I’ve recently had some design work that has
thrown up a big question in my mind…
I believe that there are some narratives
that would be powerful and interesting journeys to take guests on, but their
associated visuals are just dull. Is that my personal taste, or is there some
objective fact in this?
Instinctively, I want to tell you that theme
parks, unlike film, are in danger of their stylistic qualities being
misunderstood. I’ve discussed this phenomenon quite often on this blog when I
talk about realism. Functional objects used as theming will be read not for
their implied stylistic connotations but as functional objects, because theme
parks, zoos, restaurants, museums and the like are, above all else, functional
spaces.