Kessler Project: Space Preservation and Restoration
A theme park concept that was a finalist in the 2018 Disney Imaginations competition.
Prompt
That year, teams were tasked with selecting an abandoned “ghost town” anywhere in the world and revitalizing it. Concepts could range from a functioning town to a historical site, living museum, or immersive themed experience. Submissions needed to honor the location’s history and respect the traditions and communities connected to it and its surrounding areas.Role
I served as the Creative Lead on a four-person team of Penn students, including two mechanical engineering majors and a computer science major.Slide Design and Layout, 3D Modeling, Graphic Design, Information Design, Illustrations
Scope
October 2017 - January 2018Our Idea
We decided to take our idea to the stratosphere, envisioning a space-themed destination called Kessler Project, where guests explore historic landmarks like the ISS, Hubble Telescope, and Tiangong-1 while learning about Kessler Syndrome. The experience blends education and adventure, immersing visitors in a mission to clean up space debris while inspiring solutions for sustainable space exploration.Design Approach
Limited to only six submission slides, we first organized our ideas into six categories. I then planned the visuals needed, ensuring each one served a purpose. To reflect the project’s space theme, I incorporated futuristic fonts, 3D graphics, and a signature blue to create a cohesive brand identity.
The Experience
Designing an experience set in space required balancing technical details with playful elements that capture the excitement of space exploration.
I collaborated with technical team members to design and model Kessler Station, incorporating the spiral shape of the station into the logo, slide design, and features like the Spiral Seat. I also helped brainstorm the characters in the Kessler Crew.
What I did from top left to bottom right: 1) Slide design and layout, visual direction, 2) Slide design and layout, visual direction, all 3D models and graphics, 3) Slide design and layout, visual direction, 3D models of Kessler Station, the Spiral Seat, and the Spiral Seat graphic, 4) Slide design and layout, visual direction, character designs and 3D models of the Kessler Crew, 5) Slide design and layout, visual direction, space station floor graphic, 6) Slide design and layout, visual direction, Kessler Project poster, SuperNova graphic, hologram graphic
Presentation & What I Learned
As finalists, we presented our project to Disney Imagineering executives in Glendale, California. For the presentation slides, I added illustrations of our example guest, Wendy, an 11-year old girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut. This presentation taught me how to use storytelling to bring an experience to life.
Rethinking Kessler Project
As a creative exercise this year, I reimagined the branding for Kessler Project, designing an advertising poster and space flight tickets. For this iteration, I used a neon color palette and updated typography to give the branding a more modern feel.
