Woohoo! Its Friday yall!
We really should encourage youth that we know to think about opening up their minds and creative spirit to the possibility of being an Imagineer! Developing and designing roller coasters, and castles and magical kingdoms…just IMAGINE, if you will, what our youngsters could do. We see the few of us that get into the field, SUCCEED.
Today we feature an executive who’s goal is to make sure the Imagineers are as diverse as possible.
Carmen J. Smith
VP Creative Development
Walt Disney Imagineering
Smith is responsible for developing a diverse pipeline of product and people to enhance Imagineering’s consultant talent and its creative processes. Her four areas of primary emphasis: creative product and services development, consultant talent identification, casting talent to the full range of creative assignments, editorial participation in the creative process and the establishment of external partnerships to enhance product relevance in the diverse global marketplace.
Carmen served as Vice President of Global Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. She was responsible for integrating diversity and inclusion strategies into creative entertainment World-Wide, Global development and all Walt Disney Park Operations and businesses.
The fields of expertise that are in Walt Disney’s Imagineering discipline are:
- Master planning
- Creative development
- Concept development
- Show writing
- Design
- Engineering
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Production
- Project management
- Research and advanced development
- Ride systems
- Special effects
- Interactive technology
- Multimedia design
Afrocentric Mickey and Minnie? Why Yes!
Here’s a little trivia for ya! Did you know it was Therez Fleetwood who designed the kente cloth costumes for Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Disney World Florida? These designs were created exclusively for the Miss Black Collegiate pageant back in 1998.
Her designs are now a part of Mickey and Minnie’s 150 Special Occasion outfits. It is the only time the Disney corporation allowed an outside designer to design for their icons. Way to go, Ms. Fleetwood! #MakingHistory