Pixar
Book Design / Print / Production
Clients
Independent / Sheridan College
Role
Researcher, Author, Designer, Printer
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Project Details
Origins
In February 2016, I found myself in New York, with a small group of friends, lost
in thought about my place in the design industry. We were on a student trip to tour studios, and although the museum wasn’t in our
original plans, an exhibit caught our attention: “Pixar: The Design of Story.”.
I’ve always enjoyed Pixar films, but seeing the exhibit deepened my appreciation. Studying the concept art and research, I learned
that Pixar focuses on three pillars: compelling stories, appealing characters, and believable worlds, which are achieved through research,
iteration, and collaboration. I realized these were the same design principles I used in my own work. That moment validated my career
path and gave me renewed direction.
Evolution
A Study of Aesthetics History & Pixar Films is the capstone project of my time as a York/Sheridan Program in Design (YSDN) student. It is a personal exploration of the connection between my design practice and my passion for Pixar
My initial thesis argued that Modernist aesthetics shaped the perception of Pixar films, inspired by parallels between Pixar’s artist-technologist collaboration and the Bauhaus philosophy described by Walter Gropius. However, further research revealed flaws: Pixar draws from diverse global influences, and my hypothesis lacked broader input.
I reframed the project as a documentation of my personal observations, connecting moments in Pixar films to my art and design education.
Production
Under this new direction, I created a book pairing scenes from Pixar films with related historical artifacts. I rewatched
all 17 films, cataloguing references and conducting visual research to build comparisons.
I ultimately organized the book chronologically by historical period, giving it a secondary educational purpose: a survey of
art and design history told through Pixar films.
After designing flexible templates and completing the layout and writing, I printed and assembled the book myself. The final
piece reflects both my education and my evolving career. It was a pivotal project that led me toward animation and influenced
my move into film and television, where I continue to grow as an artist and professional.
