ImagiNations Design Competition 2011

M

mattyc

New Member
Gearin' up for 2012

Hey guys,

I just came across this competition a few days ago and gained immediate interest. I think I may try to enter in 2012. I'm a Junior in Mechanical Engineering, and I've got a Senior in Mechanical Engineering and Junior in Graphic Design who have alredy agreed to be a part of the team. Are we risking lack of diversity being that there are two ME's in my group? Also if we were to add a fourth member, what major should we look into that might have the most to bring to the table (that we don't already have).

Any information would be great as I only first heard of the project a few days ago. I'm excited to get to work though since I am co-oping in the fall and won't have any studying to worry about. Just imagineering.

Thanks!
 
Potato01

Potato01

New Member
Original Poster
mattyc said:
Hey guys,

I just came across this competition a few days ago and gained immediate interest. I think I may try to enter in 2012. I'm a Junior in Mechanical Engineering, and I've got a Senior in Mechanical Engineering and Junior in Graphic Design who have alredy agreed to be a part of the team. Are we risking lack of diversity being that there are two ME's in my group? Also if we were to add a fourth member, what major should we look into that might have the most to bring to the table (that we don't already have).

Any information would be great as I only first heard of the project a few days ago. I'm excited to get to work though since I am co-oping in the fall and won't have any studying to worry about. Just imagineering.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

My team this year was 3 ME's....haha

we didn't make semi-finals, granted we only submitted a half baked project.
However, I think the point of the competition is to promote diversity in that getting people from different backgrounds and different talents to come together and work as a team.
 
Potato01

Potato01

New Member
Original Poster
jayflynn said:
Hi, Everyone!

I've been following this forum for quite some time now, but didn't want to get too involved until I found out my team's standing in the competition. I became a semifinalist this year and invite you all to view my submission on my website. I'm still adding work to my portfolio, so there are only a handful of projects on the site now, but let me know what you think! I'd love to get some feedback, as well as see what you all came up with this year!

Jay
www.jay-flynn.com
Click to expand...

Looks pretty nice! The concept images look great. Just to be as critical as I can be for your benefit, I think the major lacking point would probably be that the project does not have a lot of innovation. The theming and story are awesome, but you are theming existing attractions/stores/bedrooms. I think they want to see that same great theming on new ways of doing things. Like how soaring has a completely original ride simulation structure, or toy story mania being so interactive, or for food the sci fi diner has you sitting in cars and the waiters are on roller skates.
 
M

mattyc

New Member
2012 Submission in October 2011?

Ok thanks for the response potato.

Kind of upsetting news, they want applications in by September and projects are due in October. Definitely don't have time for this. I'm really bummed because I was so excited about working on this, but summer starts in 2 days, and me and my group won't be back together until August.

From someone with experience is this even enough time to pull something successful together?
 
mewhunter67

mewhunter67

Member
yes, but you have to be willing to work hard. And while it's true you'll have two ME's, don't let that discourage you. If you can still create a great idea, and be able to break up work between your members, it should be fine. It's something to note, that a lot of teams have art or graphic design students, and even they do well (however, I feel it's become the way of the artistic students). you just have to showcase the skills you have.
 
M

mattyc

New Member
Oh ok. Yeah I'm hoping that our graphic artist will add enough diversity in the group that it will work out. I guess it could be worse than 2 MEs and a graphic artist.

Anyone know why they're moving up the dates?
 
J

jayflynn

New Member
mewhunter67 said:
Great job jay! I just wanted to say, it seems like a great presentation!

Awkwardly, I'll admit, if we had entered, our entry is almost exactly like yours, just not as graphically beautiful. Some slight changes, but almost the same. I laughed as I looked through it; very fantastic work!
Click to expand...
That's hilarious.. I'd love to see your version!

..and thanks, Potato! This was my first time entering and I really appreciate the feedback. I just love the villains so freaking much haha I think next time we will not use Disney characters and come up with everything ourselves ;)
 
mewhunter67

mewhunter67

Member
Lol @terp79

I'm guessing that means you've developed a set of rules for doing said competition? ;)

And yeah, I kind of figured on cliches; it's a shame villians is, but can't be helped. part of the reason we faltered this year.
 
terp79

terp79

Member
LOL! Well both WED and me have some guidelines we use when mentoring teams that seek our help...it's not so much rules it's more about doing your leg work and know what's been done. Anyone can do a quick google search and find what other teams have presented in the past. Do you know how many entries they've seen that deal with the villains? I have a detailed outline that helps streamline the process, understand the contest, points out what judges look for and how to showcase each members talents. The outline has a success rate of helping 2 teams win...:)
 
terp79

terp79

Member
There were no Villain themed concepts that made it to finals my year. However there were some cliche concepts, including mine...LOL! So WED has a good point about them not being a guarantee failure some of the times. Oh well, I still took top honors! If only we could go back and do it again WED! The things I would do different.
 
wedenterprises

wedenterprises

Well-Known Member
I wish I could enter again!! It should be an open contest every year, like golf haha

But ya you still gotta design what YOU want to ride. What YOU wish they had at the parks, not what you think the judges want to ride.
 
terp79

terp79

Member
I disagree with that somewhat.

YOU need to think about the audience as well. It's a part of basic guestology, sure you have to want to experience it yourself but if it doesn't meet any of the needs, wants and desires of guests then what's the point.

I think it was even one of Marty's 10 commandments. . . to wear your guests shoes. Me as a 31 year old male may not have the same tastes or interests as a 10 year old girl and visa versa.

It's sometimes looked down upon to design what YOU want and not what the client (guest) wants. You have to pull yourself away from the concept emotionally and look at it from all perspectives. That makes the concept more round and not so narrow
 
wedenterprises

wedenterprises

Well-Known Member
I just mean for this competition, it puts you in a much stronger position if you approach it from the context of what you would like to see get built.

A huge part of the competition is describing and designing the guest experience, so of course you want to follow that rule or "commandment". It's not as if you shouldn't care about guests... heck, you need to think about every type of guest and diversity. Something for everyone.

You can't worry about what the judges might want to see, concept wise, because then you will constantly be judging your design and your concept. Passion goes a long way in the competition, not just the 15 minutes that you are presenting. You can overcome cliches with a passionate and personal concept. Take that step back later on and view it from a guests shoes.
 
terp79

terp79

Member
I agree about not designing for the judges. They change every year so taking that approach would be a waste not to mention judges represent all sorts of disciplines so how do you know what an engineer would want vs. an illustrator.

I understand about designing what you want and that's a good place to start but the idea needs to evolve and using those 10 commandments is a good way to really dissect the whys and hows of wdi, especially for those people who think imagineers just sit around and dream up ideas all day. Knowing and understanding what wdi actually does will help teams plus their concepts and it ensures they've got the bases covered.

Passion is important but it can also blindside you in the form of pride. Some teams are so passionate and proud that they can't listen nor take feedback or critisim. This can lead to then entire concept becoming and epic failure. Sadly its usually the team leaders who are too passionate. My advice is to question everything and dont be affended if someone says thats good but what if...
 
wedenterprises

wedenterprises

Well-Known Member
We're almost on the same page, it's very close.

I think the 10 commandments are a litmus test of sorts for sure. But I think any idea has to start with passion. It's not always going to be that way in the working world, you may get asked to work on something you don't like/agree with but just for this competition I say it has to start from the heart.

Look at Tony Baxter, he was working in the model shop and through pure passion he built the Big Thunder model which kickstarted his career.

IMO Pride - for sure you have to be able to accept and dissect criticism but not all criticism will be correct either. Just because someone critiques you, doesn't mean they are right. If you critique someone and they don't accept it, you also have to put pride aside as the critiquer lol.

You have to have the passion to be able to defend your concept if you feel you are right. When you are standing in front of the judges you have to be able to defend yourself when someone says "why does it have to spin?"
 
terp79

terp79

Member
You're making us look like a tad hypocritical because maybe these kids felt passionate about something like a villains concept. . .so if they felt strongly and put that passion into their entry then why didn't it work?

Probably because it has a lot more to do with just passion. I agree that you should be passionate. Doesn't mean all who enter the contest are. I know a fair few finalists who are not passionate about Disney and Theme Parks whatsoever. They enter just because their professors made them or because they wanted some sort of major award on their resume and they make it to finals....I also know kids who are passionately obsessed with WDI and have tried to make it to finals and didn't.

I don't believe you can just generalize and say an idea starts with passion. To quote empire records, "Who knows where thoughts come from, the just appear." It's the idea and how far you can take it (that's where I believe passion comes into play), the more passionate you are about your idea the better it can become, along with your skills, execution and the understanding of what Imagineers really do.

If feel some of your theoretical methods are rooted in a fantasy utopian creative work environment a la 1965 WED Enterprises and we all know that times have changed.
 

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