Sim Leisure Group, a leading designer, developer, operator and builder of theme parks, waterparks and other themed leisure attractions, has shared how Karen Stojanovski, anchoring head of design and operations, is expanding the company’s vision to create the extraordinary.
Stojanovski is driving growth for the firm’s design department, with a skillset and knowledge honed from almost three years of experience in the theming industry and a background in interior design.
Passion for design
Hailing from Albuquerque, US, Stojanovski has travelled extensively and has now been living in Dubai for almost 18 years. Her love for design was first ignited while studying interior architecture in Madrid, Spain.
“My dad was a custom home builder and my mother a pilot – I always knew my creative roots would lead me to travel abroad,” she says.
Stojanovski is highly organised, a master of multitasking, and is committed to the firm’s fun-infused culture. She elegantly combines best practices and standards, making the design process efficient and enjoyable for all stakeholders.
“Exceptional design is never a solo endeavour,” she says, “it’s the result of diverse minds working together toward a common goal.”
Her organisational and motivational skills enable her to deliver projects on time and with exceptional quality, handling the design team’s expansive workload while fostering professional development and developing harmonious relationships with clients, consultants, and suppliers. She is recognised for embodying the company’s values with charisma and confidence and excels at client relations and presentations.
Stojanovski says: “Give me a stage and a topic I’m passionate about, and I’ll pour my heart into selling it with unwavering conviction.”
Innovative BIM solutions
Over the last 5 years, the team has transformed the theming design process by providing entirely digital services with building information modelling (BIM) technology. The organisation has developed specialist approaches to integrate theming design into BIM, bridging a gap in the theming market and upholding the creative vision.
The design department is part of the fabrication and construction arm of the company, and as a result, its detail and design methodology are not only digitally modelled but also technically accurate and buildable.
“Our BIM solutions have left a marketable impression with our clients, both existing and potential,” Stojanovski explains.
Sim Leisure’s design department specialises in concepts and designs for a diverse range of themed attractions, including snow parks, water parks, IP platforms, animal sanctuaries, adventure parks, and family entertainment centres throughout the GCC region.
The team is currently collaborating with creative consultants on some of the biggest theming projects in the GCC, such as Six Flags KSA, Qiddiya Waterpark, and several noteworthy projects by SEVEN in Riyadh.
Last month, Sim Leisure Group released a video introducing its growing design team. This shows how their big ideas are crafted into memorable themed experiences, combining creativity with cutting-edge technology to bring visions to life.
