Martin Palicki, IPM publisher
I always get a little giddy each year at the TEA Summit and Thea Awards. The compilation videos shown for each of the awarded projects highlight the amazing experiences our industry creates.
I also am reminded that there are highly skilled teams designing and building these experiences. But there are incredibly talented individuals integral to the process as well. Increasingly, these star players are recognizing the value of building and growing their own brand, whether they have struck out on their own or lend their skills to a larger organization. As I joked with Brian Morrow during his interview for this issue, it feels like there are no more NSYNCs, only Justin Timberlakes.
Some folks have their names in lights, while others work diligently behind the scenes, but this issue provides a forum to learn about what makes these star players tick, and how they help enhance whatever team they are working for.
Even our cover story, which features two major established companies forming a joint partnership, highlights the star players from each organization, and the one who helped make the deal a reality: Brian Paiva.
Look for many of these players (and InPark) at the upcoming IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo in Hong Kong. See you there!
Judith Rubin, IPM editor
Greetings from the intersection of storytelling and technology, aka Experience Design, aka out-of-home leisure, aka themed entertainment, aka the home of InPark.
Technology is part and parcel of themed entertainment now – it’s core to the project process and to the user experience – in theme parks, museums, science centers, visitor centers, world expo pavilions and similar venues.
We all know that today’s visitors expect technology to work better and more seamlessly than ever. In themed entertainment, the challenges are especially formidable. Technology has to do its job 24/7/365. And it’s got to be innovatively applied, year after year. That’s because themed entertainment is an industry that needs to top itself, regularly, with re-investment to keep the customers coming back for a shared adventure they can’t experience at home.
Themed entertainment is a continuous laboratory, and it’s an important niche market with an international playing field. IP holders are making it part of their multiplatform rollouts. Manufacturers are forming verticals.
Themed entertainment is always creative, always challenging, always building toward the next thing. And it’s where InPark lives. If themed entertainment is one of your markets, or you want it to be, we hope you’ll get to know InPark, and let us get to know you.