Theme Park Design Competition for students | See the winning designs
The first-ever Theme Park Design Competition named its winners, spotlighting standout high-school designers and awarding a $20,000 scholarship from Ringling College of Art and Design and VIP visit to Universal Studios Florida. See the students’ three designs below!
The future of themed entertainment design is already taking shape, and it’s coming from high school classrooms across the country. Ringling College of Art and Design has officially announced the winners of its Theme Park Design Competition, presented in partnership with Universal Creative, highlighting the next generation of imaginative storytellers and designers.
Open to U.S. high school juniors and seniors, the nationwide competition challenged students to conceptualize a mobile merchandise cart for outdoor theme parks. This concept yielded nearly 100 inventive submissions from across the U.S.
In total, 87 student entries were evaluated by a panel of judges comprising Ringling College faculty and entertainment design professionals from Universal Creative.
A national platform for emerging theme park designers
As we previously reported, the competition was created to give aspiring designers an early opportunity to explore the multidisciplinary world of themed entertainment, blending storytelling, branding, guest flow, and real-world operational needs. That goal was realized in the final submissions, which ranged from whimsical carousel-inspired carts to immersive concepts repurposing decommissioned utility vehicles for haunted attractions.
Judges praised the students’ diversity of ideas and the professional-level thinking they demonstrated. They also noted that many entries went far beyond visual design, encompassing operational strategy and guest interaction.
Grand prize winning design
Taking first place in the 2025 Theme Park Design Competition was Ella McGinley, a 12th-grade student from Belle Isle, Fla., near Orlando. Her standout concept featured a frozen-fruit drink cart on a fictional dragon island, complete with richly detailed worldbuilding.
McGinley’s design included character design guides, construction schematics, interactive roles for cart operators, and a show-stopping conveyor belt system where drinks are assembled and frosted by animatronic fruit-inspired dragons. The concept transforms a simple point-of-sale into a miniature themed experience.
“The judges loved how Ella’s entry took into account not just the practical concerns of crafting and operating a merchandise cart in a theme park, but also the need to incorporate thematic branding and storytelling elements into park guests’ interactions with the cart,” said Jamie DeRuyter, entertainment design department head at Ringling College. “That approach elevated her design concept into a live entertainment experience.” As the grand prize winner, McGinley will receive a $20,000 tuition scholarship to Ringling College of Art and Design.
Runner-up designs
Two additional students were named runner-up finalists:
- Stellan Pearson, grade 11, Sierra Madre, Calif., near Pasadena
- Marie Willie, grade 11, Austin, Texas
Stellan Pearson submitted Ray Rover’s Findings, a cart with treats like freeze-dried ice cream bites.
Marie Willis submitted a Carousel Cart, an interactive ice cream cart.
All three finalists will also enjoy an exclusive VIP behind-the-scenes experience at Universal Studios Florida, including complimentary travel and accommodations, offering a rare inside look at how world-class theme park experiences are brought to life.
Universal-approved designers
Universal Creative leaders expressed enthusiasm for the caliber of the submitted work and the potential impact of programs like this on the industry’s future.
“Seeing how creative these high school juniors and seniors are at solving design problems, devising memorable experiences, and converting their ideas into functional concepts has us very excited for the future of entertainment design,” said Eliza Lee, team member and culture experience manager at Universal Creative. “These young creatives prove that there’s no shortage of illuminating and enchanting ideas waiting to become reality.”
With the success of its inaugural year, the Theme Park Design Competition underscores Ringling College and Universal Creative’s shared commitment to nurturing the next wave of themed entertainment professionals. Those interested can explore individual design pitches and learn more about the competition at Ringling College’s official website.
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