The next time you visit the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, chances are you will see several elements designed by Laura Jurica.
“I maintain the artistic integrity of the animation, ride vehicles and theming in the entire park,” she says.
Laura works in the artist prep department of the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
“It’s very rewarding when I take family or friends to Disney's Animal Kingdom and see the joy my work brings to the guests in the park. I love seeing the guests’ curiosity of how we make something look authentic,” she says.
Laura graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, emphasis in graphic design.
“Many of the art classes I took at Southeast required me to look for creative solutions,” she says. “Dr. Ed Smith’s 3-D design course really challenged you to look for creative ways to use materials. My job requires me to do that on a daily basis. We work with a wide variety of materials, and we are always looking for solutions on prototypes. We are doing things that have never been done before, so an ability to find creative solutions is a must.
“I honed my artistic skills in my college courses at Southeast Missouri State University; that helped me to put together a portfolio. The portfolio helped me once I got an interview, but most importantly I learned how to network. You have to network and know the right people to get certain chances.”
Laura says she has many memories at Southeast, but her art classes are some of the best.
She also presents the following advice for future Southeast students.
“Even degrees with the reputation of being ‘useless’ can lead you to the most rewarding career. Don't sacrifice what makes you happy for something that makes you money. With time and perseverance, you can make a living doing what you love.”
In her spare time, Laura and her husband, Cory, enjoy making artwork from recycled paper. Some of their artwork will be featured at the Sikeston Depot in the coming months.
She and her husband also greatly enjoy world travel and spending time searching for the best deal for their next trip. Laura recently completed a personal goal of going to all seven continents before she turned 40 with two years to spare.
Laura and her husband currently live in Davenport, Florida.