From her work in theatrical build shops to her professional paint experience at Walt Disney Imagineering, Melanie Stofcik brings an incredible amount of artistic experience to the AOA team. As part of the Scenic Paint and Themed Finishes Department, Melanie fabricates, paints, and builds show set pieces, furniture, and more for themed entertainment, retail, restaurant initiatives, and other AOA projects.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Melanie got her start in experience design early on. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Design from Savannah College of Art and Design before moving on to Walt Disney Imagineering. During her time with WDI, she worked as a character paint intern and was later promoted to Associate Artisan of Color Design and Paint Finishes. At Disney, Melanie was in charge of exterior paint and themed finishes for more than 20 on-and-off Walt Disney World property resorts, as well as select in-park projects. Her work spans across the Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs, and Copper Creek Cabins & Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge are a few of her notable works.

Across her Disney experience and past work on theatrical builds, as well as in park operations, Melanie has worn several different hats over her career: scenic painter, production designer, digital renderer, archival specialist, field art director, and Photoshop wizard. Her versatility makes her an integral part of any project; it allows her to step into any stage of the project lifecycle without missing a beat.

Melanie is passionate about using design as a universal, visual language for storytelling. Whether that is achieved with a chip brush or a digital stylus, she is eager to create immersive environments for guests to connect with and enjoy alongside the greater AOA team.