Spotlight On: Chris Chapman of the Disney Design Group

We recently sat down with Chris Chapman  of the Disney Design Group to talk Vinylmation and more.  You can find the complete audio interview on the upcoming  Episode 13 of our podcast.

In his role with Disney Design Group, Chris Chapman has designed and illustrated toys, logos, print, Vinylmation, pins, clothing, packaging, candy and more.  His work can be found at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Hong Kong Disneyland and World of Disney Stores.

Chris Chapman is also the artist behind the new Disney Afternoons series of Vinylmation.

He calls this series his best work at Disney. Why? "I have such an incredible passion around Disney Afternoons. Because of that I was going to put in the extra hours and fight for it. I always like to find, I call it the Disney rarities. The things that don't get the coverage, but people have huge passion around these guys."

Before Disney Afternoons, Chris created a one-of-a-kind piece for Trade City in 2010.

This Steampunk inspired figure, named Dr. Frumberlockle, was auctioned off at the event

Moai was a cancelled Chris Chapman figure that never made it into a series. 

It too went up for auction at Trade City 2010

9" Park 5 Mad Hatter, designed by Christopher Chapman

What did Chris think of Vinylmation when it was presented to him? "The skys the limit. That mickey shape is a blank canvas for us, no different than a flat canvas, but obviously the difficulty is in the three dimensional form. We had to learn what worked and what didn't. You have submit to the form and think three dimensional."

We also asked Chris about the balance between  Disney's creative and business sides. "You have to balance that right brain creative blue sky ideation  and the left brain analytical. Letting both of those  work together is vital to success.  And Walt Disney was a master at this."

Some of the pins Chris designed for a 2009 Haunted Mansion event

"Mayor Mickey" is a work Chris created for Trade City 2010

There was much, much more from Chris. He also gave us a sneek peak at the Florida Project merchandise and what other Vinylmation he has in the works. Listen to the full interview on the upcoming Episdode 13 of out podcast.