Introduced to Shanghai for the first time, the competition will inspire creativity and innovation in college students

Introduced to Shanghai for the first time, the competition will inspire creativity and innovation in college students

SHANGHAI (June 8, 2018) – Shanghai Disney Resort just announced plans to launch Disney Imaginations Shanghai, a design competition based on Walt Disney Imagineering’s renowned Imaginations Design Competition, in Shanghai for the first time this summer. The Disney Imaginations Shanghai seeks and nurtures the next generation of diverse dreamers and doers who combine storytelling with the latest technologies to create immersive experiences for Disney theme parks, resorts and attractions.

Students from select universities across Shanghai will be invited to participate in the competition where they will use their technical, artistic and creative skills to propose hypothetical concepts for an entertainment-focused experience or product. These projects are not intended to be built by Disney but serve as a creative exercise for the participating students and an opportunity for Shanghai Disney Resort to look for future theme park designers. The finalist teams will compete for the first place award during the final competition hosted at Shanghai Disney Resort, and the winning team will be eligible to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) in Glendale, California, fully sponsored by Shanghai Disney Resort. Members of the winning team will also be offered an internship at Shanghai Disney Resort, where they can gain unique educational and professional industry experience.

Shanghai Disney Resort is a magical destination filled with creativity and happiness, creating memories for millions of guests from China and around the world. Since the resort’s April 2011 groundbreaking, the cultivation of local talent and the collaborative teamwork of local and international professionals have been essential in developing, designing and creating a Shanghai Disney Resort that is “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.”

The resort continues to bring the best of Disney’s creative practices to China, and also recruits and trains local talent to join Disney’s creative force. The introduction of Disney Imaginations Shanghai is an example of the resort’s commitment to nurturing, cultivating and inspiring young talent through creativity and imagination. The competition also represents a unique opportunity for participants to showcase their talent for integrating innovative and globally diverse ideas.

Started in 1991 by Disney Legend and Imagineering executive, the late Marty Sklar, the annual Imaginations Design Competition is renowned for seeking out the next generation of Disney Imagineers. Some participants even go on to internships or full-time positions at Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative force that imagines, designs and builds all Disney theme parks and resorts worldwide. Inspired by the idea of this acclaimed design competition, the Disney Imaginations Hong Kong was launched by Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in 2011. Now, Shanghai Disney Resort is launching Disney Imaginations Shanghai, a program that invites passionate students to showcase their talents in creative entertainment and win opportunities to work with leading experts in the theme park industry.

The first Disney Imaginations Shanghai design competition will pilot at select universities across Shanghai, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Theatre Academy, East China University of Science and Technology, Donghua University and University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, with support from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission. Starting next week, Shanghai Disney Resort will launch a roadshow at these select universities to introduce more details and call for applications.