Disney's Imaginations tasked us to design a "new space within your college or university that addresses current student, faculty and visitor needs, while providing a respite from stresses of college life."
We came up with the concept of Dee's Intergalactic Tavern to assist Entertainment Technology Students at Carnegie Mellon University to rest, recharge, and become inspired!
Team Starcatchers:
Jasmin Ali-Diaz - Melanie Danver
Christina Hang Yin - Courtney Singleton
Dee's Intergalactic Tavern
Disney's Imaginations Design Competition
2025
Team Starcatchers
Semi Finalists
Full Concept Description:
Finding a sense of belonging in a short, intense graduate program can be challenging. If college is a place to figure out what you love to do, a graduate program is that… on steroids. There’s little room in your life for unwinding, building friendships, or simply marveling at the beautiful riverside views just beyond your classroom walls. Even the most basic daily tasks — eating, sleeping, or taking a moment for yourself — can feel monumental under the weight of your new responsibilities.
Thankfully, Dee’s Intergalactic Tavern is here to help you recharge, relax, and refuel. Perched atop a bustling school building, the Tavern is a carefully designed hub to truly fulfill the needs of a diverse, expansive community. Savor nutritious delicacies from across the galaxy at the Cosmos Café, or grab a friend and belt your hearts out on the Stellar Stage. Need to momentarily but entirely step away from the planet? The serene Cloud Pods offer guided meditations — or the perfect nap spot — complete with out-of-this-world visuals. As the sun sets, the Tavern comes alive with vibrant hues; creating an atmosphere perfect for a moonlit stroll through the tranquil Lunar Garden. At the heart of it all stands the Transmission Nebula — a beautifully illuminated, winding structure that stretches beyond the ceiling and out into the sky. Take a seat. Marvel at the messages from fellow travellers and students, past and present. Perhaps you’d feel inspired to add your own words of encouragement, or doodle a masterpiece. The Nebula connects students to the greater universe, reminding them that the work they’re doing here reaches far beyond what they can currently see.
Dee’s Intergalactic Tavern takes care of the essentials — food, rest, and warmth — so you’re free to reach for the stars.
My Contributions:
For this project, I focused on making concept art of the spaces and highlighting important structures or concepts we used.
I pitched the idea of making the interactive sculpture in center point into a spiral shape. The idea that anyone can add their own thoughts to this space and it would spiral up as time passed to create an ever growing idea chain of students through the years. Alumni can come back to visit and scroll through this interactive structure until they find when they were a student making us all connected together. The spiral upward came from the concept that we learn and create here at the university and as time goes on we release these ideas into the world.
In the art I wanted to also include as many details as possible, like in the background you can see parts of the cafe, arcade cabinet area, privacy pod, and some of the intergalactic plants that enhance the concepts.
The Stage was also a significant part since it was decided to make it indoor/outdoor, it seemed like such a unique concept that I felt needed to be highlighted and seeing parts of the garden.
Then the final artwork is of the entire rooftop at night, showing off the specialty lighting and how everything looks as a whole on top of the already existing building.
My background and career in fine art helped immensely with this project, using a unique style to create a sense of whimsy Then my professional background as a researcher in technical art and animation, gave me the ability to think of the realities of what would be needed for such a project
and what other factors might be overlooked. Such as including wheelchair accessibility ramps, emergency exits, and unseen spaces like kitchens for use in the cafe area staff.
Story Behind the Design:
Intergalactic researcher Dee Ex Plaurer traverses the galaxy in search of epicenters of knowledge where collaboration and cultural exchange can flourish – and your campus has been selected as an ideal hub for her newest installation! As an expert in developmental psychology for a range of species – including humans – Dee understands that the most magnificent discoveries bloom from creative minds whose basic physical needs are met first. However, in a program physically separated from the main campus, with limited food options and even fewer private spaces to breathe, meeting those needs becomes unexpectedly difficult. This philosophy inspired Dee’s Intergalactic Tavern: a transcendental environment outside of space and time that serves both as a place for relaxation and recuperation and as an activity hub for Travellers across the galaxy (or your campus). Visitors can admire the beautiful community gardens brimming with exotic plants that come alive in the nighttime, or stop by the café that offers both fresh hot meals and grab ‘n’ go snacks. Designed with comfort, calm, and connection at its core, Dee’s Intergalactic Tavern invites everyone to step into your home-away-from-home.
Dee's Intergalactic Tavern Concept Video