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Dan Parks
Virtual meeting designer, and president and creative director of Corporate Planners Unlimited
Q: What was your big breakthrough?
A: When
we held our grand opening at Virtualis. It was a very important event
for us, and it went perfectly. We had a who's-who of meeting and events
industry leaders who attended and participated, and they all gave me a
tremendous amount of support and encouragement. When it was all done -
I knew we were on the right track.
Q: What was your biggest failure?
A: We
are fortunate that a lot of research and evaluation has gone into our
planning systems and our development platform in Virtualis, which has
fortunately provided good guidance in the decision-making process. New
business applications and information delivery systems are in
development and may prove challenging, but to date no real failures.
Q: What's the most rewarding aspect of being a designer?
A: Waking
up each day and having a clean virtual canvas to work with – and
watching the images in my mind materialize in 3-D. I also love hearing
the "wows" when I give tours of Virtualis.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A:
My wife, Sherry, and my daughter, Brittany, inspire me every day on the
personal side, and our client's and our associates at our company
continually heighten the bar of expectations, which ultimately inspires
the creative side to design more and more. I like to think that I am a
person without walls or limitations on what is possible – that helps.
Q: What is your biggest goal or dream for the future?
A:
I see so many possibilities with virtual worlds. I can dream these
worlds mirroring the best parts of our existing real world, offering
humanitarian support alongside business and economic growth: a world
that provides educational opportunities available to all children of
all ethnic and economic levels; allows companies to perform and succeed
virtually past their real-world expectations. I also hope to see our
capabilities in Second Life continue to expand, and for Virtualis to
continue to be a leader in the creation of new features and solutions
for virtual meetings and events.
Q: What one piece of advice would you offer aspiring designers?
A:
Follow your instincts. Be a sponge for any information about your field
of interest. Try every consideration, and don't underestimate the value
your talent offers to others.
Photo by Carla Rhea
<— Back
See some of Dan Parks' creations.
Derek Jenkins | Barclay Butera | Mariana Stoopen
Matt Tubergen | Jane Elia Schwartz | Marc Entin
Kelli Ellis | Dan Parks | Oday Shakar | Lin Shen
Dan ParksVirtual meeting designer, and president and creative director of Corporate Planners Unlimited
Q: What was your big breakthrough?
A: When we held our grand opening at Virtualis. It was a very important event for us, and it went perfectly. We had a who's-who of meeting and events industry leaders who attended and participated, and they all gave me a tremendous amount of support and encouragement. When it was all done - I knew we were on the right track.
Q: What was your biggest failure?
A: We are fortunate that a lot of research and evaluation has gone into our planning systems and our development platform in Virtualis, which has fortunately provided good guidance in the decision-making process. New business applications and information delivery systems are in development and may prove challenging, but to date no real failures.
Q: What's the most rewarding aspect of being a designer?
A: Waking up each day and having a clean virtual canvas to work with – and watching the images in my mind materialize in 3-D. I also love hearing the "wows" when I give tours of Virtualis.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My wife, Sherry, and my daughter, Brittany, inspire me every day on the personal side, and our client's and our associates at our company continually heighten the bar of expectations, which ultimately inspires the creative side to design more and more. I like to think that I am a person without walls or limitations on what is possible – that helps.
Q: What is your biggest goal or dream for the future?
A: I see so many possibilities with virtual worlds. I can dream these worlds mirroring the best parts of our existing real world, offering humanitarian support alongside business and economic growth: a world that provides educational opportunities available to all children of all ethnic and economic levels; allows companies to perform and succeed virtually past their real-world expectations. I also hope to see our capabilities in Second Life continue to expand, and for Virtualis to continue to be a leader in the creation of new features and solutions for virtual meetings and events.
Q: What one piece of advice would you offer aspiring designers?
A: Follow your instincts. Be a sponge for any information about your field of interest. Try every consideration, and don't underestimate the value your talent offers to others.
Photo by Carla Rhea
<— Back
See some of Dan Parks' creations.
Derek Jenkins | Barclay Butera | Mariana Stoopen
Matt Tubergen | Jane Elia Schwartz | Marc Entin
Kelli Ellis | Dan Parks | Oday Shakar | Lin Shen
Matt Tubergen | Jane Elia Schwartz | Marc Entin
Kelli Ellis | Dan Parks | Oday Shakar | Lin Shen
