WEEK SIX: Prep Work

Instagram by Addie Jones of Twine & Twill

Today you will embark on an three-week design project in which you will work directly with Triad Local First and area retailers to create window displays that celebrate the qualities that make each business unique and promotes sales.


Building on what you've learned from Emily-Kate and Christopher's presentation on using design to get 'cash registers to ring', our behind-the scenes look at Anthropologie's creative process and, most recently, your window display case study, you are challenged with utilizing unconventional materials and a small budget of $100 ($25 per group member) to make a big impact.


Today: Working as a team, create a schedule outlining your design process over the next three weeks. When will you meet with your client? What are you intermediate due dates? When will you present your design proposals to your client? When will you do necessary prep work? Try to be very mindful when it comes to budgeting the time you need to make things happen. When will you install the windows? And finally, what are you final deliverables? Bear in mind we have six studio sessions (counting today) between now and spring break. Please email me with this information no later than 7 pm this evening. I will review and provide feedback asap so you can share this information with your clients.


Before class on Thursday: Visit your store location, meet with the owner/store manager to learn more about their business and discuss goals for the store window. As this is a real world project with real clients it is of the utmost importance that you are professional and organized at all times. Remember Holland's advice to 'under-promise and over-deliver.'


Also for the beginning of class Thursday: Within your teams, each individual is to develop a minimum of three store-window concepts/ approaches. You will present these to the group for feedback.


T 2/21

TH 2/23


T 2/28

TH 3/2


T 3/7

TH 3/9

WEEK FIVE : Window Display Case Study

Clothespin Display for Anthropologie by IARc Alumni, Tracey Wright Newsome

Starting next week, you will work directly with local small business owners to transform their stores with fantastic displays on a shoestring budget. Your challenge will be to use your design skills and creativity to move past limited resources in order to get the public talking about your assigned business.

In preparation, use this weekend to complete your second Case Study of the semester: this time focusing on window displays that use unconventional and/or inexpensive materials to make a big impact. Identify a minimum of 8 outstanding (be critical) displays and dissect each to determine materials and cost. In addition to each display's construction, critically analyze the concept, composition and execution. If you were to go about creating the same display yourself, what variables must you keep in mind?  Refer to the chapter on Windows in the Visual Merchandising textbook (p.41-107) for a very relevant list of considerations.

As with you first case study, this assignment should take the form of a succinct analysis, complimented by a series of quality annotated/captioned sketches and photographs that expand upon your written investigation.  This is due on your blog, with appropriate links and citations, at the beginning of class, Tuesday, February 21.