IBM Communications Designer Jeremy Connell-White writes, in LinkedIn, about The Disney Art School and how we can use their mindset for innovation and reinvention, especially in trying times. Better not to paraphrase, so enjoy the read.
The Disney Art School was founded 90 years ago today. 1932 was a time of depression, and the school was created to upskill unemployed workers who didn’t have a career. It turned out to be one of the smartest moves Walt Disney ever made. This little art school trained all the animators needed to work on Disney’s first feature-length cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (the first movie to ever use storyboards). 🟨🖊
I drew these notes while I was studying Walt Disney Studios and trying to understand what made their Imagineers so special. (I was also reading two excellent books by Lou Prosperi).
“Imagineering” combines IMAGINation + enginEERING. 💡📐
It’s a mindset that Disney innovators use to invent new technologies, and build exciting experiences on sound stages, on studio sets, and in the theme parks.“I like the impossible because there’s less competition”. Walt Disney 🖌
This 5-level pyramid was created as a model to help accelerate creativity and innovation. I think it’s as relevant today as it was when it was created back then.
💛 The 5 “Foundations” are the principles of Imagineering and creative thought.
🧡 The 4 “Wayfinding” blocks position you as the trusted guide who needs to grab the audience’s attention.
❤️ “Visual Communication” helps you tell a compelling story.
💚 “Making it Memorable” reinforces your message on a deep emotional level.
💙 At the top of the pyramid is “Plussing”. It’s Walt’s cardinal rule and it’s my favourite, because it pushes you to ask yourself, “HOW DO I MAKE THIS BETTER”?
So the next time you’re in a design thinking workshop, or planning out the narrative of your story for an important presentation, think of the folks 90 years ago who came before you. As their world was also being disrupted in tough economic times, they were learning how to draw and colour in, so that they could bring a little magic to people’s lives. 🎨
