Ann Morrow Johnson, the Executive Portfolio Creative Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, has left Disney for a job with with architecture and design firm Gensler.
As Gensler’s new Design Director and Global Entertainment Leader, Johnson will co-lead the company’s entertainment and experience design practice, the company announced in a news release.
“Ann Morrow Johnson is the creative leader the Gensler Entertainment Practice needs at this moment as we continue to see exciting growth and momentum,” Gensler Entertainment Leader Bob Weis said in a statement. “Her extensive global experience in immersive experience design and storytelling, coupled with a solid foundation in development strategy and architecture makes her one of the industry’s most sought after leaders.”
During her 11 years at Disney, Johnson led a number of projects for the parks and resorts, including multiple blue sky projects. One of her most high-profile projects was Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
The ambitious two-night, interactive experience that was marketed as allowing visitors to live out their own Star Wars adventure, opened in March 2022 before closing in September the following year. Starcruiser combined interactive elements, technology, live theater and live-action roleplaying, but many fans expressed criticized the experience’s hefty price tag.
Johnson is the latest executive to exit Disney’s creative arm. Barbara Bouza, who was president of Walt Disney Imagineering left in March. Prior to that, Weis, who served as head of WDI from 2016 to 2021, left in 2022 after 42 years with the company. Weis joined Gensler last year.
