2020-2021 Student Award Winners

Stella&Dot Style Forward Student Contest

Sponsor: Stella&Dot
Challenge: Create a jewelry collection that’s not only gorgeous and unique, but will ultimately help Stella&Dot in their purpose to help women rise!
Participants: Open to all FIT students.
Outcome: 1st place: Yeongran Hong (Fashion Design AAS); 2nd place: Brianna Jones (Fashion Business Management AAS); 3rd place: Abbey Aksoy (Advertising & Marketing Communications BS).
Contact: Fashion Business Management Professor Robin Baxter ([email protected]).
Articles: Stella & Dot Collaborate with Fit to Launch a Student Designed Limited Edition Capsule Collection, STELLA & DOT COLLABORATE WITH FIT TO LAUNCH A STUDENT DESIGNED LIMITED EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION, Alum’s Ruffle-Shaped Jewelry Wins Stella & Dot Contest, New Stella & Dot x FIT Collaboration Turns Into A Sold-Out Sensation

2021 Macy's Flower Show

Sponsor: Macy's
Challenge: FIT students from Fashion Design Program were challenged to design a garment that embodies the spirit of this year’s Macy's Flower Show, A Floral Celebration of Fortitude inspired by hope, optimism, growth, color and flight.
Participants: Open to all 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th semester Fashion Design Students.
Outcome: Grand Prize Winner: Jonona Mukhtarova (Fashion Design AAS); Podium Winners: Bryan Barriento (Fashion Design BFA),Yawen Chen (Fashion Design BFA), Fatima Eroglu (Fashion Design BFA), Juan Kwon (Fashion Design AAS), Eunjung Lee (Fashion Design BFA), Vicky Zhang (Fashion Design BFA).
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Michael Kaye ([email protected]).
Articles: Macy's Flower Show 2021 – A Floral Celebration of Fortitude, Macy’s partners with the Fashion Institute of Technology students for flower show, FIT’s Fashion Design Competition at the Macy’s Flower Show 2021

FM 422 (Merchandise Strategies Capstone Project)

Sponsor: French Connection
Challenge: Create an innovative merchandise strategy for FCUK.
Participants: Open to FIT students enrolled in the spring 2021 FM 422 (Merchandise Strategies Capstone Project Course).
Outcome: 1st place team: Oliva Gonzalez (Fashion Business Management BS), Emily Lam (Fashion Business Management BS), Hannah Lu (Fashion Business Management BS), Avani Surana (Fashion Business Management BS); 2nd place team: Nicole Amalfitano (Fashion Business Management BS), Tatum Bailey (Fashion Business Management BS), Rose Llewellyn (Fashion Business Management BS), Molly Recker (Fashion Business Management BS); 3rd place team: Abbey Aksoy (Fashion Business Management BS), Aleksandr Bocchino (Fashion Business Management BS), Elle Coffman (Fashion Business Management BS), Brianna Hinds (Fashion Business Management BS), Alexa Peters (Fashion Business Management BS).
Contact: Fashion Business Management Professor Catherine Geib ([email protected]).

The Underfashion Club Student Contest

Sponsor: The Underfashion Club
Challenge: Create one original design/garment utilizing this year's theme is “Creative Comfort – The Reality of Today; the Dream of Tomorrow.
Participants: Open to FIT's seventh semester intimate apparel concentration Fashion Design students.
Outcome: 1st place: Lauren Starobin (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Intimate Apparel); 2nd place: Megan Irmscher (Fashion Design BFA, Film & Media Studies Minor, Concentration: Intimate Apparel); 3rd place: Zhiling Chen (Fashion Design BFA, International Trade & Marketing Minor, Concentration: Intimate Apparel); Participants prizes: Melanie Cannizzo (Fashion Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Concentration: Intimate Apparel); Catherine Elias (Fashion Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Concentration: Intimate Apparel) and Brooke Ullman (Fashion Design BFA, Concentration: Intimate Apparel).
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Michael Kaye ([email protected]).
Articles: 2021 Student Design Contest Winners, 2021 STUDENT DESIGN CONTEST

MF531A (A Fashion in Trans-form-lation: Special Topics)

Sponsor: CFDA
Challenge: This year students taking the class will participate in CFDA Geoffrey Beene Design Masters Scholar Award (The Geoffrey Beene Design Masters Scholar Award is a $25,000 Scholarship Award for Graduate students pursuing an MFA/ MA in fashion design. In honor of the legacy of American design iconoclast, Geoffrey Beene, the scholarship invites students to challenge conventional codes of dressing the body by exploring 360 shape + form, materiality, and innovation. Established in 2007, the scholarship is generously underwritten by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s $2.5 million donation) which is being offered as part of the class curriculum.
Participants: All students enrolled in MF531A (A Fashion in Trans-form-lation : Special Topics) course.
Outcome: 2021 CFDA Covid Relief $25,000 Scholar Award - Stephanie Kim (Fashion Design M.F.A.). FIT Finalist: Diala Dabbous (Fashion Design M.F.A.).
Contact: MFA Fashion Design Professor Bach Mai ([email protected]).
Articles: MEET THE 2021 CFDASCHOLAR AWARD RECIPIENTS, CFDA names 2021 scholarship recipients, CFDA Celebrates 25th Year of Scholarship Program, cfda announces the 2021 cfda scholar award recipients, Must Read: The 2021 CFDA Scholar Award Winners, Checking in on the State of Black Representation in Magazines

AD 497 (Advertising Student Competition Course)

Sponsors: The One Club for Creativity
Challenge: The Young Ones Brief competition tasked students with creating work for different types of clients.
Participants: Open to national and international college students who are enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate college program, or other program approved by The One Club's Education Department
Outcome: Gold Pencil Award (GRAND THEFT AUDIO / Client Brief: Spotify / Digital / Online) - Margaret Panoti (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Yuliya Kosheeva (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Ethan Sims (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Dan Terpuni (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); ADC Silver Cube Award (GRAND THEFT AUDIO / Client Brief: Spotify / Integrated / Digital Campaign) - Margaret Panoti (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Yuliya Kosheeva (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Ethan Sims (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Dan Terpuni (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); Silver Pencil Award (Spotify Spots / Client Brief: Spotify / Experiential) - Michelle Kim (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Victoria Orlovskaya (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); ADC Merit Award (BBC MULTI-SENSORY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT / Client Brief: BBC / Interactive / Craft in Online / Mobile: Use of Technology) - Sierra Blanc (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Hasibul Islam (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Margaret Panoti (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); ADC Merit Award (BAREMINERALS: UI DESIGN SYSTEM / Client Brief: bareMinerals / Interactive / Craft in Online / Mobile: Art Direction) - Gianelle Leger (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); Bronze Pencil Award (THE DAILY RIDE / Client Brief: Spotify / Experiential) - Victoria Orlovskaya FIT/ Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Jameson Thornock (VCU) & Kofi Roberts (BYU); Merit Award (THE DAILY DRIVE IN OFFICE / Client Brief: Spotify / Experiential) - Tateana Khokhar (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), James Merendino (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); Merit Award (AICE / Client Brief: WhatsApp / Mobile) - Yuleissi Checo Cruz (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Shenell Mcfarlane (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Sandy Seepersaud (Advertising & Digital Design BFA).
Contact: Communication Design Pathways Professor Chin Juz (CJ) Yeh ([email protected]) or Communication Design Pathways Professor Joseph (Joe) Staluppi ([email protected]).
Articles: FIT / New York (34 Points / 8 Winning Entries)

D&AD New Blood Awards 2021

Sponsor: Design & Art Direction-Global Association for Creative Advertising & Design Awards
Challenge: Over 16 different challenges and briefs from industry and world renown corporations.
Participants: Open worldwide to all full time students or recent graduates.
Outcome: D&AD New Blood Wood Pencil Winner – The Leaditerranean Sea - Daniel Persaud (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Hasibul Islam (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Matthew Lafergola (Advertising & Digital Design BFA); D&AD New Blood Wood Pencil Winner – Votify - Emily Xia (Advertising & Digital Design BFA, Creative Technology Minor), Hasibul Islam (Advertising & Digital Design BFA), Victoria Jeon (Advertising & Digital Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Creative Technology Minor).
Contact: Communication Design Pathways Professor Joseph (Joe) Staluppi ([email protected]).

2021 CFDA FASHION AWARDS

PPA 2021 Student Design Challenge

Sponsor: Paperboard Packaging Alliance
Challenge: Choose a community relief organization and design packaging to meet a need for that organization.
Participants: Open to current students of design schools worldwide.
Outcome: 1st place winning team: Super Kit - Ankita Ghosh (Packaging Design BFA), Claudia Natasha (Packaging Design BFA), Jessica Vergel (Packaging Design BFA); Honorable Mention: PERIOD All-In-One Dispenser Box - Alana Abesamis (Packaging Design BFA), Alyssa Randone (Packaging Design BFA), Melissa Portillo (Packaging Design BFA); Shout Out: Doctors Without Borders Obstetrics Kit - Courtney Hannel (Packaging Design BFA), Lily Janker (Packaging Design BFA), Tiffany He (Packaging Design BFA).
Contact: Packaging Design Professor Sandra Krasovec ([email protected]) or Packaging Design Professor Adam Straus ([email protected]).
Articles: 2021 STUDENT DESIGN CHALLENGE WINNERS, Paperboard Packaging Alliance Releases 2021 Student Design Challenge Finalists Promoting Community Relief Organizations

MimakiUSA Student Contest for MF522 (Fashion Creation II: Elective Connect)

Sponsor: MimakiUSA
Challenge: This year students taking the class participated in MimakiUSA Student Contest where MimakiUSA sponsored all the first year MFA students for MF522 (Fashion Creation II: Elective Connect) class. Mimaki provided printing services and material to each student to create one garment. One student was selected to win sponsorship for printing of their senior thesis collection for term Fall 2021-Spring 2022. Students have gained real-world experience in how to put an original print design into work with a digital printing service and then realize an actual garment utilizing the print.
Participants: All students enrolled in MF522 (Fashion Creation II: Elective Connect) course.
Outcome: 1st place winner: He Sang (Fashion Design M.F.A.).
Contact: MFA Fashion Design Professor Kathlin Argiro ([email protected]).

The National Museum of World Cultures Project for ED 523 (Exhibition Design for the Museum Setting)

Sponsor: The National Museum of World Cultures
Challenge: This educational project is a joint collaboration between Exhibition and Experience Design MA Department and The National Museum of World Cultures. The student objective of this project was to undertake the subject of utilizing content and collections as determined by the museum so as to understand how exhibits are developed and physically interpreted within a museum exhibition environment. Students were responsible for adhering to all rules and requirements of a museum venue, developed by the faculty instructor in collaboration with the The National Museum of World Cultures.
Participants: All students enrolled in ED 523 (Exhibition Design for the Museum Setting).
Outcome: All projects were graded by the instructor as part of the class.
Contact: Exhibition and Experience Design Professor Brenda Cowan ([email protected]).

Society for Experiential Graphic Design Project for ED 542 (Exhibition Design Graphics)

Sponsor: Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD)
Challenge: ED 542 explores graphic design communication system, including graphic identity and program development. Imagery and typographic solutions, with an emphasis on two- and three-dimensional design development, are covered. This class project was developed in collaboration with Society for Experiential Graphic Design. The objective of this partnership project with the SEGD was to introduce students to graphic wayfinding and placemaking design, circulation, audience, theory, materials, and how to produce professional level documentation through the proposal of concepts for placemaking/wayfinding and related components. The student's task was to design a pathway to the entry of the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia through Dilworth Park. This project was also intended to introduce the general public to what experiential graphic design is.
Participants: All students enrolled in ED 542 (Exhibition Design Graphics) course.
Outcome: All projects were graded by the instructor as part of the class and SEGD’s representatives selected the three strongest conceptual designs to be presented at the SEGD’s annual conference in Philadelphia.
Contact: Exhibition and Experience Design Associate Chairperson Christina Lyons ([email protected]).
Articles: And the Winners are ... SEGD and FIT collaborate on student design competition

FIT Constitution Day Postcard Competition

Sponsor: School of Liberal Arts
Challenge: Students were asked to design the front and back of a postcard (3X5 or 4X6 inches) that illustrates their beliefs about any part of the United States Constitution.
Participants: Open to all part-time and full-time FIT students.
Outcome: 1st place: Tyler Lazinski (Graphic Design BFA, LGBTQIA Studies Minor, Creative Technologies Minor); 2nd place: Dianne Bahram Zadeh Ebrahimi (Graphic Design BFA, History of Art Minor); 3rd place: Anna Mosiej (Advertising & Marketing Communications AAS).
Contact: Social Science's Professor of American History Daniel Levinson Wilk ([email protected]).

13th annual $10,000 Supima Design Competition

Sponsor: Supima
Challenge: Design a capsule collection of five women’s wear looks featuring the unique characteristics of Supima cotton.
Participants: 2020 graduating seniors from Academy of Art University, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Kent State University, Parsons School of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Outcome: FIT Finalist: Zhuo Ran (Jenny) Feng (Fashion Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Concentration: Sportswear) '20.
Contact: Fashion Design Apparel Professor Tom Scott ([email protected]).
Articles: The 13th edition of Supima’s Annual Design Competition, Supima Design Competition Winner Announced

Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2020 Costume Institute College Fashion Design Competition

Sponsor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Challenge: This year’s challenge focused on the Met exhibit, About Time: Fashion and Duration, which “explores how clothes generate temporal associations that conflate the past, present, and future,” according to the exhibition description. Students were asked to “create one design expressive of fashion as an acutely accurate and especially sensitive timepiece” and “generate temporal associations that conflate the past, present, and future in one ensemble.”
Participants: Open to current students of design schools worldwide.
Outcome: 1st place winner: Maryam Almasi (Fashion Design BFA). Runners-up: Aurora Wilkinson (Fashion Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Concentration: Knitwear) and Parker Spear (Fashion Design BFA, History of Art Minor, Concentration: Sportswear).
Articles: FIT Takes Five Spots in Met Museum Competition