How do you design an unforgettable experience that lasts for only one night?
Designing a Mardi Gras float requires balancing creativity with engineering.
Each float had to function as a moving environment—safely supporting riders, lighting, sound, storage, and themed experiences—while remaining structurally sound and visually engaging throughout the parade route.
The Challenge
Create immersive environments that celebrate storytelling, craftsmanship, and community.
Design each float as an experience rather than a vehicle, giving riders and spectators alike a memorable moment that extends far beyond the parade.
The Vision
Working together, Robert Brooks and I approached each float as a complete design project.
Over five years, we designed and built four original floats, exploring materials, fabrication techniques, lighting, graphics, and structural systems. Every element—from bars and gathering spaces to themed environments and decorative details—was carefully integrated into a cohesive experience that balanced creativity with the realities of transportation, assembly, and safety.
Each project became an opportunity to experiment, prototype, and refine ideas that blurred the line between architecture, art, and entertainment.
The Approach
The DesignKrewe floats became more than parade entries.
They created memorable public experiences that brought communities together through celebration, craftsmanship, and storytelling.
More importantly, the work demonstrated that great design isn't defined by permanence—it's defined by the experiences it creates and the memories it leaves behind.
The Impact
Design happens long before opening day. Every project begins with curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Project Status
Completed
Client
Krewe of Janus
Firm
Design Krewe
Project Team
Marla Emory Robert Brooks Krewe of Janus - Volunteers
My Role
Concept Development • Design • Fabrication • Project Coordination
Project Credits