Joshua Chin

Theme Park Design

Illustrated Map

Digital landscape illustration with coloured pathways

CONTEXT

The Where, What, & Why?

I have been drawn to the theme park design of Disney California Adventure (Anaheim, California) because of the complex struggles it has faced.

Upon opening, it failed to attract guests and offer an engaging experience seemingly due to identity, conceptual, and funding issues. However it also poses a question; if done differently, could it have worked?

My goal was to develop my digital art skills with an illustrated map, using realistic ideas for a theme park redesign and creating a meaningful, detailed concept.

Timeline

Early 2024

Tools

Krita

Final coloured & detailed version of digital landscape illustration
Final Illustration

CREATION

Establishing The Layout
Sketch on paper of a layout from top-down view
An initial rough sketch of the park layout to visualize some of the revisions I wanted to make
Digital landscape illustration, black & white outline only
Digital version of the layout based on the sketch
Detailing: Pointing Out Specifics
Digital landscape illustration showing a collection of buildings with roofing details
This area features a collection of buildings defined by their industrial, metal roofing. I found that keeping the detailing of the buildings simple and primarily texture based helped to minimize visual chaos and better reflect the overall map style.
Digital landscape illustration showing water and a seaside restaurant with a copper coloured roof
I wanted this waterfront restaurant building to be a statement and a transition between the industrial and coastal parts of the map, so I settled on an intriguing oxidized copper roof.
Digital landscape illustration showing a mountainous landscape and river
This mountain is a point of focus for the map. While initially shaded in tones of gray, I adjusted it to shades of purple and light brown, which adds additional definition and personality.
A highway and rocky cliff up against the ocean
Shot of the Pacific Coast Highway used as inspiration for the illustration's mountain range (from https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-cliff-near-body-of-water-3135090/)
Digital landscape illustration showing the waterfront area and a small mountain range
Detail layer view, including a coastal mountain range. This particular use of inspiration helps to establish a more faithful time and place.

IN RETROSPECT

I feel that this project was a successful personal exploration to see how far I could take an idea that I was passionate about.

It highlights how design always requires exploration, which can help to establish one’s design criteria and inform future decisions. The small changes along the process reflect the growth of weighing different options and analyzing what works best.

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