The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
Marcy’s Musings: The Legislative Outlook—Helping or Hurting?
It’s Only Common Sense: The Phone Is Still Mightier Than the Keyboard
Star Wars and Disney: ‘Spinning the Script’ With Paul Bailey
May 13, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Paul Bailey has quite a story to tell. The current vice president at AOA, and former principal concept technical director for Walt Disney Imagineering gave the opening keynote speech at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. He delved into some of the technological marvels he’s been involved with throughout his career, particularly with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new Star Wars experience at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Paul also urged the leaders in the audience to change the way they lead and focus more on each employee’s well-being. After his keynote speech, Paul stopped by the I-Connect007 studio for a quick interview, where he shared his thoughts on technology and leadership.
Dylan Nguyen: Paul, I’ve been reading about your background How did you balance your two identities as artist and engineer early on?
Paul Bailey: I never saw art and engineering as different identities, frankly. I didn't really know what engineering was; I just grew up in an environment where it happened. I thought, “Well, people make things, and they tinker, and they do stuff.” It wasn't until much later that it clicked in my head that this was actually a calling or profession. I think part of life is about recognizing patterns. A lot of the things that you do as a mechanical engineer involve creating shapes that solve problems, which to me is analogous to sculpting. You might be using SolidWorks to do it, but it's still sculpture. So, in my mind there really isn't that big of a difference between art and engineering.
Nguyen: You were a sculptor for Walt Disney Imagineering early in your career. Walk us through your career, and how your journey unfolded.
Bailey: I guess I really started out as a frontline artist; I was an illustrator and a sculptor. When I was an apprentice working on Star Trek, I was drawing pictures of aliens and then sculpting the aliens. That was my full-time gig. I was primarily known in the movie industry as a sculptor, though not as much as a makeup artist. Through the Disney years, I found my way into more creative technology. I have a technology gene, if you will. I got away from doing the frontline art over my time there. But over the past 10 years, I’ve swung back in that direction. Now I think of it as mixed media. Sometimes I'm drawing with a pencil, and sometimes I'm drawing with a mouse. Sometimes I'm sculpting an object, and sometimes I'm building an electronic something or other that moves and works and whatnot. It's all very fluid to me. I don't distinguish between those pieces.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the 2024 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
AI Triggers Next Paradigm Shift in PDN
10/23/2025 | Istvan Novak, SamtecArtificial intelligence (AI), together with machine learning (ML), is creating an unprecedented surge of computing and networking infrastructure needs. This, in turn, has dramatically increased the power consumption of computing and networking chips.
The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
10/22/2025 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIn the past year, several potential customers, concerned about the impending application of tariffs on incoming goods, have asked us what it would take to bring their circuit board production back to the U.S. While they also had other considerations, the threat of new tariffs was the tipping point that started them thinking about the economic advantages of bringing their manufacturing back onshore. It might be interesting to relate our experiences with two of those inquiries.
Waging the Battle for American PCB Reshoring
10/21/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineLegislation is shaping global trade, tariffs, and sustainability and environmental regulations. David Schild of PCBAA discusses exactly where the U.S. stands in its efforts to reshore printed circuit board manufacturing for critical industries. This conversation at PCB West occurred on the first day of the federal government’s shutdown, so it seemed especially timely to hear David's thoughts and insights on how the current political climate is affecting efforts to achieve the U.S. industry’s reshoring goals.
Dutch Government Takes Control of China-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia, Citing Security Concerns
10/14/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThe Dutch government has taken control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, escalating tensions with Beijing amid intensifying global disputes over semiconductor technology and intellectual property.
SEMICON West: The Path to a $1 Trillion Future
10/14/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007After more than 50 years in San Francisco, SEMICON West moved its 2025 show to Phoenix, which is significant because it highlights the importance of Arizona as a semiconductor and tech hub. Though the show will be back in San Francisco in 2026, the overwhelmingly warm welcome SEMI received from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and ASU President Michael Crowe—who has been responsible for ASU repeatedly achieving the U.S. News and World Reports most innovative university ranking—was remarked upon repeatedly. All indications are that SEMICON West may well be back in Phoenix after that 2026 season.