Estephan Quass

2022-07-22T18:23:24+00:00

William Alton Dimensional Designer With professional experience in the entertainment business, Estephan provided art and creative direction in TV production for a major network in Brazil. In the US, he has designed sets for corporate businesses, exhibits, sports and music events. His work includes global theme park development, facility and attraction design, food & beverage and retail development, rock work, landscaping and ride vehicle design. With the use of 3D models, realistic renderings, animations, scale models and drawings, he serves as the bridge between the concept stage and the project production. EDUCATION F.A.A.P.Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado, Sao Paulo, Brazil B.A., Industrial Design M.F.A., Interior Design Art Institute of California, Hollywood CA S., Set & Exhibit Design NOTABLE PROJECTS X Games Mega Ramp Red Bull Extreme Cliff Diving - ICA, Boston Design Stages for Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, Phish, Coachella, Tomorrow Land, Bob Dylan Back to team

Jacob Lindegren

2023-05-16T20:32:40+00:00

William Alton Designer A versatile creative force, Jacob Lindegren has professional experience as both a designer and art director for live entertainment, themed environments and museums. He prides himself on discovering new processes of design by working closely with vendors and partners to push the limits of what is possible, while getting the tasks at hand completed on time and on budget.  Jacob has worked in experiential design since 2014 and has specialized in a number of disciplines including 3D modeling, illustrations, graphics and drafting. He is fortunate enough to have participated in multiple high-profile projects through to completion, such as Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome (Frozen meet & greet) at Disney California Adventure Park, How to Train Your Dragon land at Motiongate Dubai, the Ghost Post interactive special edition subscription in collaboration with Walt Disney R&D and more.  Jacob completed his Master of Fine Arts degree in Themed Entertainment Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Along with his themed entertainment background, he has formed his own software development company, which has helped him learn to manage large and small projects alike.  EDUCATION M.F.A., Themed Entertainment Design, Savannah College of Art and Design  NOTABLE PROJECTS Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome, Disney California Adventure Park  How To Train Your Dragon, Motiongate Dubai  Back to team

Janai Phibbs

2022-12-06T17:51:29+00:00

William Alton Associate Art Director Janai is a multi-disciplined creative talent. Skilled ranging from show set design and CAD drafting for attractions to concept developments and art direction. Alongside her accomplished digital and physical artistic competences, her wide ranging abilities can be applied to many facets of  the industry. She has previously spent productive terms with Walt Disney Studios, Thinkwell and Universal Pictures. As an associate designer for The Walt Disney Studios Special Events, Janai played a fundamental role in contributing to an impressive list of projects including movie ‘world premier’ events for; Captain America Civil War, Jungle Book 2016, Zootopia and The Good Dinosaur. She also designed the excellent Star Wars Exhibit featured in the prestigious El Capitan Theatre Hollywood. Delivering creative content for the attractions industry Janai has provided CAD imagery, 3D modelling and detailed set design on ride attractions worldwide for high profile clients including Universal Studios. In a wider role within the entertainment industry Janai is proficient in set construction, prop and model building. She has had the privilege of working on numerous theatre and entertainment productions for artists such as Rod Stewart, Helen Hunt and Mikhail Baryshnikov. EDUCATION Bachelor of Science Set & Exhibit Design at Art Institute of California - Hollywood, CA. NOTABLE PROJECTS Fiesta Village, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California Dodger Stadium Centerfield, Los Angeles, California Jurassic World the Ride, Universal Studios Hollywood, California The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Universal Studios Hollywood, California Back to team

Karen Thompson

2023-02-06T18:39:21+00:00

William Alton Designer Karen has more than 25 years in the themed entertainment and visual effects industries. Her focus has been color design and special effects. Universal Studios projects included color design for Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure, King Kong at USF, and Jurassic Park at USJ. At Walt Disney Imagineering, Karen was Field Art Director for Little Mermaid at TokyoSea, model painter for Toontown, Fantasyland, and Carsland. Karen was on the creative projections team  at Megavision Arts for gala openings of “Pacific Standard Time” at the Getty Museum, LACMA, and Tom Bradley Terminal. She was also lead special effects painter at Digital Domain on Apollo 13 and Terminator 2-3D, taught Matte Painting at Art Center College of Design, and did graphic design for The Tonight show with Jay Leno. NOTABLE PROJECTS Carsland Seuss Landing Toyko DisneySea Apollo 13 Dreamworks Waterpark Back to team

Kate McConnell

2023-04-03T21:43:30+00:00

William Alton Creative Director Kate McConnell has spent more than 20 years telling stories in live spaces, from theater to theme parks, museums, cultural attractions, and brand centers for a wide variety of clients including Warner Bros., Google, Lionsgate, Universal Studios, and more. Before coming to THG, Kate provided creative leadership in a wide range of roles. In Microsoft’s Customer Engagement Team, she led the development of immersive experiences for Microsoft’s business-facing brand and technology centers. As Executive Creative Director for North America at Neon (formerly Cityneon), she oversaw the development of large-scale, touring experiences for major IPs including Avatar, Marvel’s Avengers, and Transformers. And as Senior Creative Director and Head of Content at Thinkwell Group, Kate led teams of collaborators in the creation of exhibits and experiences from blue sky all the way to opening day. Trained as a dramaturg with a specialization in Shakespeare, Kate places the guest perspective at the center of storytelling, combining powerful narrative structures with playful uses of technology and environment to create experiences that are authentic, enriching, and transformational. EDUCATION MFA - Dramaturgy & Dramatic Criticism, Yale School of Drama NOTABLE PROJECTS Richard Nixon Presidential Library US Marshals Museum Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Google’s The Grove Experience Center Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi - select attractions Back to team

Kathy Fox Martin

2024-03-12T19:17:44+00:00

William Alton Senior Design Manager With 25+ years of experience in themed entertainment design, Kathy Fox Martin is a seasoned professional and designer with an attention to detail. She has contributed her expertise to a wide range of projects worldwide, including theme park attractions, museum exhibits, and corporate experiences. Her breadth of experience spans from concept and show set design to onsite art direction and fabrication. Kathy has lent her expertise to renowned companies such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios Creative, and BRC Imagination Arts. Kathy Fox Martin's enduring legacy in the themed entertainment industry is a testament to her passion, creativity, and dedication to transforming ideas into immersive and unforgettable experiences for audiences globally. KEY SKILLS Attraction Design, Show Set Design, Production Design, Art Direction, Ride Layout, 3D Modeling, CAD Drafting, Photoshop (sketching, drawing), Visual Research EDUCATION M.Arch SCI-Arc B.S. Arch, Architecture University of Michigan NOTABLE PROJECTS Universal’s Epic Universe, Universal Orlando The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Universal Studios Hollywood Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem & Super Silly Funland, Universal Studios Hollywood Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland Heineken Experience, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2010 World Expo, Shanghai, China Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Back to team

Kevin Cardani

2024-03-12T17:50:03+00:00

William Alton Art Director With over 25 years of working experience in the themed entertainment industry, Kevin Cardani has held lead design positions on some of the top industry attractions of the past decade. He has carried projects from the concept design phase through production, fabrication, installation, and opening. Kevin has worked on all phases of themed projects, large and small, around the world for companies such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, BRC Imagination Arts, and many others. Prior to working in this industry, he worked in New York City as an architect. Kevin Cardani is a Show Set Designer, Production Designer, and Art Director who acts as the bridge between the creative and technical sides of projects. He possesses a strong understanding of the materials and processes specific to the theme park industry. This, along with his experience of creating and managing drawing packages, working for and with fabricators, overseeing the installation and opening of attractions, and being an expert in AutoCAD and SketchUp, have all contributed to making him a solid designer and art director. NOTABLE PROJECTS Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Back to team

Kristin Showalter

2022-07-22T18:27:51+00:00

William Alton Illustrator A master of illustration and design, and a powerhouse of creative ideas, Kristin develops concepts for THG projects and brings them to life in beautifully rendered illustrations. She first entered the design world as a set designer and scenic artist, applying her expert painting skills to projects for Universal Studios, the San Diego Zoo, The Goretorium in Las Vegas and a variety of television shows, music festivals and movie premieres. Kristin quickly expanded her professional skill set to provide illustration, graphic design, art direction and concept design services for theme park attractions, resorts and television and film projects. She has collaborated on a myriad of projects with RGH Themed Entertainment, Granaroli Design & Entertainment, Global Entertainment Services and the Wyatt Design Group. After working her design magic during the day at THG, Kristin works as an adjunct faculty member at California Institute of the Arts, where she teaches Art Direction I & II in the Theater School. EDUCATION M.F.A., Design and Production, California Institute of the Arts B.A., Fine Art and Technical Theater, California State University Stanislaus NOTABLE PROJECTS The Crystal Lobby Back to team

Kyle Bendle

2024-03-12T19:13:21+00:00

William Alton Senior Concept Designer Kyle is a visionary designer renowned for his ability to create immersive environments with extraordinary allure and storytelling. His six years of experience in architecture and urban planning inform his creative design, leading to creative premises backed by technical sophistication. He excels at creating moments of wonder and awe that resonate emotionally with an audience and is often brought onto projects to elevate them to an extra level of spectacle. With a portfolio spanning from Walt Disney Imagineering to Universal Creative, Kyle brings precision, creativity, and excellence to each project. KEY SKILLS Concept Art and Design, Art Direction, Advanced 3D Modeling, Attraction Design, Architecture EDUCATION Masters of Architecture Roger Williams University Masters of Architecture Rhode Island School of Design NOTABLE PROJECTS Marvel Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Secret Life of Pets 2: Off the Leash Jupiter's Claim from "NOPE" Villain-Con Minion Blast American Heartland Back to team

Mabel Che

2022-07-22T18:29:12+00:00

William Alton Illustrator Mabel is an Illustrator that provides visual concepts and idealization for unique experiences at THG. Mabel holds a diploma in Industrial Design from Feng Zhu School of Design in Singapore, and a degree in Art Communications. Studied in design, Mabel has been able to cultivate an array of tools for use in her designs. She strives to find creative solutions as she thrives learning more in a field that is constantly evolving. Back to team

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