An Investigation Of Design Processes And Their Effects On Accessibility In Narrative Themed Environments

Accessibility matters, and not merely in meeting minimum codes or limited to basic necessities. Access and inclusion matter still more in places of recreation and leisure which have too often been overlooked or considered low priority, however it is precisely these places that merit special attention. Narrative Themed Environments occupy a unique position relative to the general built environment, often acting as utopic ‘other-spaces’ for enjoyment, freedom, and escape. However, for guests with disabilities, current themed experiences can often lack true inclusivity and instead create inequality, segregation, diminished experiences, and feelings of isolation and exclusion. The peculiar idiosyncratic design process of these environments emerges from a multiplicity of design traditions, inconsistent systems of feedback that keep designers mostly separate from other stakeholders, a major industry shift away from centralized in-house design and towards increasingly external vendor-based organisational structures, design artefacts that promote singular and static solutions as opposed to parametric and customizable experiences, and an overly narrow conceptualization and language based on fixed requirements surrounding accessibility throughout the design process. Using contextual inquiry and qualitative interview techniques in conjunction with quantitative survey tools, this study examines the complex design and decision making processes specific to themed entertainment and traces the myriad of interacting factors of those processes to elucidate its relationship with accessibility considerations. Given the complex structural influences on the guest experience, this project introduces a framework for better understanding the diffuse systems of power and influence within the design and decision making processes that impact the accessibility and inclusivity of the experience of all guests within the built environment of theme parks.