One summer night at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon waterpark, Kuzcotopia, the over-the-top summer getaway mentioned in The Emperor’s New Groove, was brought to reality, complete with photo ops, character appearances, and DJ booths, Aug. 30. The event, exclusive to Disney Fan Club gold members, sold out. Jason Dillon (’20) designed the project from the ground up, working with a team to craft everything from signage and photo backgrounds to bingo cards and waterproof phone bags; in his year so far as a Disney Graphic Designer, he said this was his favorite project.
This success was years in the making, as Dillon’s journey to Disney began on Westview’s campus, during his sophomore year, in John Joseph Nacu’s Graphic Design 1-2 class.
“[Mr. Nacu’s class] just seemed really fun, and I heard a lot of good things about it from people [saying that] it’s a nice break from all the math and science overload at Westview,” Dillon said. “I didn’t really know anything about any artistic stuff before that, [but] all of his classes really helped, and now [graphic design] is what I do every day.”
In this class, which he joined on a whim, Dillon said he discovered a passion that plays to his strengths and has stayed with him ever since.
“[Graphic design] is nice because it’s a lot of problem-solving, which is not what I thought it was going to be at first,” Dillon said. “I was just like, ‘Oh, drawing seems fun,’ but it’s like 10% drawing and 90% problem-solving, [and] I feel like I have a very hyperactive brain that’s always looking for ways to figure out a solution to a problem.”
Despite originally not wanting to go to college, by his senior year, Dillon was set on majoring in graphic design. He attended Chapman University, where he took courses that expanded his view of the field.
“It was kind of like the high school classes, but a lot more intensive: lots of work, very late nights,” Dillon said. “It was a lot of getting to know ourselves more as designers, getting more into the theory and art history, [and] being able to respect the past of design and learn more about ourselves and how we can push the field further.”
At the end of his junior year at Chapman, Dillon picked up a job operating attractions at Disneyland California Adventure Park. That summer, he entered the world of professional graphic design through a Disney internship that lasted through his senior year. As an Intern Representative, he helped design Disney’s Make-a-Wish collaboration exhibit, a studio-lot scavenger hunt for cast members, and various pins that were quick to sell out; he said the opportunity gave him hands-on experience.
“The internship definitely taught me a lot about time management,” Dillon said. “We had super short deadlines, so while it was a little stressful, it helped me output a lot of work in a small amount of time. I feel like there’s a lot of technical [and] practical things that I learned about in the field too that professors didn’t necessarily think about teaching.”
After the year was up, Dillon joined In-N-Out’s design team, which he said was a wildcard.
“I didn’t know what [designing for In-N-Out] was going to be,” Dillon said. “I never knew this, but they have two or three charities, so we did a bunch of stuff for them:. They put on a rock concert every year [and] a classic car cruise, so that was really cool. [And there was] a lot of moving Double-Doubles around an Instagram[-post] square.”
After a few months as an In-N-Out marketing graphic designer, Dillon was offered a position as a Disney Graphic Designer.
“[The senior-year internship] was fun because I got to work with people that I loved, and got to work and expand on the Disney stories that I loved as a kid, and it’s a big reason why I decided to come back when I was given the chance last year,” Dillon said.
Since then, he has designed anniversary- and convention-exclusive pins, events, signage, photo-op backdrops, commemorative illustrations, and everything in between.
Having discovered the passion that led to this success through Nacu’s class, Dillon said that art electives like the graphic design courses can be key to uncovering different facets of students.
“I think it’s super important [to have art electives on campus] because it’s a different type of education, and I wish I took more,” Dillon said. “Those art electives let you use a different part of your brain. Because Westview is very math- and science-focused, it gives you a little bit of a break to kind of get into your zone and focus on something other than something that’s super ‘one side of your brain’-intensive.”
Nacu, who has been teaching graphic design at Westview for 20 years, said his goal in class is to help students discover this part of themselves early in their lives.
“Kids will just kind of surprise themselves,” Nacu said. “There are students that know that they want to pursue something in art, and there [are] ones that have the hidden talent but they don’t know how to take that route, and so sometimes having those interactions [in art classes] and opportunities to take those classes gives them an opportunity to explore those other options out there.”
He said his hope is that his students find ways to incorporate art into their lives outside of his class.
“I love teaching this class and it’s my passion, so it’s not so much of a stress, it’s something I love doing,” Nacu said. “I think that’s something I would hope that students will be able to find, a way to incorporate their passion in the work that they do, or at least find a way to have that balance. It’s definitely an honor, and I am super proud, to be able to see students that do decide to pursue graphic design or use skills that I’ve shown them beyond the classroom.”
According to Dillon, taking the time to discover one’s passion is one of the most important things a high-schooler can do for their future.
“I think a big thing [is to] enjoy everything that you have,” Dillon said. “Everything can seem super stressful, especially as you’re starting to get into your junior and senior year, and you’re like, ‘What’s my future going to look like? What’s going to happen?’ Your future will come regardless of whether you plan for it or not, so take the time to set yourself up for success, but enjoy what you have now. You’ve just got to kind of find your balance and enjoy what you’ve got when you’ve got it.”