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Designing the Visual Magic of Attractions with Martin Kuntz – Podcast Episode 137
Audio Links: Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio | Pandora
Episode Description
On this episode of the Memory Makers Podcast, Russ sits down with Martin Kuntz, one of the longest-tenured employees at Creative Works to discuss how he designs the visual magic of attractions. Over his 15-year career with the company, Martin has worn nearly every artistic hat imaginable—sculpting, painting murals, and working as a key member of the design and engineering department. Martin shares what it was like to help grow Creative Works from a small team of 12 people into an industry powerhouse, and he takes us behind the scenes of some of his most memorable projects.
“We’ve got our standard bread and butter themes, but clients always come to us with crazy ideas. Yeah, never would have occurred to me. We did a job in El Salvador where the client wanted bees versus wasps, which was very strange…”
-Martin Kuntz
Martin has built an incredible portfolio, including the meticulous digital fabrication work on the Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium and a custom ice cream pig bench for a Michigan tourist town. He also dives deep into the recent refresh of the Mayday escape room experience, explaining how our team balanced paint, printed vinyl, and multimedia screens to achieve a truly authentic submarine environment without overdoing the weathering. Martin’s insights offer a masterclass in collaboration, intentionality, and creative execution for anyone passionate about high-quality attraction design.
To check out Martin’s personal work, visit his website martinkuntz.com
Key Takeaways
- Be Intentional in Environmental Design: True authenticity relies on subtle details—like placing rust only where moisture naturally gathers—rather than over-the-top styling that distracts the guest.
- Verify Digital Designs with Physical Assembly: Physical materials react differently to lighting and space, making real-world verification essential once a project comes together.
- Embrace Cross-Departmental Collaboration: The best attractions require seamless integration between structural engineers, digital artists, and finishing painters.
- Leverage Local Community Arts Resources: Local arts councils serve as vital networks for finding calls for artists, muralists, and designers for your venue.
