but you can learn more about Ringling’s programs at their website.
- Is going to art school a necessity to work in the entertainment industry?
- No, I do not think it is a necessity, but I personally benefitted from the structure and networking opportunities that came with attending a formal college. However, art schools are expensive and there are plenty of online resources these days to learn the necessary skills. What matters most for working in the industry are your portfolio and having good people skills. If you are capable of doing the work, and people enjoy working with you, you will be successful!
- How did you become an Imagineer?
A recruiter came to campus during my senior year at Ringling. My senior thesis, a pitch package for an animal park, landed me an interview, which in turn landed me an internship the summer after I graduated. Following my internship I took a full time position with the company. At the time Imagineering was in the middle of a massive design project (Shanghai Disney Resort), so while some of getting the job was due to my portfolio, the rest was being in the right place at the right time.
- How can I get a job at Disney?
- If you are a college student and interested in working at Imagineering, I recommend looking into and participating in the Imaginations competition. Otherwise, internships and full-time opportunities are posted at Disneycareers.com as they become available.
- What materials do you paint with?
- I generally like to sketch on my iPad, using an Apple Pencil and Procreate. For final illustrations, while I sometimes stick with the iPad, I usually like to switch over to Photoshop. I use a Mac workstation and a Cintiq pen display.