Ann Morrow Johnson, AIA Joins Gensler

Former Global Head of Creative Development at Walt Disney Imagineering to Lead Entertainment Practice

LOS ANGELES — Ann Morrow Johnson, AIA joins influential architecture and design firm Gensler as Design Director and Global Entertainment Leader for the firm’s Entertainment and Experience Design Practice. Ann Morrow will partner with Lexi Barry as co-leaders of the practice globally.

A visionary creative leader, Ann Morrow combines architecture, world building, and design with business acumen to envision and create unique, compelling experiences. Her decades of experiential innovation across theater, cultural, institutional, and entertainment sectors, recently as Global Head of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, builds upon Gensler’s unique position to drive design innovation around the world.

“Ann Morrow Johnson is the creative leader the Gensler Entertainment Practice needs at this moment as we continue to see exciting growth and momentum,” said Bob Weis, Entertainment Leader, Gensler. “Her extensive global experience in immersive experience design and storytelling, coupled with a solid foundation in development strategy and architecture makes her one of the industry’s most sought-after leaders. As Gensler continues to influence the world with innovative design, I am confident that Ann Morrow will be an integral part of our future success.”

At Disney, Ann Morrow headed the Blue Sky & Creative Development Studio where she led the ideation, visioning, and creation of guest facing experiences including resorts, live performance shows and venues, RD&E, hospitality, restaurants, exhibits, rides, attractions, walk throughs, and interactive experiences the world over. She creatively and strategically led over 60 major projects in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and oversaw the Disneyland Resort portfolio. Her focus on emerging trends and technologies to forge emotional connection generates experiences that immerse and resonate.

Ann Morrow is a celebrated creative recognized as one of XLIST’s 100 Most Creative Visionaries in Experiential. A frequent speaker and thought leader in the field, she’s featured in Forbes, The New Yorker, and The Los Angeles Times. Having consulted for future leaning companies and the foremost cultural institutions such as National Geographic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Association for Cultural Enterprises, and ILMxLAB, she combines insights from the cutting edge of emerging experiential possibilities with the deep tradition of how people engage. Building community with a sense of place is a personal passion; she created the Museum of Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing her neighborhood together through art.