FAQ

Call or email us to schedule your free consultation. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have at this time, and our creative consultants will ask you about your space, budget, and theming ideas. After that, we’ll schedule an online meeting to go in-depth with photos from our past projects and talk more about the overall process. Don’t worry, there’s no obligation – the purpose of the call and the online meeting are to help uncover what is possible for your space.

You can call us at any stage of your project, but the earlier, the better. Getting us involved early helps ensure your timeline and theming goals are fully achievable.

We typically recommend reaching out six months to a year in advance, depending on the size of your build and the complexity of your theme. This gives us time to collaborate on design, plan fabrication, and align installation with your construction schedule.

If you’re still in the planning and development stage, we can start discussing ideas and begin sketching concepts once floor plans are available. Early involvement means we can coordinate with your architect and contractors to make sure everything—from ceiling height to electrical placement—works seamlessly with your theme.

All of our themed elements are custom-built and handcrafted. Prices vary depending on design, scope, and complexity. Projects have ranged between $5000 for a signature piece to $100,000 for a dental office transformation to 1 million for a theme park makeover.

At IDS, there is something for everyone, and we happily work within your budget. The best way to find out pricing is to have a chat with one of our Creative Consultants. They’re ready to answer any questions and won’t push you into making any decisions before you’re ready.

Yes! While it is not a necessary part of the design process as we have mastered the tools need to work with our clients remotely, we would absolutely love to have any one interested come for a tour of our facility and meet the team.

Another way to meet the team and see our decor products in person is to join us at trade shows. This year we will be attending the Orange Conference for Kid and Youth Ministry, AAPD Annual Session, and AAP Experience.

For transactions under $5,000, we accept Visa, Master Card, and PayPal. Transactions over $5,000 can be paid by check or wire transfer.

It’s never too late to bring IDS into the process. Even if your office is already open, we can transform your space into something unforgettable. Many clients choose to schedule a “theme reveal” event, which works like a second grand opening. It’s a great way to generate buzz, draw in families, and celebrate your new environment.

We can install murals, 3D features, and decor in existing offices with minimal disruption. Our team can even schedule work during evenings or weekends to keep your operations running smoothly.

If you’re looking for a faster turnaround, our IDS Essentials™ Collection offers pre-designed murals and décor that can be customized to your space and installed quickly.

Many of our clients finance their theming through their primary lender. IDS products can typically be included in the cost of your build-out, which makes talking to your bank easy. We recommend working with a local funder who will understand the long-term benefits of an investment into office theming.

Additionally for our dental customers, Bank of America Practice Solutions are familiar with our products, and several of our clients have worked with them in the past to finance their IDS project.

We also encourage you to look into grants to help fund your projects directly or help save up for new builds by funding other parts of your business. We keep a list of useful grants that can help child-friendly businesses get some extra help to reach success.

Each office is unique and depending on the design, scope, and complexity of a project, the timeline can vary. A typical office theming project with IDS takes approximately six months from beginning to end – from your first call to concept drawings to final installation. (This schedule is much shorter, closer to 2 months, if you are selecting pre-designed items from our IDS Essentials™ Collection).

In terms of your build, we will be one of the last trades in the space. Installation of our products happens after all the walls are up and painted, flooring is down, cabinets are in and finishes are complete. In your build schedule, our installation typically accounts for less than a week and will likely happen when other decor items such as art and window coverings are installed.

You can learn more about our expert process here.

Technology has enabled us to be very effective at working with our clients remotely, so a site visit is not necessary. Using the latest online tools, you will feel like you are in our studio while we create your office theme. We make sure to stay connected through online meetings, phone calls, e-mails, and plenty of in-progress photos and videos.

We’ll guide you through every step of your office design process, so you feel connected and confident that the work we do matches your vision, regardless of geography.

You can learn more about our expert process here.

We call the process The Three Steps from Mundane to Magical, and it includes regular updates from our team. Often, these will include photos of your custom theming props being produced on our shop floor, allowing you to follow along as your project comes to life. If you are getting custom murals, you will be able to approve the final design before it goes to print.

You can learn more about our expert process here.

One of the first steps in our process is to convert your blueprints and plans into a digital 3D model of your office. For this reason, we’ll ask for your reflected ceiling plans—they let us design within your exact space. Every theming element is created and tested inside this 3D environment, so you can be confident it will fit perfectly. It also gives you a preview of how the final design will look before installation begins.

In some cases, we’ll ask you to take quick measurements yourself—like the length and width of a wall or door. We call this our “dim check.” For more complex areas, we may also send a team member on-site to capture precise measurements, but this is rare.

This layered approach ensures your theming elements not only look great but also fit seamlessly into your office.

No! We design theming for any office size, large or small. We have created themed environments for offices ranging from 1,100 square feet to 24,000 square feet. The benefit of a completely custom-themed environment is that we create the theming to fit your space! Please visit our projects page for examples of different sized theming projects.

Ultimately, none. Theming with murals uses existing wall surfaces and requires no footprint at all. From there, many of our products, such as themed benches, bay dividers, and kid-friendly brushing mirrors simply take the place of other essential furniture and decor items you will already have in your space.

If you have space set aside for some extra fun, we can get even more creative. With as little as 25 dedicated square feet, we can add gaming, slides, education stations, or a hand-sculpted character to your office that makes the perfect photo op for social media!

Custom themed offices are exactly that – custom! We work closely with you to understand what you’d like the finished product to look like and how you want it to function. From there, our talented artists will begin by sketching concepts, allowing you to see your unique vision come life. You are welcome to provide as much input along the way as you like, or you can simply hand the creative reins over to our team – it’s entirely your decision.

You can learn more about our expert process here.

We’re unable to reproduce trademarked or copyrighted characters like those owned by Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or other entertainment studios. These characters are protected by intellectual property laws, and using them without proper licensing is not permitted.

But good news — we specialize in custom character creation!
Our team of artists and designers can develop one-of-a-kind mascots, creatures, or storybook characters tailored to your brand, theme, or vision. This gives you something truly unique and ownable for your space.

We can also draw inspiration from public domain stories, such as classic fairy tales, folklore, and literary works (like The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, or Peter Rabbit), which are not protected by modern copyright.

Let’s bring your vision to life — in a way that’s creative, legal, and uniquely yours.

Absolutely it can – themed environments are perfect for all ages. At IDS, we are happy to design a unique office with an older clientele in mind. Many of our orthodontists customers – and dentists with more mature patients – tend to select designs from our Contemporary Collection.

Yes. We are always happy to create a theme or characters from any non-copyrighted artwork you supply. In fact, some clients even incorporate their pets or caricatures of themselves just for fun!

We think having a personalized character or mascot for your business is a great marketing decision. You can learn more about the benefits of having a mascot for your office in our blog.

We love this question. Yes, it will hold up – we guarantee it with our limited lifetime warranty! IDS products are handcrafted by our experienced craftspeople and made with the care and materials required to meet our “kid-proof” guarantee. Everything we create is built to the highest standards for quality and durability – something that is truly unmatched in the industry.

In fact, we build our indoor props to the exact same standards as our exterior pieces and our sculpted characters have – literally – endured tornados and hurricanes and have survived, looking just as good as ever!

Yes! All 3D sculpted products from IDS are fully covered under a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original owner, protecting against defects in materials and workmanship.

For murals, we offer a variety of repair solutions—including patch stickers and full or partial reprints—also covered under our Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Third-party components, such as electronics or fabric coverings, are backed by their respective manufacturer’s warranties.

IDS Limited Lifetime Warranty reads:

• All structural aspects of the IDS designs are warranted against breakage under normal use for the lifetime of the product.
• Installation performed by the IDS team is warranted against failure due to poor installation and best practices.
• Labor and materials of repaired products relating to breakage under normal use.

For more information, visit our Warranty Page.

Themed environments require minimal maintenance to stay looking their best.

Clean your theming as you would other parts of your office.

A light dusting is typically all that’s needed for 3D sculpted elements, which are finished with a durable protective coating. Use a soft cloth, microfiber duster, or canned air to remove dust from sculptures. Clean gently with soap and water as needed. Do not scrub with an abrasive scouring sponge.

Our custom murals feature a protective laminate, allowing for spot cleaning with soap and water. Do not scrub with an abrasive scouring sponge.

For deeper cleaning or disinfection, most products can safely be cleaned using diluted bleach or CaviWipes.

The roles of your architect and interior designer remain unchanged – theming is more like the icing on the cake. Our job is to collaborate with your team to ensure that what we produce complements and enhances the layout, finishes, colors, and other design decisions that have been made.

We actively invite architects and interior designers to collaborate with us on their family-friendly projects!

We work with all types of businesses, with a focus on those serving families and children. Our extensive experience spans child-friendly businesses worldwide, including dental offices, children’s hospitals, pediatric healthcare clinics, early education providers, daycares, libraries, zoos, aquariums, children’s museums, malls, theme parks, and even chocolate shops and waterparks! There is no limit to the type of business we will work and collaborate with.

Check out our list of types of businesses we design for here.

A themed environment refers to a physical space that has been intentionally designed and decorated to evoke a particular “theme” or atmosphere. Themed environments are often found in various settings such as theme parks, restaurants, retail stores, museums, entertainment venues, and even private residences. Our most popular themes include: underwater, jungle, safari, beach, woodland and bayou, fantasy, dinosaur, and farmyard. Themed environments are created to engage the senses, spark imagination, and provide memorable experiences for visitors, whether they are seeking entertainment, education, or simply a new experience.

Over the years, we have come to recognize some of the all-time favorite characters and most common spots for them to be placed. We’ve compiled these designs into a collection, along with a variety of other pre-designed products such as murals, bay dividers, themed benches, and operatory décor.

The manufacturing process is identical to that for custom theming, but since they are pre-designed, the production time is shortened and there is a cost savings for you. These items are designed to be easily installed by your general contractor or facilities manager, instead of requiring a member of the IDS install team, which also saves on installation costs.

Imagination Design Studios is a North American-based company. We have a 24,000 square foot head office and design studio is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

By keeping all design and manufacturing in-house, we maintain a superior level of quality while using materials that we know are safe and durable. In addition, our bench of experienced designers and engineers can accommodate universal requirements for accessibility and safety.

IDS has spent 30+ years under our parent company SYC creating themed environments for retail, hospitality, amusement, and healthcare industries, and over 15 years under the IDS name specializing in pediatric healthcare environments.

With over 750 dental and medical offices and child-friendly businesses transformed, and several awards later, there’s no doubt we have the expertise and skills required to create world-class products. We are proud to be the authority in office theming.

We pride ourselves on cultivating a talented team and only hire educated and experienced workers in all departments. Our team is the best, so our products are the best. But don’t just take our word for it; hear it from those who know best – our clients.

For dental and medical offices, theming is a fantastic opportunity to create a positive impact on a patient’s visit as well as stand out in your local community as a business focused on care.

Theming can rejuvenate an older business, attract considerably more visitors, and give you and your staff an enjoyable place to work every day. Theming an office with IDS is an investment, not an expense.

Yes, our products are built to be strong, durable, and long-lasting.

All 3D sculptures are finished with a proprietary hardcoat engineered to endure daily wear and tear in high-traffic environments. This rubber-like material is flexible under pressure, meaning it won’t crack or shatter but will bend to absorb impact.

Our murals are printed on commercial-grade vinyl with a protective laminate, making them resistant to scratches, fading from UV rays, and are easy to clean.

Whether installed in medical offices, libraries, or play areas, our themed elements are engineered to perform for years.

Absolutely! You can check out our full portfolio of themed spaces in our project gallery section.

Our custom props are crafted from lightweight foam for shape, reinforced internally with wood and steel for strength and stability. Each piece is coated in an exceptionally durable hard shell, then finished with high-quality paint and a protective clear coat.

Our proprietary materials, developed through years of research and close collaboration with suppliers, are the key to our unmatched quality and durability.

Detailed specifications and safety data sheets are available upon request.

IDS Essentials™ Murals are an easy way to transform any size of space using an online tool that allows you to choose a specific section of mural to fit any wall. These murals come in our six most popular themes: underwater, beach, jungle, safari, woodland, and outer space.

Our custom murals can be any theme and are designed to specifically fit your wall based on measurements we receive from your office. Our mural designers can then design around furniture, light switches, outlets, etc, so you never have to worry about a character’s face being covered! Custom murals are printed on a laminated medical-grade vinyl that must be applied by a 3M certified installer.

Visit IDS Essentials™ Murals for a free mock-up of a mural in your space.

All of our theming is proudly made in the United States of America and Canada. This means that we can maintain a superior level of quality while using materials that we know are safe and durable. In addition, our staff of designers and engineers can accommodate universal requirements for accessibility and safety.

The first to benefit will be your patients. Theming in dental and medical spaces helps reduce treatment anxiety and fear by creating an environment that is fun and inviting for children. When anxiety is displaced, appointments become easier – not just for the patient, but for parents and your staff too!

Practices that have themed with IDS experience supercharged growth. In part due to the benefits mentioned above, and also because theming is an exceptional marketing strategy. There’s no better foundation for a buzz-worthy experience than an IDS-themed environment. Our characters can be used to create the perfect ‘share-worthy’ photo ops inside your office. As parents post these adorable photos on social media every day, your brand benefits from the increased activity, and your brand gains access to the parent network online.

A themed office not only delights children but also creates a magical space for dentists, doctors, business owners, and their support staff. When children are happy, it can make it easier for your staff to work with them, particularly in high-stress situations such as dental and medical care.

In a nutshell, theming helps attract new clients, keeps current patients coming back, drives ongoing referrals, and keeps your staff enthusiastic about their job. It all adds up to being the first choice of families in your community.

Our themed decor products meet or exceed standards of fire safety, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. We ensure that children will be safe in your themed environment. We maintain relationships with other local suppliers who share our value system of responsible manufacturing. This means that we can maintain a superior level of quality while using materials that we know to be safe and durable.

We can create any theme you desire! Creating a themed space for children can be a fun and imaginative process. Our most popular themes include underwater, jungle, safari, beach, woodland and bayou, with other themes growing in popularity including fantasy, dinosaur, and farmyard. We do have to draw the line at copyrighted characters. We can create a mermaid theme for you, but not directly copy Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

The best way to see our 3D decor products in person is to join us at trade shows and conferences. This year we will be attending the Orange Conference for Kid and Youth Ministry, AAPD Annual Session, and AAP Experience.

You can see a mock-up of our murals in your space by requesting a Mural Mock-up here.

Typically, a themed office is shipped by ground in a semitrailer. We build custom crates and carefully pack the trailer by hand to ensure safe delivery of your products. Large sculptures are modular (made of several pieces that fit together to create the finished sculpture) to allow efficient shipping, unpacking, and installation. This also ensures our giant characters will fit through your front door!

No, it’s not. Shipping prices from Canada to the US can be comparable to domestic shipping rates within each country. We always compare shipping rates from different carriers and consider factors such as delivery time, reliability, and any additional services offered.

Absolutely! Regardless of where your business is located, we will find a way to deliver our amazing theming to you. IDS has successfully completed projects for locations around the world, including the US, UK, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Turkey, and Germany.

Yes. You can download our wall prep instructions by clicking here.

It’s important to note that the wall prep must be completed no less than three weeks in advance of install. This is to ensure sufficient time for the paint to fully cure and off-gas before the vinyl membrane is applied to the surface.

For custom-themed offices, our team arrives on-site the same day the product does. They manage everything from offloading your props from the truck through to the final details of installation. You don’t need to lift a finger.

If you are selecting pre-designed decor from our catalog of IDS Essentials™ instead of a custom office, these items are all designed to be easily installed by your general contractor or facilities manager.

If you choose to self-install or hire a local contractor to assist with installation, please note that you will be responsible for unloading your decor upon delivery. Be sure to have the appropriate equipment and personnel ready when the shipment arrives.

Yes, we will coordinate closely with you on scheduling installation while still allowing the office to remain open. Our installers are very professional and are used to working in offices that are open.

We plan the shipping and delivery process for you. Our installers will be on-site when the 3D elements arrive.

If you choose to self-install or hire a local contractor to assist with installation, please note that you will be responsible for unloading your decor upon delivery. Be sure to have the appropriate equipment and personnel ready when the shipment arrives.

Installation varies depending on the size of the project. Our average themed office takes between four to seven days to install completely.