The Immersive Design Academy (IDA) is making significant waves in the themed entertainment industry, emerging as a crucial bridge between education and professional practice. Since its inception in 2022, IDA has provided a transformative 11-month training program crafted to prepare emerging professionals for careers in themed attraction design. By simulating a creative studio environment, the academy offers a hands-on, immersive experience where students collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to bring fully realized themed attraction concepts to life. This unique model not only nurtures innovative thinking but also equips students with practical industry skills, all based on real-world client briefs.
What sets IDA apart is its global reach and dedication to inclusivity, ensuring emerging talent from diverse backgrounds accesses meaningful career opportunities. The recent partnership with IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) marks a significant milestone, expanding the visibility and impact of IDA’s work. Supported by the IAAPA Foundation, this collaboration fuels scholarship programs and operational growth, enhancing both student access and program quality.
“This partnership and the Foundation’s support will make a meaningful difference for our students, helping them launch their careers regardless of background,” said Emma Bashford, Producer at Immersive Design Academy. “Lars van de Crommert, Laura Marakowits and I are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with IAAPA and look forward to growing this relationship globally.”
The collaboration with IAAPA brings not only financial scholarships but also amplifies students’ exposure at major international industry events. IDA’s participation in IAAPA Expos worldwide provides a valuable platform for emerging professionals to showcase their creations, connect with industry leaders, and directly engage with potential employers. The Showcase of Student Work is now a fixture at IAAPA Expo Europe and IAAPA Expo Orlando, with expanded presence in Asia and the Middle East—an invaluable gateway to the global themed entertainment community.
“Through our partnership with Immersive Design Academy, and with the IAAPA Foundation’s scholarships expanding access for emerging talent, we are helping students gain practical experience, build industry connections, and enter the workforce ready to contribute,” remarked Michael Shelton, Chief Operating Officer of IAAPA. “This effort strengthens the global attractions industry by investing in its future leaders.”
What makes IDA’s approach compelling is its innovative synthesis of education and real-world industry engagement. Unlike traditional academic programs that may focus heavily on theory, IDA immerses its cohorts in a simulated studio atmosphere reflecting current industry practices and challenges. This approach fosters creativity while emphasizing collaborative skills vital to developing themed entertainment projects such as family dark rides, themed zoo expansions, immersive dining, and edutainment experiences. The comprehensive, hands-on nature of the program prepares graduates not just with technical prowess but also with a holistic understanding of the design process from conceptualization to execution.
This real-world training is bolstered by IDA’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, a rare yet vital focus in a competitive creative sector. With scholarship support from the IAAPA Foundation and complimentary access to IAAPA Expos, students from various global regions can gain worldwide industry exposure without financial burdens hindering their participation. This democratization of access enables a more diverse and vibrant creative ecosystem, fostering fresh perspectives and innovation in themed entertainment.
Within the broader immersive media landscape, IDA’s model stands as a beacon for future-forward professional training. The themed entertainment industry is closely intertwined with fulldome and immersive media venues, sharing a common goal of creating captivating, story-driven experiences that transport audiences to other worlds. IDA graduates, trained in multidisciplinary teamwork and cutting-edge design techniques, will contribute significantly to immersive content creation across domes, exhibitions, and interactive installations. Their projects’ emphasis on blending narrative, visuals, and interactivity aligns seamlessly with the evolving demands of fulldome and immersive experience producers.
Moreover, IDA’s global footprint and collaboration with IAAPA enrich the international immersive community by fostering cross-cultural creativity and collaboration. In a field where innovation thrives through diverse viewpoints and technological fluency, programs like IDA set the stage for the next generation of immersive designers and producers to push the boundaries of what themed entertainment and fulldome media can achieve, ultimately enhancing audiences’ emotional and sensory engagement worldwide.
As the 2026 Immersive Design Academy cohort prepares to showcase their work at IAAPA Expo Orlando, the global immersive media community awaits the fresh ideas and visionary designs that these emerging professionals will bring forth. Looking ahead to the 2027 program application cycle, IDA’s growing influence promises continued enrichment for the themed entertainment and immersive design sectors alike—nurturing talent, creativity, and innovation on a truly global scale.
Originally reported by IPM News via www.inparkmagazine.com on 2026-02-19 06:18:00.
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