Eric McMillan, (born in Sheffield, England, in 1942) is a Canadian designer who began his career designing exhibitions. By an extraordinary opportunity in 1972, he started designing play areas and elements that encouraged children to learn through play. The concepts were composed of a great variety of materials. He has been referred to as "the father of soft play".
He was born in 1942 in the midst of an air-raid to a working-class mother in Sheffield: still-born but revived by the midwife who dipped him alternately in buckets of cold and warm water. At the age of five, he moved to North Manchester, cared for by the wife of his blind grandfather.[1][2] Requiring glasses that he refused to wear or order to fight off bullying, he attended nine schools between five and fifteen, leaving from St Boniface's RC School in Higher Broughton, at the age of 15, barely literate.[1]
As a feral child, he played in the derelict wrecks of houses and building sites in the shadow of Strangeways, Manchester. Play was unconstrained freedom.[2]
He enrolled for an apprenticeship as a house painter, and at the college of art encountered students doing more creative courses.
CareerEdit
In 1968, he moved from the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa to Toronto to join the design team planning Ontario Place. When Ontario Place opened in 1971, the section of the exhibition he had designed called "Explosions" was the most successful exhibit in that first season. In consequence of this success, he was appointed chief designer for the whole project. The following year saw the opening of the "Children’s Village" land play area and from that project grew his reputation as a designer of children's play attractions.[2] The opening of the "Water Play" area in 1973 secured that reputation. His work introduced ideas like the ball crawl (also known as ball pit), net climb, punch bag forest, birdie glide, roller slide, cave crawl, together toys, foam swamp, water bicycle cannons, balancing buoys, rubber band bounce, and a whole range of interactive play elements.[3]
PartnershipEdit
In 1975, together with partners Rosemarie Duell and Len Rydahl, he formed a design partnership and went on to design play attractions around the world. "Cap'n Kids World" at SeaWorld Ohio was the first project built in the U.S. in 1975. His list of projects include: "Sesame Place" in Langhorne, Pennsylvania; "Parc de la Villette" in Paris, France; "Space Science Park" at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama; "Boston Children’s Museum Ocean Filter Attraction" in Boston, Massachusetts; "Founders Heritage Park in Nelson, New Zealand; "Eureka! The National Children's Museum" in Halifax, England; and many other projects including his work at Expo 86. He was once described by Time Magazine as "The next Walt Disney."[4]
Notable projectsEdit
The Children's Village and Water Attraction at Ontario Place in Toronto, Canada (1972)
Cap'n Kids World at SeaWorld Ohio in Aurora, Ohio (1975)
^ abMcMillan, Eric. "Dreams for Northern England" (PDF). self-published. (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
^ abcHune-Brown, Nicholas (9 August 2019). "From ball pits to water slides: the designer who changed children's playgrounds for ever". The Guardian. london. from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
^. www.ericmcmillandesigner.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
^. www.iaapa.org. International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA ). Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
External linksEdit
Eric McMillan
August 27, 2023
eric, mcmillan, born, sheffield, england, 1942, canadian, designer, began, career, designing, exhibitions, extraordinary, opportunity, 1972, started, designing, play, areas, elements, that, encouraged, children, learn, through, play, concepts, were, composed, . Eric McMillan born in Sheffield England in 1942 is a Canadian designer who began his career designing exhibitions By an extraordinary opportunity in 1972 he started designing play areas and elements that encouraged children to learn through play The concepts were composed of a great variety of materials He has been referred to as the father of soft play Eric McMillanEureka The National Children s Museum in Halifax EnglandBorn 1942 04 13 April 13 1942 age 81 Sheffield EnglandOccupationArchitectProjectsOntario Place Sesame Place and Parc de la Villette Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Partnership 3 Notable projects 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in 1942 in the midst of an air raid to a working class mother in Sheffield still born but revived by the midwife who dipped him alternately in buckets of cold and warm water At the age of five he moved to North Manchester cared for by the wife of his blind grandfather 1 2 Requiring glasses that he refused to wear or order to fight off bullying he attended nine schools between five and fifteen leaving from St Boniface s RC School in Higher Broughton at the age of 15 barely literate 1 As a feral child he played in the derelict wrecks of houses and building sites in the shadow of Strangeways Manchester Play was unconstrained freedom 2 He enrolled for an apprenticeship as a house painter and at the college of art encountered students doing more creative courses Career EditIn 1968 he moved from the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa to Toronto to join the design team planning Ontario Place When Ontario Place opened in 1971 the section of the exhibition he had designed called Explosions was the most successful exhibit in that first season In consequence of this success he was appointed chief designer for the whole project The following year saw the opening of the Children s Village land play area and from that project grew his reputation as a designer of children s play attractions 2 The opening of the Water Play area in 1973 secured that reputation His work introduced ideas like the ball crawl also known as ball pit net climb punch bag forest birdie glide roller slide cave crawl together toys foam swamp water bicycle cannons balancing buoys rubber band bounce and a whole range of interactive play elements 3 Partnership Edit In 1975 together with partners Rosemarie Duell and Len Rydahl he formed a design partnership and went on to design play attractions around the world Cap n Kids World at SeaWorld Ohio was the first project built in the U S in 1975 His list of projects include Sesame Place in Langhorne Pennsylvania Parc de la Villette in Paris France Space Science Park at Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama Boston Children s Museum Ocean Filter Attraction in Boston Massachusetts Founders Heritage Park in Nelson New Zealand Eureka The National Children s Museum in Halifax England and many other projects including his work at Expo 86 He was once described by Time Magazine as The next Walt Disney 4 Notable projects EditThe Children s Village and Water Attraction at Ontario Place in Toronto Canada 1972 Cap n Kids World at SeaWorld Ohio in Aurora Ohio 1975 Cap n Kids World at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego California 1976 Old Chicago in Bolingbrook Illinois 1977 Whale of a Time World at Marine World Africa USA in Redwood Shores California 1979 Sesame Place in Langhorne Pennsylvania 1980 Parc de la Villette in Paris France 1984 Space Science Park at Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama 1984 Boston Children s Museum Ocean Filter Attraction in Boston Massachusetts 1987 Founders Heritage Park in Nelson New Zealand 1987 Eureka The National Children s Museum in Halifax England 1988 References Edit a b McMillan Eric Dreams for Northern England PDF self published Archived PDF from the original on 6 March 2016 Retrieved 9 August 2019 a b c Hune Brown Nicholas 9 August 2019 From ball pits to water slides the designer who changed children s playgrounds for ever The Guardian london Archived from the original on 9 August 2019 Retrieved 9 August 2019 Eric McMillan Designer www ericmcmillandesigner com Archived from the original on 2011 02 01 Retrieved 2010 02 16 Hall of Fame inductees www iaapa org International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions IAAPA Archived from the original on 2011 07 16 Retrieved 2010 01 29 External links EditEric McMillan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eric McMillan amp oldid 1159626819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
