Parade Balloon and Inflatable Costume Maker
A graphic designer that can think out of the box-- way out of the box-- can
become a designer of parade balloons and inflatable costumes. Not only do you
have to first put your design to paper, create a small-scale model, and visualize it
with the techniques and materials of an inflatable balloon, but you also need to
keep in mind aerodynamics, properties of hot and cold air, and the fact that
people will be moving it along, either outside or in. They have to be able to
create a design that will be easily recognizable with a rounded frame or structure,
and use materials that are not meant for detailed work. Although, balloon
makers now use airbrushes to create 3D features. The picture illustrates the
process that PARADE GIANTS, a custom-inflatable balloon company, goes
through when making a parade balloon for The Peace Dove Project in 2006.
By the way inflatable balloon costumes cost anywhere from $1,000-20,000 (5’ to
30’+)