Alchemy Studios
Prototyping, design, development and special effects. Ideas in, objects out.
Built for the places people remember
For nearly four decades our team — first as DesignWerx, Inc., now as Alchemy Studios — has been trusted by some of the most-visited theme parks in the country to build special effects, themed props, fabrication and branding. That work was done for hire and under confidentiality agreements, so it stays with the parks. What we carry from it is the discipline of building things that survive millions of guests.
Clients outside the parks have included ConAgra Foods (Slim Jim), Samsung, Gatorade, Jose Cuervo, Breitling, Daytona International Speedway, Fair Oaks, Loveland Laser Tag, Kemperle of Florida and GT Marine.
The same shop has built climbing walls for national sporting events, branded towers and stages for motorsports, and promotional structures for global brands — and today writes the software behind payment platforms and a full virtual world in Unreal Engine.
Make · Design · Develop
Three workshops, one team. Most projects move through all three.
Make
Physical things, built to last
- Prototyping
- Working models and rapid prototypes, from first article to pre-production.
- Special effects
- Show effects, mechanisms and illusions for attractions, stages and events.
- Props and themed fabrication
- Hero props, climbing walls, set pieces and themed environments in foam, resin, steel and wood.
- Casting and molding
- Silicone and rigid molds; resin, plaster and urethane castings in short runs.
- Laser cutting and engraving
- Precision cutting and etching with our sister shop, Hughes Laser Lab.
Design
How it looks, how it works
- Product and industrial design
- 3D mechanical design, tooling and products ready to manufacture.
- 3D modeling and sculpting
- Digital sculpts, characters and models, with an in-house coloring team.
- Branding and identity
- Logos, brand systems, packaging and card design.
- Fleet and vehicle graphics
- Wraps for trucks, vans, trailers, race cars and boats, designed and installed.
- Signage and environments
- Dimensional letters, floor graphics and branded spaces.
Develop
The software behind it
- Platforms and web
- Cloud platforms, payment and card systems, websites and dashboards.
- Virtual worlds
- Multiplayer worlds in Unreal Engine for VR and desktop.
- Voice overs
- Narration, character voices and voice guides for products, films and worlds.
Selected work
Our theme-park work isn't shown here. It was created for hire and remains confidential to the parks.
Ventures we build
Alchemy Studios develops its own platforms alongside client work.
The Realm®
A persistent multiplayer world in Unreal Engine for VR and desktop, with verified citizens, nine islands, Land Title collectibles and virtual learning.
Apex NEO Card
A patented polymorphic card platform, metal and virtual, that carries one verified member identity. Card art, platform design and integration by our team.
Graffix Tools
Installation tools for the sign and vehicle-wrap trade, including the Rivet Sealer 3000 and SE360 — designed and built by an installer, for installers.
Company record
For partners, lenders and researchers verifying who we are. These details match our filings with the Florida Department of State.
- Legal name
- Alchemy Studios, LLC
- Entity type
- Florida limited liability company
- Document no.
- L15000160768
- Organized
- September 22, 2015
- Parent
- Wholly owned subsidiary of ZenChip PRIME Corp. since December 12, 2021
- Principal
- J. Daniel Hughes
- Predecessor
- DesignWerx, Inc.
- Location
- Orlando, Florida
Verify on the Florida Division of Corporations site by searching document number L15000160768.
Start a project: info@alchemystudiosorlando.com
Tell us what you want to make, its size and your deadline. We reply within two business days.