Don Carson joined Mighty Coconut in 2021 the place he and the remainder of the design crew make locations in Walkabout Mini Golf. Drawing from his expertise as a Disney Imagineer, their course of entails brainstorming, placing pencil sketch to paper after which blocking out the format of the brand new area in Gravity Sketch. Over the course of roughly 15 to 18 months, ‘Coconuts’ cross the mannequin between their lighting, sound, animation, and gameplay groups, releasing as a ultimate vacation spot for gamers priced $3.99. That is Carson’s abstract of the studio’s iterative course of, outlining their ideas for place-making.
In creating our Walkabout Mini Golf programs, we’re crafting extra than simply playable areas; we’re cultivating a novel sense of marvel and connection that gamers usually describe as “one thing particular.” That is no accident. Rooted in ideas drawn from theme parks, theater, movie, literature, and visible arts, our designs are deliberately crafted to encourage awe, spark curiosity, and foster memorable experiences.
Placemaking By means of Intentional Design
The inspiration of our success lies within the artwork of placemaking—creating environments which are immersive, participating, and significant. At its core, placemaking is guided by a number of easy but profound ideas:
1. Know Your Viewers: Each design alternative is made with the participant in thoughts. By deeply understanding who our viewers is, we are able to tailor experiences that resonate, guaranteeing our environments really feel private and welcoming.
2. Reply the Core Questions: Our environments are designed to reply two important questions:
- “The place am I?”
- “How do I relate to this surroundings?”
These solutions present orientation and connection, grounding gamers within the
expertise.
3. Meet and Exceed Expectations: First impressions matter. Establishing pictures set the tone and align with what gamers count on once they step into a brand new course. However our purpose isn’t just to satisfy these expectations; we goal to exceed them, stunning gamers with sudden twists and wealthy particulars that invite exploration and delight.
4. Over Ship: The magic is within the particulars. Layers of design enrich the surroundings, making it extra vibrant and rewarding for gamers who take the time to discover.
5. Observe Easy Guidelines: Consistency is vital. By distilling design into clear, easy guidelines and adhering to them, we protect the believability of our worlds. Breaking these guidelines dangers pulling gamers out of the immersive expertise.
6. Intentional Design Documentation: A Design Intent Doc serves as a guiding framework, articulating objectives and leaving room for dialogue and evolution. This ensures our environments keep true to their imaginative and prescient whereas benefiting from collaborative refinement.
The Methods of Engagement
Creating charming environments goes past ideas; it entails a variety of strategies designed to have interaction, shock, and join gamers with their environment:
- Vistas and Awe: Beginning with breathtaking vistas creates moments of marvel, inviting gamers to discover and uncover extra.
- Narrative Vignettes: We inform tales by way of small, evocative moments scattered all through the surroundings. These “bread crumbs” encourage gamers to piece collectively narratives, fostering a way of discovery and private connection. It is very important belief your viewers to piece collectively what has occurred/taking place as they navigate your designed surroundings.
- Humor and Trigger & Impact: Humorous interactions and playful cause-and-effect moments let gamers share within the joke, deepening their engagement and pleasure.
- Simplicity in Storytelling: Protecting tales broad and intuitive permits gamers to interpret and personalize the expertise. Overcomplicated narratives threat alienating or complicated the viewers.
- Story Beats: Like chapters in a guide, we create distinct moments inside our programs, encouraging gamers to deal with every scene earlier than shifting ahead.
- Spotlighting Key Particulars: Through the use of lighting, colour, and composition, we draw consideration to a very powerful parts, guaranteeing that the story stays clear and centered.
- Celebrating Tiny Particulars: Small touches—an sudden flourish, a hidden clue—can go away lasting impressions, turning into the takeaways gamers cherish.
Designing for Connection
In the end, the environments we create should not simply in regards to the areas themselves however in regards to the connections they foster. Like theme parks, our programs are backdrops for shared experiences, the place gamers come collectively to chortle, discover, and create recollections.
This philosophy drives each resolution we make, from crafting awe-inspiring vistas to making sure even the tiniest particulars add to the richness of the surroundings. By adhering to those ideas and strategies, we remodel mini golf into an artwork kind—one which delights, evokes, and connects.
On the earth of Walkabout Mini Golf, every course is greater than only a recreation; it’s a journey right into a thoughtfully crafted world the place each element has a objective, each shock invitations pleasure, and each participant turns into a part of the story.
Don Carson is an idea designer and Senior Artwork Director at Mighty Coconut, the studio behind Walkabout Mini Golf. He has labored within the theme park and pc recreation industries, notably as a Senior Present Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, artwork directing tasks like Splash Mountain, Mickey’s Toontown and Blizzard Seaside.
