Andrea Favilli — Founder

A Creative Venturist is not a title — it’s what a polymath with an explore's mindset, does... It’s the fusion of artistry and enterprise, vision and the courage to step into the unknown (through curiosity, storytelling, design, and entrepreneurship) and an ethos of CREATIVITY—Imagination In Action. CREATIVE. My formation began in Rome, where I studied drawing, painting, and sculpture under my father, Aldo Favilli, a motion picture art director at Cinecittà Studios. That early grounding in the craft of cinematic storytelling shaped everything that followed... Throughout my studies at Art Center College of Design, I did contract work with Mattel Toys, Applause and Will Vinton Productions, which led to an invitation by Disney Legend Marty Sklar to join Walt Disney Imagineering as a Senior Concept Designer. There, I collaborated with amazing people — amongst them were Disney Legends Harper Goff, Ken Anderson, Claude Coats, Robert Jani, Joe Rohde, Herbert "Herbie" Ryman, Bill Evans, Randy Bright, and Colin Campbell — contributing to projects across Disneyland, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland. My career in entertainment design is rooted in the fine arts including: Cento Angeli; the Disney Legends Award (I still craft each one); its monumental bronze edition for Disneyland Paris and second for Legends Plaza at Walt Disney Studios, Burbank; the American Teacher Award; the Frank G. Wells Award; The Cameraman across from Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, with a second in the hub of the Walt Disney Studios Orlando; the Transpacific Yacht Race New Course Record Trophy; Tree of Life at Stough Canyon; Roy O. and Edna Disney at St. Joseph’s Hospital; and The Five Points for the City of Burbank. VENTURIST. I co-founded FAVILLI STUDIO—building it into a global entertainment design firm with offices in Los Angeles, Shenzhen, Orlando and London. Notable clients include: Snowbird, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Imagineering and The Walt Disney Archives, Universal Creative, WATG, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Sol Kerzner, The Sands Group, The World Economic Forum, Jack Morton, Israel By The Sea, AECOM, Huayi Brothers, Changzhou Dinosaur Park, Hongzong Holdings, Venetian Macau, Wanda, and slate of (many) others across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. As a Creative Venturist, I LOVE harnessing the Power Of CREATIVITY to help people thrive at the crossroads of ART + SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY — to become pioneers of the impossible, and creators of BEAUTY.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Creative Leader in Entertainment Design and Thematic Experiences.

Location: South Pasadena, California, United States

Experience: 38 yrs 7 mos

Skills

Creative Strategy
Project Management
Artistic Vision
Storytelling
Brand Storytelling
Concept Design
Creative Leadership

Career Highlights

Co-founded a global entertainment design firm.
Recognized as one of the 100 Best Disney Artists.
Expert in experiential place-making and storytelling.

Work Experience

Favilli Studio (FS)

Chief Creative Officer (CCO) (33 yrs 7 mos)

WATG and Wimberly Interiors

Creative Strategic Alliance (13 yrs 10 mos)

The Walt Disney Company

Visual Artist (34 yrs)

Walt Disney Imagineering

Senior Concept Designer (5 yrs)

Education

BFA at ArtCenter College of Design

at Bishop Montgomery High School

Andrea Favilli

Founder

South Pasadena, California, United States38 yrs 7 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Co-founded a global entertainment design firm.
Recognized as one of the 100 Best Disney Artists.
Expert in experiential place-making and storytelling.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Creative Leader in Entertainment Design and Thematic Experiences.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Creative StrategyProject ManagementArtistic VisionStorytellingBrand StorytellingConcept DesignCreative Leadership

Other Skills

PolymathCreative thought leaderTeam buildingMentoringExperiential place-makingIP developmentGuest experience designArt directionArtistryInnovationCommunication designMentorshipStrategic initiativesDesign conceptsGuest engagement

About

Experience

38 yrs 7 mos

Total Experience

17 yrs 5 mos

Average Tenure

33 yrs 7 mos

Current Experience

Favilli studio (fs)

Chief Creative Officer (CCO)

Nov 1992 – Present · 33 yrs 7 mos · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Core Competencies & Expertise—Polymath and quantum thinker, bridging multiple disciplines to deliver innovative solutions.
Creative thought leader with decades of experience shaping world-class entertainment experiences.
Force multiplier—amplifying team performance and fostering high-impact collaboration.
Intuitive team builder and leader, mentoring talent while inspiring creative excellence.
Persuasive communicator and dynamic presenter, skilled at engaging executives, stakeholders, and audiences.
Creative strategist, blending vision, rigor, and storytelling to develop culturally resonant experiences.
Expertise in experiential place-making, thematic planning, and cultural destination design across global markets.
Proven leadership in IP development, brand “customeering,” and entertainment concept creation.
Deep understanding of guest experience design, hospitality, and immersive environments.
Skilled in Blue Sky ideation, concept development, and three-dimensional design from inception to execution.
Strategic master planning, architectural design, and program development for large-scale projects.
Experience across media, entertainment, theme parks, resorts, hospitality, cultural attractions, and consumer products.
Authentic storyteller with hands-on expertise in character development, world-building, and narrative integration.
Adept in project management, budgeting, and in-field art direction, ensuring creative vision is realized with precision.
Recognized for writing, theatrical set production, and media/content design, merging artistic vision with operational excellence.

PolymathCreative thought leaderTeam buildingMentoringCreative strategyExperiential place-making+6

Watg and wimberly interiors

Creative Strategic Alliance

Nov 1992 – Sep 2006 · 13 yrs 10 mos · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Led strategic creative initiatives for global hospitality and entertainment projects, translating client vision into immersive, culturally resonant experiences.
Developed and executed innovative design concepts that enhanced guest engagement and brand storytelling for top-tier clients.
Served as keynote speaker and thought leader, inspiring cross-disciplinary teams to embrace CREATIVITY—Imagination In Action and a BEST ALWAYS standard of excellence.
Collaborated closely with Jerry Allison (co-founder of WATG) and firm's international stakeholders to deliver projects on schedule and within budget, while elevating experiential and aesthetic impact.
Integrated global design trends with actionable solutions, generating measurable creative and economic value for clients including luxury resorts, entertainment destinations, and cultural centers.

Strategic initiativesDesign conceptsGuest engagementBrand storytellingKeynote speakingCreative Strategy+1

The walt disney company

Visual Artist

Jun 1992 – Present · 34 yrs · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Recognized as one of the 100 Best Disney Artists of all time, contributing to Disney’s visual legacy through artistry, innovation, and storytelling excellence.
Commissioned to create iconic awards following a company-wide search, including The Disney Legends Award, The American Teacher Award, and The Frank G. Wells Award; led the program’s communication design at inception and continue to handcraft every award for each recipient.
Served as a speaker at various company events, including D23 and The Disney Legends Awards, sharing insights on creativity, design, and leadership.
Collaborated with Disney University and The Walt Disney Archives to preserve and celebrate the company’s creative heritage, mentoring emerging artists in the principles of CREATIVITY—Imagination In Action and BEST ALWAYS.
Currently authoring a book on the power of mentorship, The Dinosaur Lunch: Common Sense Wisdom From Walt Disney's Uncommon Men, drawing from decades of experience working with Disney legends and industry visionaries.
Provided artistic vision and guidance for global initiatives, ensuring design integrity and excellence across all visual outputs.

ArtistryInnovationStorytellingCommunication designMentorshipArtistic vision+1

Walt disney imagineering

Senior Concept Designer

Nov 1987 – Nov 1992 · 5 yrs · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

E.P.IC — Blue Sky Development: Contributed to various preliminary initiatives, including Disney Entertainment Centers, Disney Cruise Lines, Disney Regional Family Destinations, and the town of Celebration, exploring innovative concepts and shaping early design visions.
Served as a key Creative Lead on the design and development of immersive, world-class experiences at Disney theme parks worldwide, including Disneyland, The Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
Spent an inordinate amount of time on the boards, from early development sketches to concept drawings and presentation renderings, ensuring ideas were fully realized visually before moving into production.
Collaborated closely with legendary Disney creatives—Joe Rohde, Harper Goff, Ken Anderson, Claude Coats—enhancing my expertise in storytelling, creativity, and showmanship.
Mentored by Disney legends—Herbert Ryman, Robert Jani, and the Imagineering ‘Dinosaurs’—shaping a lifelong philosophy of CREATIVITY—Imagination In Action and BEST ALWAYS.
Led concept design initiatives that balanced innovative guest experiences, technical feasibility, and aesthetic integrity, ensuring projects delivered both magical storytelling and operational excellence.
Contributed to cross-disciplinary teams, guiding visual, architectural, and themed entertainment elements from initial concept through schematic design and development, establishing a foundation for immersive storytelling principles used company-wide.
Developed a reputation for strategic creative problem-solving, combining visionary thinking with practical execution to achieve exceptional guest experiences.