In a significant move within the entertainment and design world, Bob Weis, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), has joined the renowned architecture and design firm, Gensler. Weis, who spent over 30 years crafting some of Disney’s most iconic projects, including theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships, is now set to further his legacy at Gensler as their Global Immersive Experience Design Leader.
Longstanding Ties with Gensler
During his time at Disney, Weis frequently partnered with Gensler. Reflecting on these collaborations, he remarked, At Disney, we often collaborated with Gensler, and I was able to see first-hand its culture of design innovation that transforms the quality of life in our world
.
Adding Another Disney Veteran to Their Roster
Addition of Bob Weis comes shortly after Ann Morrow Johnson, notable for her role as the Global Head of Creative Development for Imagineering and her leadership in creating the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Johnson joins Weis at Gensler as their new Design Director and Global Entertainment Leader. She will partner with Lexi Barry as co-leader of Gensler’s Entertainment and Experience Design Practice.
Extending the Vision beyond Disney
Gensler’s co-chief executive Andy Cohen highlighted the value Weis brings: A creative design force, Weis’s leadership and expertise in entertainment design will enhance the ways people interact with and thrive in the spaces and experiences we create around the world…
Future Projects on the Horizon
The shift marks a continuation of Weis’s focus on immersive experiences. Noteworthy is the Walt Disney World’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, which took its final voyage on September 28th, 2023.
This transition raises curiosity about upcoming partnerships and initiatives under Weis’s co-leadership at Gensler. As Cohen aptly put it: Now more than ever, design has the power to shape how we experience life…
Follow Us
