Beyond Design: Dielectric Material Selection Guide
Dana on Data: The Insane PCB DFM Process
Fresh PCB Concepts: Navigating Supply Chain Security and Traceability Through StandardsStar Wars and Disney: ‘Spinning the Script’ With Paul Bailey
May 13, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Paul Bailey has quite a story to tell. The current vice president at AOA, and former principal concept technical director for Walt Disney Imagineering gave the opening keynote speech at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. He delved into some of the technological marvels he’s been involved with throughout his career, particularly with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new Star Wars experience at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Paul also urged the leaders in the audience to change the way they lead and focus more on each employee’s well-being. After his keynote speech, Paul stopped by the I-Connect007 studio for a quick interview, where he shared his thoughts on technology and leadership.
Dylan Nguyen: Paul, I’ve been reading about your background How did you balance your two identities as artist and engineer early on?
Paul Bailey: I never saw art and engineering as different identities, frankly. I didn't really know what engineering was; I just grew up in an environment where it happened. I thought, “Well, people make things, and they tinker, and they do stuff.” It wasn't until much later that it clicked in my head that this was actually a calling or profession. I think part of life is about recognizing patterns. A lot of the things that you do as a mechanical engineer involve creating shapes that solve problems, which to me is analogous to sculpting. You might be using SolidWorks to do it, but it's still sculpture. So, in my mind there really isn't that big of a difference between art and engineering.
Nguyen: You were a sculptor for Walt Disney Imagineering early in your career. Walk us through your career, and how your journey unfolded.
Bailey: I guess I really started out as a frontline artist; I was an illustrator and a sculptor. When I was an apprentice working on Star Trek, I was drawing pictures of aliens and then sculpting the aliens. That was my full-time gig. I was primarily known in the movie industry as a sculptor, though not as much as a makeup artist. Through the Disney years, I found my way into more creative technology. I have a technology gene, if you will. I got away from doing the frontline art over my time there. But over the past 10 years, I’ve swung back in that direction. Now I think of it as mixed media. Sometimes I'm drawing with a pencil, and sometimes I'm drawing with a mouse. Sometimes I'm sculpting an object, and sometimes I'm building an electronic something or other that moves and works and whatnot. It's all very fluid to me. I don't distinguish between those pieces.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the 2024 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
EWPTE 2024 Draws Nearly 3,000 Attendees
05/23/2024 | WHMAThis year, the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry came to “harness the future” at the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), held May 14-16 at Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wis., and left inspired with access to new technologies, and solutions to challenging issues through training and education and a network of leading-edge companies, industry leaders and subject matter experts.
Eltek Reports Q1 2024 Financial Results
05/22/2024 | PRNewswireEltek Ltd., a global manufacturer and supplier of technologically advanced solutions in the field of printed circuit boards (PCBs), announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Networking Opportunities and Technical Learning at SMTA Wisconsin
05/22/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007SMTA’s Wisconsin Expo & Tech Forum wrapped up another well-attended event on May 7 in Milwaukee, with more than 50 exhibitors. Visitors had plenty of time on the exhibit floor between sessions to meet with key industry suppliers and look at everything from tools to tests. The event also included tech sessions, a keynote panel discussion, a lunch sponsored by Ellsworth Adhesives, and lively discussions on unlocking success in SMT manufacturing.
The Doctor’s In: Reliability in the Delivery Room
05/21/2024 | Henry Crandall -- Column: The Doctor's InSix months ago, my life changed forever when I held my first child, a healthy, blue-eyed, brown-haired baby boy. The calm beauty surrounding this tender moment was a happy applause for the long and intricate performance of his delivery. While his delivery was safe and complication-free, I witnessed a real-world demonstration of the critical importance of reliable electronics.
Nordson Reports Q2 Fiscal 2024 Results, Updates Annual Guidance
05/21/2024 | BUSINESS WIRENordson Corporation reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2024. Sales were $651 million, comparable to the prior year’s second quarter sales of $650 million.