Experiences that made me Jed Maiden

In this series, we ask Imagination talent all about the experiences that have made them who they are. This month we spoke to Jed Maiden, Set Designer / 3D Designer from our London studio.

A bit about me… 

Originating from the shire of Devon, I grew up in the deep countryside near Exeter, in a beautiful picturesque hamlet called Oxton. I called it home until I fled the nest at age 18. Being a restless country bumpkin, I tried my hand at many teenage careers including, pheasant feeder for the local gamekeeper, an elite luxury shelf stacker for a gourmet farm shop and the pinnacle of my teenage career being Exeter's only fish and chip delivery driver for a chippy. They had the same logo as ‘Ultimate Fighting Championship’ UFC but with a fearless name change to ‘Ultimate Fish & Chippy.’

Being restless is something that has always driven me, for better or worse, in the search to find new unique experiences. I tried singing in bands, I tried to be a superstar DJ, I tried to be an actor, I even tried to go against my performative and creative urges to be a psychologist studying all science A-levels… All of these endeavours and a productive identity crisis’ pointed me towards a Masters in Architecture at the Royal College of Art, studying the built environment, people, culture and art.

The creative experience that influenced me the most…

It has to be ‘The Inconvenience Store’. A music festival based immersive theatre show that myself and a collective of close friends set up and run. We sell ‘everything you have never wanted,’ showcase alternative up and coming comedy and cabaret acts and host DJ performances. What started as a one-note gag against overconsumption in retail and, in all honestly a way to get into our favourite music festival for free has grown substantially each year and become an essential part of Boom Town festival and a pivot in my career from architecture to set design.

My industry hero is…

Leslie Travers, an iconic set designer with an infectious energy most known for his uniquely abstract and kinetic Opera sets. I had the pleasure of working for him for a number of months and it was a relentlessly inspiring experience with a nothing being impossible attitude. (Well, trying to get a miniature steam train covered in Swarovski crystals to do a loop was impossible but we gave it a good go!)

The piece of work I’m most proud of…

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy immersive experience. I got to bring one of my favourite novels to life by taking over an old Cold War munitions factory in Amsterdam for a few months. This project was special for many reasons: Working with amazing grass routes theatrical group Shotgun Carousel and legendary set designer Casey Andrews to create epic mirror mazes, latex Vogon costumes, a deconstructed planet builder stage design for a DJ hero of mine (Gyles Peterson), to perform a closing set. Oh, and an entirely pink room full of monkeys trying to write the complete works of Hamlett and a giant 20-metre long ceiling hung whale…

The piece of work that makes me cringe… 

I cringe at everything I have done and do. You have to laugh at yourself and your past work to keep the fun ideas coming.

The experience I wish I had created… 

Punk Drunk’s Burnt City. An immersive show that's attention to detail is bar none. Every inch of the set is covered in narrative subtext and its non linear free flowing audience flow encourages multiple watches. Even though you won't see everything for the first time, you shouldn't feel worried about doing so. It's one of those rare performances where you can just wonder, piece together narrative threads in your own time or ultimately just let it wash over you.

Advice to my 18-year-old self… 

Don’t worry about choosing the ‘correct’ path and don't be afraid to try different things. It's all part of the journey. Where these different skills, paths, and knowledge converge, is where the most potent ideas come from.

What’s next? 

Bringing my immersive theatre knowledge into the world of Imagination! Being able to utilise some of my master's research around the similarities between immersive theatre and the world of video games into reality…