Hello Kitty Park Theme Park THG was contracted in 2010 by the Sanrio Corporation (the owners of Hello Kitty) to provide the initial concept and schematic design for a Hello Kitty theme park that was under consideration for a location in China. THG did a deep dive into the extensive characters and worlds of Hello Kitty to develop a master plan that allowed guests to fully enter that charming world and experience their own joyous adventures. While THG is proud of the creative efforts that were completed in 2011, THG was not a part of the development team that constructed the park that opened in Anji, China. Based on our interactions with Hello Kitty and all of her adorable friends, THG is certain that she brings delight and happiness to every region that she inhabits. She enlivens every corner of the world with her love of nature and her unique brand of pure-hearted fun. Location Anji, China Industry Theme Parks More Projects

Paramount Gateway Indoor Attraction THG worked with Paramount Studios to develop & design an upcoming indoor attraction destination for two separate locations. Drawing on Paramount’s rich library of intellectual properties, THG developed several interactive immersive experiences that allow guests to play within the worlds they love. IPs utilized included Tomb Raider, World War Z, Mission Impossible, Rango, Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, The Godfather, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and Star Trek. Location Worldwide Industry Theme Parks More Projects

Paramount Spain Theme Park Paramount Park Murcia was a proposed theme park resort development to be located in Murcia, Spain. THG was the lead show designer for two major lands of the project: Rango’s West and Enchanted Forest. These two lands encompassed 30 discrete attractions, retail, and dining establishments. Rango’s West, the largest land in the park, focused on the western world from the movie Rango, recreating the town of Dirt from the animated film. The land of the Enchanted Forest was dedicated to fantasy, combining popular Paramount movies such as Sleepy Hollow, Stardust, Fairy Tale, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. For each land, THG led all creative efforts, including narrative development, thematic design, and space planning. In addition, THG led the design for the park’s marquee attraction – a high-tech, thrilling media immersion ride based on Paramount's iconic Blockbuster film franchise, Mission: Impossible. Location Murcia, Spain Industry Theme Parks More Projects

Ciudad Real Madrid Sports Complex Valdebebas in Spain is home to the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, one of the world’s most elite soccer teams. THG was engaged by Real Madrid to master plan and conceptualize Ciudad Real Madrid (Real Madrid City) as an immersive destination for new and established fans to interact with the Real Madrid lifestyle and to be the best place in the world to watch a game outside the stadium. In addition to being an entertainment venue, Ciudad Real Madrid would incorporate a training facility for the team, lending the destination an undeniable authenticity. The park, hotels and conference center were designed to host 4.5 million people a year, incorporating a theme park, next-generation hall of fame, RD&E, convention center, and up to 6 different hotels at various levels. Location Valdebebas, Spain Industry Sports and Leisure More Projects

Explore: Blue Planet Red Planet Museum Exhibit THG partnered with Gallagher & Associates of Bethesda, Maryland to design a major new wing of the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago. The joint creative concept was the winning proposal in a design competition that involved over 50 major international exhibit design firms. The 18,000-square-foot project, which focuses on the exploration of Mars, as well as exciting new frontiers here on earth, features innovative and highly experiential presentations to create a new level of engaging museum experience. Client Museum of Science and Industry Chicago Location Chicago, Illinois, USA Industry Museums More Projects

ExplorOcean Museum Exhibit Newport Beach, California has a rich and storied maritime heritage. Home to six miles of Pacific shoreline and one of the most scenic pleasure harbors in the world, this special place has always served as a gateway to the ocean. THG was tasked with imagining a place where visitors can learn and be inspired by the wonders of the ocean – ExplorOcean. Combining state-of-the-art experiences with informative interactive exhibits, this unique facility will plunges visitors into humankind’s epic adventure of ocean exploration, so they too become inspired to uncover the secrets of Earth’s wild blue frontier. THG completed the concept design phase of this new visitor experience along with the design and opening of a preview center to showcase the concept for this new facility. Location Newport Beach, California, USA Industry Museums More Projects

Russian Jewish Museum Museum THG developed the overall preliminary concept, program, layout, interpretive program, and master plan of this recently opened museum as part of an adaptive re-use of a historical building. The design included avant-garde technology, authentic artifacts, and theatrical presentation modes to create a new standard for museums. Location Moscow, Russia Industry Museums More Projects

TreePeople Center Public Education Facility TreePeople’s Center for Community Forestry is a launching point for bringing the forest and the healthy benefits to the urban neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The four-acre public education facility and meeting place opened in late 2008, engaging people of all ages in the important work of solving the region’s environmental challenges. Andy Lipkis, TreePeople founder and president, turned to THG to develop an interpretive master plan. THG conducted a comprehensive study of the organization, interviewed key stakeholders, synthesized the information, and crafted the brand message and mission. This brand then informed the interpretive master plan itself. Location Los Angeles, California, USA Industry Cultural More Projects

Project Crescent Cultural Attraction THG provided concept and master planning services for the Crescent Center development in the Middle East. This cultural attraction is designed to provide visitors with a moving, personal encounter with Islam and the evolving culture around it through a deepened experience of its history, values, and beliefs. The major program components consisted of hotels, residential condominiums, a retail, dining, and entertainment center, and a cultural and entertainment complex called Al Buraq – an extraordinary leisure, learning, and entertainment opportunity for all ages. Al Buraq showcased a vision of the culture of the Islamic world, past and present, through cutting-edge technology and all the resources of contemporary storytelling: an epic-sized 3D movie, a swooping coaster ride, and an inspiring simulator. This unique combination of guest engagement technology, classic design, and spiritual insight added up to an exciting and vivid expression of Islam at once ancient, modern, and eternal. Location Middle East Industry Cultural More Projects

William Alton Senior 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