This page contains a few examples of smaller projects I've done throughout my time at the University of Central Florida.
Let’s Work Together - Available for Work
The Visit Escape Room
Course: Design Seminar
Assignment: “Create a themed experience utilizing the play The Visit.”
Collaborative Project with David Brescia and Nikki Sutterby
Responsible for Hand Drafting Escape Room and Concept Development
Concept:
The players assume the role of reporters, arriving to Guellen to investigate the recent resurgence of the once dreary town and the possible connection to the death of Alfred Ill. The guests are brought into the first area of the escape room and watch a video explaining the setting, context, and circumstances of their challenge. At the conclusion of the video, the timer begins, and the players start the search.
In total, the players have three locations to search: The Train Depot & Storefront, Interior of Ill’s Shop and Ill’s Hidden Office.
-David Brescia, Show Writer
Ground Plan
When designing the ground plan for our project I knew it was important to keep the space intimate for successful game-play. The architectural style is minimalistic, so as to not get in the way of the game, yet still evokes a feeling of the early to mid-20th century.
There also needed to be adequate props and furniture placed logically throughout the space to reinforce a sense of place, and for the participants to interact with as they progress through the game. These props and furniture provide places to hide clues and puzzles while creating a realistic environment for the theme of the escape room – The Visit.
In scale, the space must be more compact to facilitate teamwork and ensure that clues and game components can be found in a reasonable amount of time – thus setting the game participants up for a successful and enjoyable event. For this reason, the overall spaces have been diminished to provide an appropriate location for the game while maintaining the atmosphere of The Visit.
Market Study
The popularity of escape room entertainment has skyrocketed over the past 5 years. Between 2014 and 2019 the number of dedicated escape room facilities grew from 24 to 2,350
Escape room games in Florida are particularly popular, ranking Florida consistently in the top 5 markets for escape room locations.
Escape room locations are popular with a wide cross-section of the population, with games designed that target different age groups and social demographics.
Logistically, this proposed escape room would be in a pre-existing Escape Room facility. Since room themes are switched often to maintain interest this model works well for the niche room we propose.
My House Has Stars Proposed Attraction
Course: Design Seminar
Collaborative Project with Duncan MacPherson and Joni Newman
Responsibilities: Show Writer, Research, and Concept
Piece based on the children’s book My House Has Stars by Megan McDonald
Concept:
We are one world. Regardless of race, religion or education, at our core we are all the same – a global people with hopes and dreams, family and friends, successes and failures. We are one people. We all look up and see the same bright sun. The same glowing moon. The same sparkling stars.
Join us as we journey through the night, coming together to celebrate our place in the cosmos. As we travel together to experience cultures and places unfamiliar, yet somehow so similar. When we join together, we realize that we are not as different as we may appear. Ultimately, we all see stars.
My House Has Stars brings together different cultures to celebrate what makes them unique while recognizing that humanity is, at its core, full of the same dreams and aspirations. Guests will board their planetary vessel and explore the night sky while experiencing cultural music and architecture, as a native child describes their surroundings, and the glittering stars they see above.
Model by Duncan MacPherson
Technical Script
SCENE 1 – GLOBAL SKY
Sounds of CRICKETS, OWLS, WIND play softly in the background as guests travel to board their planetary vessel.
As the vessel departs the load platform the soundscape surrounds them as the NARRATORS voice is heard as the journey forward under a glittering canopy of stars.
The vessels journey forward through a portal into the next scene as the landscape changes.
SCENE 2 – XHOSA VILLAGE
MUSIC plays the SINOVUYO TRADITIONAL DANCE as your vessel glides forward to reveal a grouping of round huts from the Xhosa Village in South Africa. In the background is a projection of the landscape, revealing a native prairie against a setting sun. As the guests travel through the land the background fades from sunset to a glittering canopy of stars beneath a brilliant moon. The sounds of CATTLE, GOATS, CHICKENS and CRACKLING FIRE is heard in addition to the traditional song. Amidst the huts guests witness BLINKING FIREFLIES, and from the huts SOFT LIGHT spills from the windows. The room smells faintly of PLANTS and SMOKE. The ride track takes on the quality of a dirt road as guests lightly bump along.
SCENE 3 – TAOS PUEBLO
Guests now enter the TAOS PUEBLO scene, revealing the pueblo with the sun setting over the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the background. As the scene progresses, the sun sets to reveal the night sky beneath the same full moon. You hear the drumming sounds of a traditional song, DUSK AT THE TAOS PUEBLO playing softly. In addition to the song the sounds of FIRE, CRICKETS, and NIGHT ANIMALS are heard, and the light smell of SMOKE and DIRT can be found lightly in the breeze.
