Industry insights: Scruffy Dog Creative Group inspires masters students at Escape Studios

Escape Studios recently welcomed Ben Plumb, Lead Creative Writer at Scruffy Dog Creative Group, to deliver an engaging and insightful workshop for students on the MA Concept Art and Experience Design degree course. Known for their cutting-edge work in themed entertainment and experience design, Scruffy Dog’s involvement brought a valuable industry perspective to the studio.  

Ben’s workshop focused on narrative design for dark rides - immersive attractions that blend storytelling, environment, and technology to transport guests into fantastical worlds. The session challenged students to develop original dark ride concepts, encouraging them to think creatively about narrative and guest experience.  

Reflecting on the experience, Ben Plumb shared: 

“It was a great pleasure to visit Escape Studios, meet the team, and get to know some of the students. The Concept Art cohort seemed really engaged, and I was very happy to hear their emerging dark ride design concepts – some great ideas in there! I hope the workshop was a helpful addition to that process and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.” 

Throughout the day, students worked collaboratively, receiving real-time feedback from Ben. His insights into the creative process behind professional experience design helped students refine their concepts and understand the importance of storytelling in immersive environments. 

Steven Sole, Course Leader for the MA Concept Art and Experience Design programme, highlighted the significance of this industry collaboration: 

“Scruffy Dog are a leader in experience design, and it was a pleasure to welcome Ben to our studio. We had ambitious ideas throughout the day and Ben has offered to come back to see the finished results at the end of project. This industry feedback is invaluable, and Ben is one in a series of industry mentors we've welcomed as part of the course. This level of engagement and feedback really brings the course to life and gives our students experience of real-life projects.” 

The workshop is part of Escape Studios’ ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry. By inviting professionals like Ben Plumb to mentor students, the programme ensures that graduates are not only creatively skilled but also industry ready. 

As the course progresses, students will continue to develop their dark ride concepts, incorporating the feedback and inspiration gained from Ben’s visit. With Scruffy Dog’s reputation for innovation and excellence, the collaboration has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the next generation of experience designers. 

To learn more about Scruffy Dog Creative Group, visit www.scruffydogltd.com.