Entertainment Design
Learn to delight, amuse, enchant, immerse, and enthrall in our Entertainment Design degree. Create themed spaces and environments that bring stories to life across countless industries.
Themed Cocktail Shaker
Brendan Assaf, ’23
Bring spaces to life in this exciting new BFA program.
This is themed entertainment design – translating stories into experiences. Our Entertainment Design major teaches you to collaborate with artists, designers, and other creatives to bring your vision to life, and develop the visual communication skills of an artist and the problem solving skills of a designer. With a focus on the built environment, your artistic and technical skills are applied to project designs for theme park design, museums and exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, expos, hotels and restaurants, retail spaces, and more for an industry expanding worldwide.
What's New
Turning Dreams Into Reality: Q&A with Jamie DeRuyter
Jamie DeRuyter is a 3D artist, animator, and faculty member at Ringling College of Art & Design Entertainment design is a fast-evolving field that continues to grow at a rapid pace. From theme parks and interactive storytelling to immersive art installations, themed retail and hospitality,...
Read More
Student Work
Design the Experience from Start to Finish
Images above created by Wrenhouse Design, Scott Wren alumnus ’97, and provided courtesy of ©Universal Creative, ©Loews Hotels, ©Wrenhouse Design.
Program Emphasis on Themed Environments
Projects focus on developing a strong foundation of concept development, and building a knowledge of three‐dimensional spatial relationships, material properties, and fabrication techniques. You will develop advanced technical skills using a variety of digital design techniques in drawing, CAD drawing, 3D modeling, and 3D prototyping. Ringling College is a member of the industry’s major organization, the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), which shares news and events in the industry and connects students across the country.
Real Industry Experience
Harry Potter World
Atlantis
Men in Black
Revenge of the Mummy
The Simpsons ride
ET Adventure
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Jurassic Park
The Cat in the Hat ride
Spaceship Earth
Journey into Imagination
Museums
Meow Wolf
Museum of Ice Cream
Zoos
Theaters
Kidzania
St. Michael’s Mystery, Prague
National Science Center, Fort Discovery Theater
National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitors Center
Titanic Belfast
I Am A Man Plaza, Memphis
Tesla
Apple Store
Microsoft Store
Niketown
Madrid Xanadu
Terminal 21, Bangkok
Joy City, Shanghai
Cadillac House Brand Experience, New York City
Ample Hills Creamery, multiple locations in US
Tom Ford Private Blend Experience, Dubai
Hard Rock
Tommy Bahama
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
Medieval Times Dinner Tournament
T-REX Cafe
Pirates Dinner Adventure
Capone's Dinner & Show
The Cirque Magique
Mythos Restaurant, Islands of Adventure
Three Broomsticks
Margaritaville (multiple locations)
Harry Potter World
Atlantis
Men in Black
Revenge of the Mummy
The Simpsons ride
ET Adventure
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Jurassic Park
The Cat in the Hat ride
Spaceship Earth
Journey into Imagination
Museums
Meow Wolf
Museum of Ice Cream
Zoos
Theaters
Kidzania
St. Michael’s Mystery, Prague
National Science Center, Fort Discovery Theater
National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitors Center
Titanic Belfast
I Am A Man Plaza, Memphis
Tesla
Apple Store
Microsoft Store
Niketown
Madrid Xanadu
Terminal 21, Bangkok
Joy City, Shanghai
Cadillac House Brand Experience, New York City
Ample Hills Creamery, multiple locations in US
Tom Ford Private Blend Experience, Dubai
Hard Rock
Tommy Bahama
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
Medieval Times Dinner Tournament
T-REX Cafe
Pirates Dinner Adventure
Capone's Dinner & Show
The Cirque Magique
Mythos Restaurant, Islands of Adventure
Three Broomsticks
Margaritaville (multiple locations)
Grads in the Industry
Kenn Hardy
Illustration '77
Kate Gibbs Coleman
Illustration '12
Shaun Ellis
Game Art '12
Employment Opportunities
Entertainment Design graduates will find opportunities across many different industries.
Here are a few examples of jobs that are available for our grads:
Attractions Designer
Branded Entertainment Designer
Creative Services Manager
Creative Director
Customer Experience Designer
Graphics Implementation Designer
Engagement Content Creator
Exhibit Fabricator
Exhibit Designer
Exhibit Content Developer
Experience Design Manager
Hospitality Designer
In-Show Graphics Designer
Interactive/Digital Project Manager
Museum Exhibit Designer
Planning Specialist
Production Show Set Designer
Project Manager
Show Designer
Show Set Lead/Architectural Designer
Sets & Scenic Designer
Signage Designer
Technical Director
Technical Designer
Technology Coordinator
Themed Entertainment Creator
Visualization Designer
Opportunities for students
INDEX is Ringling College's promise to provide every student the opportunity to have hands-on industry experience before graduation by offering real-world projects with real-world clients. This pillar of the Ringling College experience, alongside Academic and Student Life programs, is an experiential education initiative that allows students to learn how to turn passion into profession.
INDEX represents one of Ringling College's core purposes of focusing on our students' futures in the creative industries and empowering them to thrive as creative leaders. By connecting students with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions for business challenges, INDEX mirrors the most successful studios and organizations by bringing together multiple creative disciplines to blend artistry with emerging techniques, and to seamlessly integrate design, storytelling, and technology to produce work that is driven by strategy and supported by style.
INDEX opportunities are abundant and available through experiential learning in the classroom, the Design Center, Studio Labs, ART Network, the Makerspace, as client competitions and immersive experiences, volunteerism, internships, and elective courses.
We are proud to say that every Ringling student, regardless of major, is guaranteed the opportunity to gain professional work experience. Our Collaboratory Commitment pairs teams of Ringling students with local businesses to give students a taste of real-world projects, expectations, and deadlines. Facilitated by Collaboratory staff, students will meet with clients looking for creative, unconventional solutions to their branding and design challenges and execute the entire creative process of concepting, presenting, and building campaigns that meet their demands.
To further inform the work of our fourth year students, we bring in renowned, successful visiting artists to participate in milestone critiques. Coming from the top studios, brands, and businesses in the industry, our artists offer a relevant, real-world perspective to bring student thinking out of the classroom into the professional arena. This process provides our students with invaluable feedback from the best of the best in the field, which they can immediately apply to their current works in process.
Visiting Artists
Joe Rohde
Executive Designer and Vice President, Creative
Walt Disney Imagineering
Zane Jensch
Senior Creative Director
Universal Creative
Roger Barganier
President/Creative Director
Creative Arts
Debra and Scott Wren '97
Co-owners & Creative Partners
WrenHouse Design
