DDI, Saks Fifth Avenue to Host Student Window Challenge Events

ATLANTA, May 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The DDI Student Window Challenge, a design competition presented in cooperation with Saks Fifth Avenue, will bring together visual merchandising students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), LIM College and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) for the chance to show off their visual prowess. Separate competitions will be held in New York on June 6^th and Los Angeles on July 25^th.

After the success of the inaugural Student Window Challenge event in 2012, DDI and Saks Fifth Avenue are expanding the program this year to offer students on both coasts the opportunity to display their design skills for a panel of industry experts. The New York challenge will take place on June 6^th at the Fifth Avenue Store, and will conclude with an after party at Cafe SFA in partnership with the Retail Design Institute's New York Chapter.  The Los Angeles challenge will take place on July 25^th at Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, and will conclude with an after party at the retailer's new men's Denim Bar in partnership with the Retail Design Institute's SoCal Chapter.

Industry friends, DDI readers and sponsors will be invited to join participants at both after parties, giving students a rare chance to mingle with prominent retailers and designers from their industry.

DDI Executive Editor Alison Embrey Medina said that during the competition itself, students will be given a window design challenge centered on a specific theme.

"Each two-person student team will be given one day to create window presentations using provided materials, merchandise from Saks and their own creative input," Medina said. "At the end of the day, a judging panel consisting of Saks' visual team and DDI editors will determine the winning teams. We are quite excited to work with three outstanding design schools and look forward to seeing what the students from each side of the country will bring to the table."

Teams will work independently, but will gain professional insight from Saks visual directors, who will circulate among participants to provide advice and guidance. The students will not know what materials they have to work with until they arrive on the morning of the competition. They will be given donated materials by the event sponsors, including: Bernstein Display, Centiva, Dazian Fabrics, Fusion, Lifestyle-Trimco-Viaggio, and Mondo Mannequins.

Awards for the top ranking designs will include Saks Fifth Avenue gift cards. The first place winners will be offered a one-day mentorship with the Saks window team, giving them an unprecedented opportunity to follow, watch and assist in the implementation and breakdown of Saks Fifth Avenue's store windows.

Additionally, Medina said that select challenge participants will gain exposure for their excellent work in print and online. Photos of the challenge and final designs will be featured in DDI Magazine and online at www.ddionline.com.

Industry professionals interested in participating in the After Party can register at www.ddionline.com/SaksNY or www.ddionline.com/SaksLA. For sponsorship queries, please contact DDI Publisher Orlando Llerandi at [email protected] or (770) 291-5511.

ABOUT DDI – DDI Magazine offers solutions to help retailers and designers create dynamic, effective store environments. The magazine focuses on store design, visual merchandising, architecture, marketing and branding, with a readership of qualified high-level, in-house retail and contract design professionals. Store planners, visual merchandisers, store designers, independent architects, contract designers and consumer products manufacturers working with high-volume retail chains depend on coverage in DDI for cutting-edge trends, strategies and product applications for store design. Learn more at www.ddionline.com.

ABOUT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE – Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 42 full-line stores in 20 states, five international licensed stores, 66 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company's online store.

Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 U.S. companies so named.

SOURCE DDI