Interior design senior Katie Woody was part of a team representing four top design programs that won second place in the Walt Disney Imagineering’s 28th Imaginations Design Competition, which celebrates imaginative themed design and seeks out the next generation of diverse and talented Imagineers.
Woody’s team of four college students represented the University of Florida, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of Southern California, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Last summer Woody met her fellow team members during a design internship in Orlando. When the 2019 Disney Competition was announced, the former interns quickly decided to join forces and enter the contest. The team collaborated remotely and each member contributed to design a creative and fresh solution that came in second place, despite stiff competition from more than 280 other submissions.
This year’s competition challenge asked students to create a themed design experience inspired by a natural or ancient wonder of the world. The contest focused on places that may be more difficult to attract visitors to because they are remote, no longer exist or may seem less hospitable that other travel destinations. The task at hand involved creating experiences that celebrated the natural beauty and wonder of the location while engaging a wide range of guests that was informative, fun and safe.
Woody’s team won second place for “Port Pharos,” an explorative and heuristic resort formed by fleets of ancient ships traversing waters surrounding a reborn Lighthouse of Alexandria, creating the floating city in the site where the original harbor once was located.
Woody helped present Port Pharos to Walt Disney Imagineering in California as part of an all-expenses-paid trip. All of the six finalist teams were invited to spend five days at the Disney headquarters not only to present their submissions to the judges but also to have the opportunity to network with Imagineers, learn about behind-the-scenes operations, and explore related internship and career opportunities.
For more information see https://disneyimaginations.com/2019-imaginations-winners/
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