Meet Mitch Mitton of Mitton Theme Design in Powder Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitch Mitton.

Mitch, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career in Shreveport working as a freelance graphic designer. Many of the advertising agencies that I worked with wanted logo signs and trade show displays designed and finding suppliers to do something different was a challenge.

So since my father was a carpenter and I knew how to do research I headed to the library.

While earning my BFA from La Tech I had started doing sculpture. Now with this new interest in producing custom work, I built a studio shop and was soon casting bronze and marking wood project for those agencies.

That was the start. I continued my education by returning to La Tech for a MFA. But I soon again found a company that needed problems solved. Hart and associates a lamp company need designs and someone to take over their wood carving operations.

I established The Woodchuck Carving Company and for the next 15 years produced lamp parts, custom furniture and drapery hardware.

In 2000, I sold my designs and moved to Madison Wisconsin to become the Manager of Window Fashion Design for Springs WF. As an industrial designer, I created some 300 plus designs including a Harry Potter line for Warner Brothers.

By 2004, the company decided to have the Chinese companies that I had toured design the product. I had worked in the Theme industry briefly for Walt Disney World and decided to find another company. Creative Environs in Jacksonville was just what I was looking for.

We built the interior elements for restaurants like Cheeseburger in Paradise and Margaritaville, and pirate ships! Now that was really what I wanted to do. Build full-size wrecks and of course, sculpt mermaid figureheads.

Companies that supply theme parks grow and fail as the needs of the parks change and soon I was in Atlanta working for Entertainment Design Group, EDG. Steve Guy and Rick Clark grew up working for Six Flags and after becoming VP’s had formed an industry supply company.

When they recruited me they were starting a project for Dolly Parten. What a time that was working 70 hours a week with a crew of several hundred artists and craftsman. That lasted a year. Again, the ups and downs of the business.

I next did some sculpture for two companies to display at ‘the next cool event’. This was geared at attracting movie industry business in Atlanta.

I did my version of King Kong and the Bird Girl form the Garden of Good and Evil. There was an interior designer that was on the team and afterwards she told Beau Holland that he needed me.

Well, he called asked if I was any good and I told him, yes and now I work with 12 interior designers here in Atlanta making dreams come true.

I also created Norman Rockwell’s Santa At The Globe sculpture last year that was at Perimeter Mall here in Atlanta and 5 other malls around the country for Steve Guy.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have moved 17 times, lived on the road for months at a time and traveled internationally just to be able to do what I love. Along the way, I work for some of the largest companies in their field and made some fantastic contacts. There for a while, each move was a total start from scratch but now with the internet, I have contact with friends and customers all over the place.

But ever career builds on past glories and problems and adds to the abilities to create dreams.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mitton Theme Design – what should we know?
I am a designer-craftsman. That in itself is special. But from an early age, I had the ability to visualize in 3D. Just like you can now rotate an image on a computer screen I can do that in my head. You see Theme is just another word for Dream as in come true.

I quite simply see the dream and make them happen.

I am quite proud of several pieces of custom furniture I have built and several sculptures.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
To not be limited by one skill set. Today, generally it is all about being a specialist. Well, that is great if you want to be a peg and fit a hole but that is boring to me.

I am all about solving problems, design is a specialized form. but to simply design and have others be your hands is to limiting to me. I have to work and grow with the project completely.

If you have a drawing, sketch or tear sheet photo, I can make it happen, dead on.

If you only have a dream then I can create drawings and renderings until you are happy and then make it come true.

Pricing:

• Custom one of a kind sculpture from $20,0000
• Limited addition full-size sculpture $50000 each

Contact Info:

• Address: 2695 New Macland Road
  Powder Springs GA 30127
• Website: Mittonthemedesign.com
• Phone: 904-652-4552 cell
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Mitchmitton
• Facebook: Mitchmitton and Mitton Theme Design page

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.