The
Imagineering Workout ~ Update 5
Start
Anywhere
“In order
to get started, think of something that interests you.”
Neil
Engel
Senior
Principal Production Show Designer,
Creative
Development
Here is a fun exercise from the book. It is a good way to get
your mind going and learn to free yourself.
Close
your eyes and imagine: exotic fish, roller coasters, rock formations, the
origin of the universe, historical events, heroes, scary things. Then choose
one.
Now zoom
in: look closely at your choice. Have a “what if” conversation with yourself
excluding all boundaries and exploring all the possibilities.
Examine,
take a break, re-examine: use what’s in the world to help you. If you chose
exotic fish, where can you go to study, explore, discover, participate, even
become one of those creatures? If an idea seems silly or impossible, take a
good, long look at that one and invent ways of make it a reality. Let your
imagination pour out; often ridiculous things prove to be the more inspiring
and exciting.
Stroke
your imagination’s furnace with images: inspire yourself with imagery. Cut out
pictures from magazines, take your camera on an outing, take pictures related
and not related to your idea. If it’s exotic fish, photograph not only sea
life, but also billboards, cars, planes, pet-supply stores, or anything that
fits the category.
Mix up
the pictures, then assemble the images in a way that tells a story. If an image
just doesn’t fit, consider it a challenge. Virtually no one would put the image
of a tropical fish on the same “idea table” as a billboard. But, what if a
lonely tropical fish in a fishbowl looked out the pet store window and fell in
love with an image on the billboard? Can you see a fun story developing?
Here is one of my “What If” moments. Years ago I taught myself
to crochet. I then learned how to make a heart shaped pattern in my crocheting
by leaving holes. I made several blankets with this fun design. I then figured
out how I could alter the design and put it into scarves. Then my inner Disney
Fanatic came out to play!! My mind started saying “what if”.
“What if” I can change that heart into a circle? ”What if” I
can make three circles of two differing sizes? “What if” I put the two smaller circles
at the top of the larger circle? I now have a Mickey Mouse icon!
I can now use this pattern in any number of crochet items. I
can have it running right side up and upside down through a blanket. I can have
it at either end of a scarf. It can be the center of a wash cloth.
If you wish to follow along and read the book for yourself here is the information:
The
Imagineering Workout
By
The Disney Imagineers
ISBN
078685554-1
It
is available at Amazon.com
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