Fusion Specialties, Inc. Announces First Mannequin Design Competition

Fusion Specialties, Inc. is pleased to announce the Mannequin Design Competition for students.  Design students are invited to participate in a contest exploring the world of mannequin design through the eyes of a singular brand.  Winning designs will be showcased at 2013 GlobalShop in Chicago and in DDI magazine among other venues.  The grand prizewinner will see his or her designs sculpted and manufactured in full size; the winning collection will be displayed in the Fusion booth at GlobalShop 2013 and also highlighted at a jcpenney store in the New York City area. Cash awards will be provided to the top five designs. 

Background  
Mannequins present an opportunity to connect with the consumer on a deeply emotional level.  Mannequins should be aspirational while at the same time reflecting the brand's fit and look.  In this competition, students will be challenged to explore how to meld these criteria into a mannequin collection that is innovative, exciting and reflects the designated brand appropriately. 

Fusion Specialties, one of the world's largest designer and manufacturer of custom mannequins, has designed multiple collections for jcpenney, Nike, Gap, Guess, Disney, Chico's, and Armani A/X among others.  Their approach is to personify a retailer's brand identity through the design of custom mannequins and this particular design challenge will ask student participants to do the same.  Students will be designing for some of the most popular private label brands sold at jcpenney, and will be required to understand the history, demographic and target customer for that brand.  All of this must be reflected in the proposed design for the mannequins.

Participant Criteria:   
Participants must be actively enrolled in a collegiate level design program and must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Participants must submit their full name, school, major, anticipated graduation date, and email address.  Once this criteria has been verified, a full brief will be emailed to qualified participants. 

Timing:    
Students should submit initial interest and a request for detailed contest information to contest@fusionspecialties.com no later than November 2, 2012.  The creative brief will be sent to qualified participants by November 9, 2012. 

Final submissions are required by December 21, 2012 via PDF by email to creative@fusionspecialties.com. During the month of January 2013, a jury panel will choose the top five entries with representatives from Fusion Specialties and DDI Magazine.  The top five entrants will be notified in February 2013, however, the specifics of the winning entries will not be announced until GlobalShop in April 2013.  Prizes will be awarded at that time.

Prizes: 

• $2500 in cash to be awarded to the Grand Prize winner along with publication in DDI magazine, actual development and production by Fusion of the winning mannequin design, showcase at 2013 GlobalShop, feature on the Fusion website, and more.
• $1000 in cash to be awarded to 2nd place winner along with designs showcased in DDI magazine, at 2013 GlobalShop, and on the Fusion website.
• $500 in cash to be awarded to the 3rd, 4th and 5th place entries with designs showcased in DDI magazine, at 2013 GlobalShop, and on the Fusion website.

Judges:   
Richard Ledbetter, VP, Visual Merchandising, jcpenney. Richard is responsible for heading the unique execution of the merchandise experience in all jcpenney stores. He has led visual merchandising for many world class retailers including Chico's, Border's, Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, and Liz Claiborne.

Tom Stempfley, VP, Visual Display, jcpenney. Tom is responsible for ensuring the flawless execution of the in-store jcpenney experience across the company's 1,100 stores.  He has directed visual presentations for many world-class retailers includingVictoria's Secret, Club Monaco, Abercrombie & Fitch and Soma Intimates.

Stacie White, Creative Director, Fusion Specialties, Inc.  A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Stacie has been with Fusion for 14 years.  She directs the design of all mannequins and forms.  She works with a team of fine art sculptors, master artists and tooling specialists to bring a client's vision to fruition.  Clients include Nike, Gap, Inc., Chico's, jcpenney, Ann Taylor, Armani A/X and Guess.

Ellen Johnson, VP, Business Development, Fusion Specialties, Inc.  Ellen has been with Fusion for 4 years and in the visual merchandising industry for more than 15 years.  She is passionate about developing and working with Fusion's many clients, old and new, to understand their needs and help to realize them. 

Alison Embrey Medina, Executive Editor, DDI Magazine. Alison Embrey Medina is the executive editor of DDI magazine, a trade publication serving the retail design industry. Through the pages of DDI, she covers and comments on retail store design, visual merchandising, architecture, marketing and branding, from luxury and specialty to discount and dollar stores.

About DDI Magazine   
DDI Magazine offers solutions to help retailers and designers create dynamic, effective store environments. The magazine focuses on store design, visual merchandising, architecture, and marketing and branding, with a readership of qualified high-level, in-house retail and contract design professionals.

About GlobalShop  
GlobalShop is the world's largest annual trade show and conference dedicated to store design, visual merchandising, and shopper marketing. It has been connecting retailers, brand marketers and industry suppliers each year since 1993. GlobalShop's conference program is led by top retail experts, who provide insight, advice and best practices on how to create sustainable brands that resonate with consumers. Learn more at www.globalshop.org.