HELLO!!!

 

My name is Katherine Barauna Dixon! I am an engineer who crossed over to the dark side of design (by way of industrial design), with a passion for experience design and themed entertainment. At first it started with the desire to make gravity defying rides but morphed to encompass not just the ride hardware but the overall experience of immersive attractions. I joined the industry in 2014 after graduating from SCAD’s pilot Themed Entertainment Design Master’s Program as a project Management Intern with Walt Disney Imagineering.  Since then, I have had the opportunity to work on projects for companies including Universal Creative, Lotte World, Fox LBE, and Carnival Cruises.

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My background is in engineering and themed entertainment design, with professional experience in the project management, producing, design, and fabrication of themed attractions which includes hotels, museum exhibits, restaurants, retail spaces, area development and e-ticket rides.  In addition, I have lead cross-functional teams of various sizes.  I can effectively collaborate with stakeholders to make sure a project comes in on time and on budget. My biggest project to date sent me to Osaka for four months, leading a schematic effort for the Mario Kart attraction at Universal Studios Japan, with an international team based in Osaka, Orlando, and Los Angeles… all with being sent out to site with less than a week of notice. It was without a doubt a fun and memorable experience.

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Currently, I serve as a Show Set Designer for American Scenic Design Inc where I have had the unique opportunity work on high profile attraction design projects for companies including Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative. There I expertly assemble show set packages that integrate every discipline from lighting, projects, show action equipment, facility integration, ride systems, and of course the show sets.

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Covid-19 has unequivocally changed the landscape of cultural institutions, location-based experiences and themed entertainment as we know it today. Almost nothing in our lives will look the same.  But even in light of that sobering fact, there have been cultural shifts that could uncover diamonds in the ashes.  My outlook is, dare I say, optimistic.  We are educators, experience designers, movers, shakers, and dreamers.  We have the ability to rise to that challenge with ingenuity and adaptive problem solving, which has aided in the growth of our industry before.  And with this changing in operations in public, an experience design focused skillset will be invaluable. In addition, quarantine has brought the hustle and bustle of our daily lives to a grind halt.  And in this stillness, we have rediscovered our inner curiosities that would normally be overpowered by our daily lives. It has also highlighted the importance of accessibility to a wider audience as well as uncovering ways of effectively accommodating without diminishing the experience.  This ability to create shared experiences that touch the human spirit will be more important than ever.  I am ready for this awakening, however it manifests.

Beyond my experience and professional growth efforts, I believe being involved in industry events is an important facet of being a participant in the themed entertainment/experience design industry.  It started with spearheading the first collegiate chapter as a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design.  Now I am involved with mentorship and even served as a panelist for the Blinders Off discussion during Summit Day 1 in 2017 which focused on females and minorities in the industry.

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When I am not working on my next attraction, I visit theme parks, find pop up events, dance at concerts, perfect my cupcake recipe, and general assorted galavanting.

 

I thank you kindly for stopping by! On my website you can find my student work and professional work of which I am at liberty to share. I can show you some of my selected current work upon request.