In the ongoing effort to attract as many visitors as possible to your aquatics center, you may want to take a page out of the waterparks book and infuse your facility with a theme that helps make a connection with people of all ages.

In fact, theming has become such a priority that Orlando-based Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering spun off a separate company just focused on this specialty, called Ectovox Consulting.

“More and more people are interested in having something that’s a little more of an experience than just waterslides — they want something that’s more like a theme park,” says Kerry Martin, president and strategic director for Ectovox.

In an era when even birthday parties are themed to within an inch of their lives, this makes sense. This part of the design not only provides a built-in thread for tying all the elements together, but the end product has the ability to transport visitors out of their neighborhoods to a new, exotic locale.

“People want to escape their real-world lives and go into a park that makes them feel a little bit different,” Martin says.

Here, waterparks and aquatics designers share the latest in theming trends and offer advice for those seeking to update theirs.

Following the trends

Going with classic themes brings both benefits and risks.

Themes revolving around the whimsical side of water, such as “under the sea,” tropical and pirate aesthetics are a classic. In a study Ectovox did of more than 400 clients with themed waterparks, nearly two-thirds fit into the “Ocean/Nautical,” “Tropical/Hawaiian,” or “Pirate” themes.

These often are the easiest, most economical to create, given the amount of products and equipment that can be ordered straight out of the catalog with imagery aligning with these themes. These aesthetics carry a risk, however, in that they could blend in with competing facilities.

Be mindful of emerging theming trends. More sites than ever build story lines around their cities or regions, honoring the area’s history and culture. This not only differentiates the location, but also creates opportunities to educate and engage, creating an instant bond and point of pride. “I think having something that’s true to where you are is always a good trend,” Martin says.

Also on the rise are vacation-inspired themes that promote cultural diversity, says Ryan Snyder, director of creative design and product development for Aquatic Development Group, based in Cohoes, N.Y. Design teams may style waterparks to evoke an East Asian oasis, Balinese village, Brazilian Carnivale or African expedition. Not only do these transport visitors to exotic locations, but they inspire a multitude of food, music and entertainment options.

Adventure and exploration themes, such as “lost civilization” or “underwater expedition” open the way to attracting thrill seekers and incorporating interactive experiences such as treasure hunts and exploration zones, Snyder observes.

Some newer waterpark themes reflect the increasing awareness of sustainability. Eco-friendly and nature-inspired themes, such as “tropical rainforest,” may feature lush landscapes, environmentally friendly materials and wildlife-related imagery. Those developing surf-related attractions, parks and facilities seem especially attracted to themes such as these, Snyder says.

Whatever the theme, Martin sees an evolution in how they’re carried out. She sees her clients moving toward more authentic looks and away from cartoonish characters. A recent project by Ectovox and Martin Aquatic, Serengeti Springs, carries an African theme. But rather than cartoon characters that mostly attract children, the animal imagery looks more realistic. “Our clients are asking for something that speaks to a broader demographic and age range,” Martin says.

That kind of authenticity can be added by creating an entire environment, rather than relying on characters. For instance, you can integrate authentic-looking architectural elements, building finishes, plants and trees. This way the theme is built into the architecture or structures rather than looking like added-on elements.

On the subtle side

Heavy theming isn’t appropriate for all locations, so these designers are seeing an increase in more light-handed approaches.

For instance, Brian Beckler sees less color contrast on today’s aquatic designs.

“Those facilities where everything has a different color — the carnival, bright neon look — we’re not seeing that quite as often,” says the senior principal with OLC, a Denver-based architecture, interior and aquatic design firm. “You don’t see those huge contrasts quite as often.”

Some prefer an environment that inspires more calm. This could be especially appropriate if individuals on the autism spectrum will make up a substantial part of the clientele. Or perhaps a high-end demographic calls for it. Snyder has observed an increase in monotone color schemes meant to create a luxury or resort feel.

“Our lives are very busy,” Snyder says. “There’s a lot coming at us — a lot of demands, visual interactivity, whether through electronics, the news or whatever it may be. So having a monotone experience within an area, whether an entire property or a zone could reinforce a level of calmness.”

These usually translate into a very contemporary, sleek look, Beckler adds. Here, designers need to create a more subtle look and feel, but still offer moving water to engage users. Instead of large play structures, moving water could come in the form of vertical sprays emerging from the zero-depth entry.

“They tend to tie those features with the architecture so the overall experience has a similar aesthetic,” Beckler says.

Swinging in the other direction, you could use a vibrant color scheme to convey excitement.

“Simplified primary color palettes are regaining momentum over heavily themed overlays in an effort to keep the experience clean, modern, and easy to maintain,” Snyder says.

Generally speaking, sometimes color can do the work that you might otherwise rely on characters or other elements to do. If your mission or budget don’t allow for an intricate theme, a strong color scheme can serve a similar purpose, tying the elements together and setting a mood.

“Color is powerful,” Snyder says. “Say you have a forest theme, it doesn’t have to have trees around it, it could all be shades of green. Or if it’s a mining theme, it doesn’t necessarily need to have pick axes and barrels, it could be shades of tan, brown and gray. Maybe there’s a tipping bucket or spinning wheel, and you can use color in those areas as a highlight to bring attention to it as it’s moving.”

With purpose

Whatever the theme, aquatics developers are going into it with more intention than ever.

“Theming just for theming’s sake … we don’t see that quite as much,” Beckler says. “It’s not just ‘Let’s come up with some fun ideas.’ There’s usually an end game. They want to create a special experience, they want people to come to their facility and stay longer.”

Whatever theme you choose, think about future plans for the property. Do you plan to expand it over time? Think about themes, story lines and characters that will easily foster ideas for new attractions or zones. If the property will include shops and concessions, think about how the theming can tie in, what kinds of products or food it can inspire. Consider the long-term maintenance that will be required and how that meshes with your resources.

Starting where you are

While some themes are more common than others, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon them in existing facilities. In fact, when updating a center that already features a more classic theme, you could almost double down, delving deeper into the story.

Make the theme more compelling by adding extra details, fun facts or story lines to the existing theme. New signage easily can be added to teach new terminology from the era or region being highlighted.

“Instead of a generic ‘Under the Sea,’ you can maybe have ‘Exploring Atlantis’; instead of pirates, maybe something to do with finding an underwater treasure that has magical properties,” Martin says.

Updating a theme doesn’t necessarily require a complete redo. If your play and slide structures have replaceable panels or spray features, you could order a different one, maybe even something customized, Beckler suggests.

If you’re designing and building a new facility on a budget, play and slide structures make a good place to begin building a theme. You can put your signature on these features by, for instance, customizing the dumping bucket. A recent Aquatics International Dream Designs honoree, Roaring Springs in Meridian, Idaho, paid tribute to one of its most prominent local crops with a potato-head dumping bucket.

Or, instead of focusing on features, you can update the colors and materials surrounding them. The addition of plants, trees and other landscape elements also can make the atmosphere feel brand-new. “Some simple aesthetic changes can have a big impact on how people perceive the water and how they use it,” Beckler says.