Moving Forward After Graduation
Who am I and what am I looking for? As graduation quickly approaches I’ve been asking myself all of the philosophical life questions - as you do when you’re in grad school, right? Also I turned 30 a couple days ago… so that doesn’t really help the matter.
The truth is that I feel confident in my skills, my background, and my ability to contribute and collaborate with people. As I dive back into the job hunting pool I will remember these things to be true no matter how fruitful or frustrating the process will be.
That being said, are you hiring? Let me tell you about myself.
I am a creative generalist with an affinity for themed spaces and escapism.
By creative generalist, I mean that I thrive in the creative process - from blue sky to realization. I may not be a master of all software, but I can effectively observe, formulate, communicate, and present ideas. I see the big picture and can make connections through creative problem solving.
My background in project management is greatly beneficial as well. Yes, I can contribute ideas and have fantastical concepts brewing, but I also know how to manage people, time, money, and expectations. I always thought of myself as someone who lived in both the left and right sides of my brain, and I require both realms to keep myself and my teams in check.
Looking at my desk through the “Mind of Lyndie Raymond” filter.
Why Themed Entertainment?
I did a bit of soul searching before deciding to go back to school. I liked my job, but there was something about advertising that wasn’t as fulfilling as I had hoped. So, I took a personal inventory of both the things I enjoyed in life and the skill sets I possessed.
Disneyland has always been a beacon of light and inspiration in my life. Yes, I’m one of those adult Disney people… but I don’t have a “hakuna matata” tattoo or anything like that. For whatever reason it took me until about 2016 to realize that there was a whole industry built around themed entertainment and experience design. I immediately knew I needed to be a part of it. The thoughts I had while looking up at the facades of Main Street USA, or while enjoying the Indiana Jones queue almost as much as the ride, and while trying to methodically understand why the fireworks show was giving me goosebumps all pointed me in the direction of experience design. Let me be clear too, it’s not just Disney - it’s the tiki bars that I frequent, the western ghost towns I like to hunt down, and my expensive desire to stay in impeccably designed boutique hotels whenever possible… the list goes on. A healthy dose of escapism does wonders for my dopamine levels - so naturally I feel perfectly situated to become a creator in this magical industry, because I know what a difference it can make to the guests, viewers, and stakeholders.
View from my desk at Super 78 Studios in Los Angeles, 2017
My true introduction to the industry was through the TEA NextGen initiative, and my time with Super 78 Studios in Los Angeles. Super 78 hired me on as an intern in 2017 to help out with marketing efforts and assist with studio management. Soon after starting there I was working closely with Head of Development and Producer, Paul Washburn, as a production assistant. It was an exciting time and I felt like I was learning so much about the industry just by sitting in the meetings. On a daily basis I would switch gears from planning and organizing remote Indonesian helicopters flights to troubleshooting a high-capacity VR attraction at an aquarium. I was also researching and sourcing specific Victorian-era fixtures for the renovation of the Walt Disney Birthplace, and assisting in coordinating freelance artists for dinosaur attractions. Before my time there, I didn’t know the distinction of a flying theater or an immersion tunnel, but by the time I left I felt like my third eye had been opened to all things themed entertainment 👁.
What’s Next?
As for what’s next, I am looking for opportunities! I am planning on moving from Colorado back to Los Angeles - Boulder has been an amazing place for me but I am ready for a change in scenery and the career opportunities in LA are what I am in search of. I’m looking for a position where I can be a part of the creative conversation and facilitate in the process whether it’s research, writing, sketching, presenting, concepting, creative directing, producing, or managing -- ideally it’s a little bit of all of those things!
I look forward to seeing what’s next for me!