unique opportunity
I was tapped to partner with a multidisciplinary team in order to develop a balloon to fly in the 2009-2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades. The development was a collaboration between the Disney Cruise Line marketing team, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Attractions Merchandise, and the Disney Entertainment Group's costuming team. My role was to help develop the massive balloon's storied pose (four stories, in fact!), as well as lead the creation of the design for the official holiday plush Macy's would sell the year of Mickey's inaugural flight through the streets of New York City.
Mickey Mouse saluting parade attendees as he makes his way through the streets of New York City
Designing for a new Medium
Many considerations had to be made in producing this balloon with the Macy's team. What would his pose be? Could I add never-been-done embellishments, like a bubble blower? What would Mickey wear? I attempted to push boundaries by adding props to help tell a story. Extraneous poses would cause issues in safe flight and buoyancy, since he would be four stories tall. So, his pose was edited to salute his friends below.
Full color concept sketch of another pose.
Mickey Mouse saluting parade attendees as he makes his way through the streets of New York City
Concept development using Mickey's approved parade costume
plush vendor management
Sailor Mickey Mouse was chosen by Macy's to be the official plush for the 2009 holiday season. He was sold at every Macy's store throughout the United States.
Working with a shortened timeline, I collaborated with the factory to get the Mickey plush design just right prior to full production.
delivering marketing results
This balloon helped bring more awareness and good will to the Disney Cruise Line by being seen in living rooms across the country for several years.
Sailor Mickey maquette sculpt used to produce the final balloon. The sculpt resides in the Macy's flagship store's parade shop in New York City
A compilation of design ideas and concepts leading to the production of the final balloon.
now it's time to say goodbye
Sadly, as a casualty of the great recession in 2009, I was unable to see the balloon beyond my final design and on to completion. Another artist took over to work with the sculptor at the Macy's Parade studio in NYC to approve the final sculpt of my design. It was bittersweet seeing my biggest (literally) project ever flying high that Thanksgiving morning in 2009.
