Client – Disney Cruise Line
Studio – In-house
Role – Art Direction

Scaling Disney storytelling across a digital signage system

Aboard the Disney Adventure, every venue is an immersive chapter of a Disney story. I led the design of 140 bespoke digital signage touchpoints that serve as the gateway to these experiences. This effort required seamless orchestration between Disney Cruise Line’s product teams and Walt Disney Imagineering, ensuring that every digital interface felt like a native extension of the physical environmental design. Powered by a centralized CMS, these signs provide real-time utility—from dynamic menus to daily programming—balancing high-concept storytelling with a scalable, template-driven framework.

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PIXAR MARKET RESTAURANT

is one of the rotational dining experiences on The Adventure. Featuring eight distinct sections, the massive buffet highlights a different Pixar film in each seating area. The primary design challenge was to create a cohesive visual identity that seamlessly integrates eight vastly different worlds—Monster's Inc., Coco, Cars, Inside Out, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Turning Red—into a single, unified marquee.

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INITIAL CONCEPTS

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DESIGN EXPLORATION + STRATEGY

 I began by exploring how these eight stories could flow together, using fluid lines to show their interconnectedness. However, to ground the project more to the iconic Pixar brand, I leaned into a more modular, "pixelated" aesthetic. The exterior marquee drew inspiration from the work of Piet Mondrian, similar to the façade of the Pixar Place Hotel.

The final design felt like a natural extension of this geometric statue near the entrance of the restaurant.

FINAL DESIGN

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MIKE + SULLEY'S FLAVORS OF ASIA

Feast on some of Asia’s most renowned cuisines with 4 distinct dining options—a full-service Japanese steakhouse, a lively Teppanyaki room, Omakase-style dining, and an outdoor sushi-sashimi experience. Inspired by the famous Japanese-style eatery in the Pixar animation Monsters, Inc., this premium restaurant features an elevated design that pairs tradition with tasteful touches of whimsy.

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INITIAL CONCEPTS

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FINAL DESIGN

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BEWITCHING BOBA AND BREWS

Neon lights and vibrant pop art define this eclectic retreat. Inspired by the charm of Ursula and other Disney Villains, the café offers a curated selection of "wicked" brews within an immersive space designed to captivate the senses through bold design and spellbinding visuals.

STITCH'S OHANA GRILL

A tropical, surf-themed eatery capturing the laid-back essence of Lilo & Stitch and the spirit of Hawaii.

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DESIGN CHALLENGE

Both venues are set within Discovery Reef, an immersive, open-air retreat that brings Disney’s most beloved underwater tales to life. The primary design challenge was a spatial constraint: a single digital display was required to serve both venues simultaneously.

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PALO TRATTORIA

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THANK YOU!

MARLOWMERCER@GMAIL.COM

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