Marywood Alum Becomes Interior Designer For Disney
Brandon Freely, who graduated from Marywood University with a bachelor’s in interior architecture in 2020, recently accepted a full-time position as an interior designer for Walt Disney Imagineering. He will be part of a creative team that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide.
In 2020, Freely accepted a professional internship role with Walt Disney World Resort. His dream of working at Disney was nearly derailed when the company canceled its internships due to the worldwide spread of Covid. Nevertheless, Freely discovered a way to get his foot in the door, working as a part-time merchandise cast member. After two years of patiently waiting, Freely is seeing his dream come true.
“I’m really excited to work on projects that so many people will be able to experience and enjoy,” said Freely. “As an interior designer, I will support various projects through concept, design development, and technical documentation.”
Prior to working at Disney, Freely was an interior designer for Designwise, a California based company that specializes in dental office design. He also spent time working at an architecture and engineering firm in Orlando, Florida called BRPH, where he worked on projects for Disney and Universal Studios. In total, Freely’s project experience spans commercial, hospitality, and entertainment design.
Freely attended Mountain View High School, Kingsley, Pa., where he took many art classes, but wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with it. Architecture seemed to him like the right path to apply his art skills. After touring Marywood University, specifically its School of Architecture, and meeting faculty members, he didn’t hesitate in committing to Marywood.
While at Marywood, Freely was a member of Tau Sigma Delta, the University’s Architecture Honor Society, and he was the biggest catalyst for the University’s “Light Up Campus” event. A group of students in Marywood’s Interior Architecture program took on an assignment themselves—providing a drive through lighting display to help enhance the holiday spirit. Prior to Marywood’s lighting display, Freely was already considered a holiday light expert, as he provided a light show in his hometown of Clifford Township.