Inspired by Lionsgate’s blockbuster franchises John Wick and Now You See Me, the expanded zone at Dubai Parks and Resorts will feature the world’s tallest free fly and most revolutions of any spinning coaster.   Experience design company FORREC is thrilled to see the opening of the expanded Lionsgate Zone at MOTIONGATE Dubai and its two new roller coaster attractions, John Wick: Open Contract and Now You See Me: High Roller. Inspired by Lionsgate’s film franchises of the same name, the rides are open to guests starting Friday 21st January at the Middle East’s largest integrated theme park ..read more

This blog post is brought to you by FORREC Conversations, a series of engaging interviews between FORREC and thought leaders in the experience design industry and beyond. In this installment, Ingrid Vaivads, an experienced senior designer at FORREC sat down with Jess Ponting, co-founder of Surf Park Central and the director of the Center for Surf Research San Diego State University, to discuss the rise of surf parks in experiential design. —  PART II: Emerging Trends of Surf Parks: Sustainability and TechnologyClick here to read Part I, A Timeline of Surf Parks: Its Evolution and Expansio ..read more

FORREC Conversations is a series of engaging interviews between FORREC and thought leaders in the experience design industry and beyond. In this installment, Ingrid Vaivads, an experienced senior designer at FORREC sat down with Jess Ponting, co-founder of Surf Park Central and the director of the Center for Surf Research San Diego State University, to discuss the rise of surf parks in experiential design. —  PART I: A Timeline of Surf Parks: Its Evolution and Expansion into New Spaces & Places   WHY SURF PARKS? WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE? Ingrid Vaivads: Before even ‘diving’ into su ..read more

Working with Indigenous Communities  Over the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of working on several projects for Indigenous organizations and consultants, but most rewardingly, learning from members, professionals, and Elders from several First Nations. These projects included daycares, community centres, roof gardens, trails, and the design of a memorial garden for a former residential school. As part of a settler society, which has been so harmful to the land, water, and Indigenous peoples of this continent, I am trying to learn more about Indigenous peoples, treaties, culture ..read more

FORREC’s Creative Studio is the creative wellspring. Our team of highly skilled creative professionals spend their days coming up with ideas that are as compelling as they are works of art. All studios in FORREC cross paths with the Creative Studio at some point because this team is truly the playground where ideas come to life. It’s a group that loves to find the story at the heart of our clients’ projects. So ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes and how our Creative Studio does it? You’re in luck because we’re sharing how our designers create 3D renders, and interactive models, and the ..read more

FORREC’s Vice-President Linda Hung and China Creation Group’s President Linda Dong discuss how to keep IP’s fresh and interesting and the differences between IP’s and original theme park design.   HOW DO DESIGNERS KEEP IP-BASED ATTRACTIONS FRESH AND INTERESTING OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME SO GUESTS CONTINUE TO WANT TO RETURN? Linda Dong (LD): By investing in new content, whether it be refreshing media and interactive content or through constantly adding new and seasonal experiences into the entertainment content of the attraction. Linda Hung (LH): Continued reinvestment is critical. For IP ..read more

As an experience design company, FORREC is primarily known for creating thrilling, exploratory and immersive guest experiences that create long lasting memories. What you may not have known is that prior to being a leader in the theme park and attractions industry, FORREC began as a landscape architecture company over 30 years ago – and that focus is still very much present in everything we do. Our team is skilled at master planning some of the world’s most successful entertainment destinations and Ontario’s most distinctive urban spaces. We are especially experienced and innovative when it co ..read more

It gives me great reservation to reflect on this past year. The challenges we all faced, the difficulties we had to endure, trying to imagine what the future holds – 2020 has been unsettling to say the least. From the countless lives lost, to the hundreds of thousands who contracted the virus, to those affected by economies shutting down for months, to those who have battled COVID-19 from the frontlines in the healthcare profession; so many people have been impacted physically, emotionally, mentally, and economically. It’s a lot to take in. It has been even further exasperated by the fact that ..read more

Escape. Haven’t we all had thoughts about escaping in recent months? Getting away from our overused homes and getting out from in front of the screens that dominate our daily lives. Now more than ever, consumers want to find ways to engage outside of their home environment. As we evolve into the “new normal” and people once again start to gather, they will be looking for activities that provide that escape – a physical experience that taps into the imagination and takes them away for a day, an hour, even a few minutes while interacting with a game or activity. Experience has always been at the ..read more

“In pursuing a ‘way,’ Japanese typically move beyond an interest in craftsmanship to a kind of sacred search for the ultimate.” ― Morinosuke Kawaguchi, Geeky-Girly Innovation: A Japanese Subculturalist’s Guide to Technology and Design   What Japanese theme parks can teach us about immersive world building   A life-long dream of mine was to visit the hallowed ground of several Japanese theme parks. Given their distant location I never had the opportunity to visit – until late last year in pre-COVID conditions. I thought I was prepared with my certifiable theme park geekiness on what t ..read more