2017-2018 Student Award Winners

NFLxFIT Visual System Design Contest

Sponsor: NFL
Challenge: Reimagine the 32 NFL team identities, including artwork and graphics inspired by the teams’ logos and fan cultures. The new graphic elements and branding treatments will be used on NFL merchandise this coming season.
Participants: 25 FIT students from 11 different programs minoring in Creative Technology.
Outcome: 1st Place: Team Quicksnap - Wing-Sze Ho (Graphic Design BFA), Eun Su Yoo (Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design BFA, Arpi Dayian (Interior Design AAS), Iwona Usakiewicz (Advertising Design BFA, Creative Technology Minor). 
Contact: Communication Design Pathways  Professor Chin Juz (CJ) Yeh ([email protected]) or Communication Design Pathways Professor Christie Shin ([email protected]).
Article: Flashback: Team Quicksnap Wins NFLxFIT Contest, NFLxFIT Visual System Design Contest, FIT Reveals Winners of NFL x FIT Visual Design Contest, The NFL Just Drafted FIT Student's Designs For Its Merchandise, NFL Unveils New Merchandise With Graphics Designed by FIT Students, NFL AND FIT NAME WINNER OF BRANDING CONTEST, NFL x FIT - CT&D Time-based Design Scholarship Award WinnersNFL x FIT Announce ‘Team Quicksnap’ as the Winner of Their Merchandising Design Contest, NFL merchandise receives a new look thanks to collaboration with FIT, The NFL Shop is Going Fashion Forward With Students Leading the Way, Fashion Students Design New NFL Merch, Sterling Shepard Hosts NFL X FIT Design Contest

INFOR Student Contest (April 2017 – September 2017)

Sponsor: INFOR
Challenge: The contest consisted of two parts. For the fashion design part, the students had to design a garment to be worn by a fashion industry influencer Olivia Perez at Harper’s Bazaar’s ICONS event (the “ICONS event”) at New York Fashion Week in September 2017 and for the business planning part, students had to develop a business marketing plans to bring the winning design to market.
Participants: The INFOR student contest involved both the School of Art and Design and the Baker School of Business and Technology and was mounted jointly by the Fashion Design and International Trade and Marketing Departments.
Outcome: 1st Place: Brandon Johnson ’18, Fashion Design; 1st Place Team: Kathleen Frey ’18, International Trade and Marketing for Fashion Industries; and Sonne Bajwa ’18, International Trade and Marketing for Fashion Industries
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Patrick Boylan ([email protected]) and International Trade and Marketing Department Chairperson Christine Pomeranz ([email protected]).
Article: ICONS Award Winners Attend Harper’s Bazaar Event

Scott Kay Jewelry Design Student Contest

Sponsor: Scott Kay/Frederick Goldman Inc.
Challenge: Design a bridal jewelry set including a ring, bracelet, necklace and earrings inspired by Scott Kay’s design theme.
Participants: Open to students who are second year Jewelry Design Majors at FIT.
Outcome:  1st place: JungSoo Lee ’18; 1st runners up: Jaclyn Bedell ’18 and Anni Juergenson ’18;  2nd runners up: Tiffany Doan ’18 and Kathleen Mon ’18. Finalists: Tomomi Saito (Jewelry Design AAS), Deborah Aruta (Jewelry Design AAS), Hyelin Lee (Jewelry Design AAS), Nara Lee (Jewelry Design AAS), Rachel Dan (Jewelry Design AAS).
Contact: Jewelry Design Professor Alison Nagasue ([email protected]).
Article: Scott Kay And FIT Announce Jewelry Design Contest Winner  

Kia/Ad Age $10,000 Driving Creativity Contest

Sponsor:  Kia Motors America and Ad Age Studio 30 
Challenge:  Create an ad for the Kia Stinger that captures its challenger spirit and youthful drive.
Participants: Open to U.S. residents, 18+, who are enrolled in a full time or part time undergraduate or graduate educational program at an accredited college, university, or academic institution.
Outcome:  Winner - Courtney Bott, Advertising Design '19.
Contact: Advertising and Digital Design Professor Thomas McManus ([email protected]).
Articles:  Courtney Bott of FIT designed the top vote-getter in the Kia/Ad Age contestBayville Woman's Creativity Wins $10K In Kia Ad Contest

Eco Sustainable Award – Fashion Film Festival Chicago (2017)

Sponsor:  Fashion Film Festival Chicago
Challenge: Submissions must be no more than 15 minutes in length and may be serious or humorous, but must be thoughtful, creative and original as well as give the Entrant's interpretation of some aspect of the fashion industry while not disparaging the fashion industry.
Participants: This competition is open to any film maker who has reached the age of majority.
Outcome:  Eco Sustainable Award Winning Team - Max Hechtman, Film and Media; Hugh Copeland, Film and Media; Sarah Langenbach, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, Shona Neary, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Shoshana Rabinowitz, Film and Media.
Contact: Film and Media Professor Michelle Handelman ([email protected]).
Articles:  FIT Hives: Sustainability – The Secret to Survival [article by Max B. Hechtman], The Secret to Survival,  FIT Hives Documentary Gets National Attention

11th 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: 2018 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:  Winner - Lili Shi, Fashion Design & Fine Arts '18.
Contact: Lili Shi '18, Fashion Design & Fine Arts ([email protected]).
Articles:  Lili Shi 2018 WinnerFIT’s Lili Shi Wins Supima Design CompetitionSupima Names Finalists for Annual Design Competition

Angelo Donghia Foundation $30,000 Senior Student Scholarship Award

Sponsor:  Angelo Donghia Foundation
Challenge:  Portfolio submission.
Participants: Students who are entering their senior year in a Baccalaureate Degree Program in Interior Design
Outcome:  Winner - Ahene Shin '19, Interior Design.
Contact: Ahene Shin, Interior Design '19 ([email protected]).
Articles: Interior Design Student Wins Prestigious Donghia Scholarship

NEWH Interior Design $10,000 Scholarship

Sponsor: P/Kaufmann Contract
Challenge:
  Portfolio submission.
Participants: Actively enrolled students: 4-year sophomore/second year and above, or graduate level attending college at: Pratt Institute, Parsons, Pace University or Fashion Institute of Technology, 3.0 GPA (cumulative) overall “B” average or grade percentage of 83% – 86% equivalent, Interior design major with hospitality career focus.
Outcome:  Winner - Kim Kedem '21, Interior Design.
Contact: Kim Kedem, Interior Design '21 ([email protected]).
Article:  Portfolio Kim Kedem Interior Designer

BeBowled: Shoe Design Challenge

Sponsor:  Bowlero
Challenge:  Aspiring designers and bowling aficionados got a chance to re-design an American classic and innovate a new sports shoe for a modern era of bowling.
Participants: Open nationwide to everyone.
Outcome:  Winner - Sam Riley '19, Accessories Design.
Contact: Sam Riley '19, Accessories Design ([email protected]).
Articles:  BEBOWLED EVENT: SHOE DESIGN CHALLENGEBowling Shoe Gets 'Next Generation' Makeover From NYC StudentChristian Siriano on his body-positive spread in Oprah's September issueNYC Resident Wins National Contest to Redesign Bowling Shoes

2018 Annual National Arts Club Will Barnet Show

Sponsor: The National Arts Club
Challenge: A Committee of Illustration faculty nominated 2 BFA students to represent FIT at this year’s Will Barnet Student Show at the National Arts Club. The student work selected was based on quality of originality, painting proficiency and artistic merit. The Student Show prizes are highly recognized in the art world.
Participants: This dynamic exhibition showcases the work of undergraduate students from nine prestigious New York area schools.
Outcome: 2nd prize - Jessica Karpishin, Illustration; Finalist - Kreg Franco, Illustration.
Contact: Illustration Asst. Chair Kam Mak ([email protected]).

2018 MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America) Vision Awards

Sponsor: MJSA, MJSA Education Foundation and Rio Grande Foundation
Challenge: National Competition for jewelry designers and manufacturers, with a student category open to any student enrolled in an art, design, or jewelry-related program at a college, university, or proprietary technical school.
Participants: National Competition for jewelry designers and manufacturers, with a student category open to any student enrolled in an art, design, or jewelry-related program at a college, university, or proprietary technical school.
Outcome: 1st Place, Future of the industry award: Angely Martinez ’18, Jewelry Design.
Contact: Angely Martinez ’18, Jewelry Design ([email protected]).
Articles: MJSA Announces the Winners of the 2018 Vision Awards Design Competition

The 20th Annual Next Generation Awards 2018

Sponsor: The Accessories Council
Challenge: Students had the opportunity to have their work evaluated by key industry professionals. Judges from the fine and fashion jewelry industries selected four students’ submissions for awards.
Participants: The contest was open to graduating students from the Accessories and Jewelry Design programs
Outcome: 1st Place Fine Jewelry: Angely Martinez ’18, Jewelry Design; 2nd Place Fine Jewelry: Gabrielle Furmanov, Jewelry Design; 1st Place Fashion Jewelry: Tiffany Doan ’18, Jewelry Design; 2nd Place Fashion Jewelry: Anni Juergensen, Jewelry Design.
Contact: Jewelry Design Department Chair Kim Nelson ([email protected]).
Articles: 20th Annual Next Generation Awards

​​One Show Young Ones Awards 2018 - (AD 497 – Advertising Student Competition Course and AD 381 Creative Principles Course)

Sponsor: The One Club for Creativity
Challenge: Client, Social and Design for Good briefs from Sonnet Home & Auto Insurance, Opioid Awareness and Global Partners.
Participants: Open worldwide to all full time students or recent graduates.
Outcome: Gold Pencil Award (First Place) in Social Brief-Integrated Category (The Addict’s Diary – Lawrence Staebler ’18, Advertising Design; Loisse Ledres ’18, Advertising Design); Merit Award in Client Brief Print Category (You Can Do It - Janice Chen ‘18, Advertising Design; Patrick Obando ’18, Advertising Design; Maria Tsihlis ‘18, Advertising Design; Jacqueline Boody ’18, Advertising Design); Merit Award in Design for Good-Advertising-Single or Campaign Category (The Everyday Super Suit – Patrick Obando Polio ’18, Advertising Design).
Contact: Communication Design Pathways Department Professor Joseph (Joe) Staluppi ([email protected]).
Articles: New Blood Entry — The Invisible ProjectNew Blood Entry — 2 Lies 1 TruthD&AD Awards 2018 Winners

D&AD New Blood Awards 2018 - (AD 497 – Advertising Student Competition Course and AD 381 Creative Principles Course)

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 Yellow Pencil Winner (First Place)– Patrick Obando ’18, Advertising Design; and Janice Chen ’18, Advertising Design - 2 Lies 1 Truth Entry; D&AD  Graphite Pencil Winner(Third Place) – Laura Ehrhardt ’19, Advertising Design; and Nadia Lopresti ’19, Advertising Design - The Invisible Project Entry.
Contact: Communication Design Pathways Department Professor Joseph (Joe) Staluppi ([email protected]).

The Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition 2018

Sponsor: The Society of Illustrators
Challenge: The 2018 Student Scholarship Competition features the works of over one hundred of today's top college level illustration students. A jury of professional peers including illustrators and art directors have chosen the most outstanding works created throughout the year. Pieces are accepted based on the quality of technique, concept and skill of medium used.
Participants: All illustration college students nationwide.
Outcome: The artwork of Illustration BFA student Anna Niklova was selected for inclusion in this prestigious exhibition at the Society of Illustrators.
Contact: Illustration Assistant Chair Kam Mak ([email protected])

2018 Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award

Sponsor: Geoffrey Beene Foundation and CFDA
Challenge: With reference to the methods and ethos of Geoffrey Beene as a futurist and pioneer of form, use the body as a three-dimensional canvas to build an exploratory collection of 8 or more refined concepts. Ideas may range from the experiential to improvisational and journey through all phases of development. Show the design progression of each concept through intensive investigation of ideas, processes, techniques, and materials. These range from drape, cut, fold, and experimental pattern, cutting to textile manipulation, and digital fabrication such as 3D printing or computational design methods. Display numerous views and ideations of each explored concept i.e. 360 (back, front, left, right sides etc.).
Participants: Full-time, Graduate (MA/MFA) fashion student of an American college/university with a minimum of 1 semester left until graduation.
Outcome: 1st Place: Kritika Manchanda, MFA Fashion Design; Finalist: Elizabeth Fisher, MFA Fashion Design.
Contact: Accessories Design Chairperson Sarah Mullins ([email protected]).
Articles: Meet the 2018 CFDA Scholarship Winners!

2018 CFDA Scholarship Award

Sponsor: The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc.
Challenge: Develop a fashion collection that conveys your unique design identity, vision, and professional potential with consideration to: Who are you as a designer? What do you do best? How do you do it differently? Quality is key - from research, concept, the depth in which you explore inspiration, materials, testing, design refinement, development, editing and presentation. Be sure what you are creating has focus and reads as a young designer’s calling card. Be acutely aware of what is relevant in terms of fashion’s legacy and emerging futures.
Participants: Full-time, year-three undergraduate fashion student of an American college or university.
Outcome: Finalist: Saumya Sharma ’18, Accessories Design.
Contact: Accessories Design Chairperson Sarah Mullins ([email protected]).
Article:  The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominees & Honorees Are In!

2018 PAVE Design Challenge

Sponsor: The Planning and Visual Education Partnership
Challenge: Students were tasked with designing a consumer touch point using the model of an F1 car to demonstrate electronic sensory components. The car should invite and provoke consumer interaction using the sound of a revving engine, the scent of burning rubber, blinking brake lights, wobbling steering wheel and multiple LCD media screens
Participants: Open to all full time students matriculated in the United States.
Outcome: 1st Place: Jesse Lee ’19, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Ariel Leder ‘19, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design.
Contact: Communications Design Pathways Professor Anne Kong ([email protected]).
Article:  Globalshop Design Project 2018 [Article on paveglobal.org unavailable]

FIT X Designow Senior Collection Challenge Class of 2018 (January 2018 – May 2018)

Sponsor: Designow
Challenge: Students were tasked with producing unique, creative and cutting-edge designs for their Senior Thesis classes, then posting their designs on Designow.com to be judged 50/50 by a panel of experts and on-line votes.
Participants: BFA specializations for Senior Thesis classes in Knitwear, Sportswear, Intimates, Childrenswear and Special Occasion.
Outcome: 1st place - Jeeeun Lee, Fashion Design; 2nd place - Shakeema Reid, Fashion Design; 3rd place - Khelsea Al-Arefi, Fashion Design.
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Gerard Delova ([email protected]).
Article: FIT Senior Design Challenge

2018 ASID ELF (American Society of Interior Designers New York Chapter Education Legacy Fund)

Sponsor: American Society of Interior Designers New York Chapter
Participants: Students, pursing a course of study in the field of interior design, from the 5 Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) recognized programs in the New York Metropolitan area since 1998.
Outcome: $250 - Daria Zvegintseva ’21, Interior Design; $500 - Jessie Goldstein ’20, Interior Design; 1,000 - Natalie Suss, ’19, Interior Design.
Contact: Interior Design Chairperson Carmita Sanchez-Fong ([email protected]).
Article:  Education Legacy Fund

2018 Wacom Illustration BFA Graduating Student Exhibition Awards

Sponsor: Wacom
Challenge: As a means of supporting the graduating students and the program, over recent years Wacom Corporation has been providing cutting edge technology to the award winners of the Illustration Graduating Student Exhibition. The exhibition is juried by Illustration BFA faculty members based on quality of originality, technical proficiency, artistic merit and visual impact.
Participants: Fashion Institute of Technology BFA Illustration graduating class.
Outcome: 1st Place - Albert Collado ’18, Illustration; 2nd Place - Miranda Montiel ’18, Illustration; 3rd Place - Kreg Franco ’18, Illustration; Honorable Mention Awards - Jaqueline Carvalo ’18, Illustration; Sandra Krakowiak ’18, Illustration; Anna Niklova ’18, Illustration; Best Illustrated Book Award - Miranda Montiel ’18, Illustration; Best Animation Award - Sammi Chan ’18, Illustration.
Contact: Illustration Professor Dan Shefelman ([email protected])

2018 Spec Simple Hand Drawing Competition

Sponsor: Save A Sample!
Participants: Open to students enrolled in accredited U.S. Higher Education Institutions
Outcome: 1st Place National Winner - Erin Utzig ’20, Interior Design
Contact: Interior Design Chairperson Carmita Sanchez-Fong ([email protected])

IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council) 2017-2018 Student Design Competition

Sponsor: Interior Design Educators Council
Challenge: IDEC was seeking entries for the 2017-2018 Student Design Competition that provides for the empowerment of users to grow intellectually, spiritually, mentally, or metaphysically. Purposefully broad and open ended, the project program asks entrants to define the specific use of the design and to develop an atmospheric intervention. The purpose can be a religious practice (traditional or emerging), a secular space of reflection or mindfulness, and/or places for public commemoration.
Participants: Students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate interior design programs that have at least one faculty that is a member of IDEC.
Outcome: 1st Place Beginning Undergraduate – Sasha Weleber ’20, Interior Design; North-East Region Finalists - Emily LaSita ’20, Interior Design; Anna Filippova ’19, Interior Design.
Contact: Interior Design Chairperson Carmita Sanchez-Fong ([email protected]).
Article: 2018 Student Design Competition Winners

DCEF Residential Design Competition 2018

Sponsor: Decorator’s Club
Challenge: Participants were asked to examine the existing conditions of the apartment, to modify the floor plan if desired, and to create an interior design scheme that responds to the particular site conditions; the dramatic architectural setting; the required functions of the apartment for living, entertaining, and working; and the individual tastes of the clients.
Participants: Open to all New York City area design schools students enrolled in full- or part-time Bachelors of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degree programs during the spring academic semester of 2018.
Outcome: 1st Place – Myra Cohen ’19, Interior Design.
Contact: Interior Design Chairperson Carmita Sanchez-Fong ([email protected]).
Article: Meet the Decorators Club scholarship recipients

2018 George T. Dorsch Scholarship Award

Sponsor: FIT’s History of Art Department
Challenge: Application, Essay, Budget and Recommendation Submission.
Participants: Open to all FIT students who have earned the grade of "A" in at least four History of Art courses taken at FIT.
Outcome: 1st Place: Darnell Lisby ’18, MA Fashion and Textile Studies.
Finalists: Shona Neary ‘18, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Robert Spring ’18, Photography; Nylejah Green ’18, Fashion Design; Lakshmi Bisram ‘19, Production Management; Michelle Porrazzo ‘18, Fashion Design.
Contact: History of Art Professor Amy Werbel ([email protected]).
Article: George T. Dorsch Awards

EDPAF Scholarship 

Sponsor: Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) Foundation
Challenge: Application and Essay Contest.
Participants: Open to industry members and any immediate family member of an individual working anywhere in the exhibition industry, who has graduated or will graduate high school and has accepted attendance at a post-high school educational institute.
Outcome: Winner – Tereza Kervin, ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design.
Contact: FIT Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design Chairperson Christina Lyons ([email protected]).
Article:  EDPA Foundation — Home - EDPA A Legacy of Giving

IFES International World Summit 2018

Sponsor: International Federation of Exhibition and Event Service
Challenge: Portfolio Submission
Participants: IFES Members
Outcome: Winners – Alexandria Rupert ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design; and Nina Van Syrum ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design.
Contact: FIT Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design Chairperson Christina Lyons ([email protected])

Sign Research Foundation Scholarship

Sponsor: Sign Research Foundation
Challenge: Application and Essay Contest.
Participants: The scholarship is open to urban planners, landscape architects, code officials, community developers, graduate students, and any other practitioners who have interest or responsibility in writing, regulating, interpreting, or enforcing sign ordinances.
Outcome: Winners – Alexandria Rupert, ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design and Tereza Kervin ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design.
Contact: FIT Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design Chairperson Christina Lyons ([email protected])

2018 Michael Grivas Sr. Exhibit Design Excellence Scholarship 

Sponsor: Michael Grivas Sr. Foundation
Challenge: This is an annual scholarship awarded to two exemplary students seeking a degree in an exhibit design-related field. To be considered, applicants must: demonstrate traits of leadership, excellence and creativity; and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2.
Participants: All students who are least a junior currently attending an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution seeking a Bachelor’s degree in an exhibit design-related field or a graduate student in a Master’s degree program in an exhibit-design related field.
Outcome: Winner - Alexandria Rupert ’18, Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design.
Contact: FIT Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design Chairperson Christina Lyons ([email protected]).
Article: mg Announces 2018 Design Excellence Scholarship Recipients

Joe’s Blackbook Scholarship 2018 (January 2018 – May 2018)

Sponsor: Joe’s Blackbook
Challenge: Design an original menswear or womenswear collection for Fall/Winter 2018 that best reflects your design aesthetic.
Participants: Open to all Fashion Design students.
Outcome: 1st Place: Junhyung Seo, AAS Menswear; Women’s Wear Finalist: Juhee Ryu, Fashion Design.
Contact: Fashion Design Professor Gerard Delova ([email protected]).
Article: In Pictures: Joe’s Blackbook Scholarship Awards Event In Pictures: Joe’s Blackbook Scholarship Awards Event

Benjamin Moore Window Display Student Contest (January 2018 – April 2018)

Sponsor: Benjamin Moore & Co.
Challenge: Students were tasked with developing a window design brief and presentation utilizing using mood boards, sketches, and swatches incorporating BM&C’s 2018 color (Caliente AF-290) of the year.
Participants: Students enrolled in Mannequin Presentation for Retail and Exhibitions Course (VP 314).
Outcome: 1st Place Team (Wooden Artist Figures - Morgan Purtell, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Hannah Lo, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Caitlyn Ziemniak, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; 2nd Place Team (No Matter Where You Are - Christopher Torres, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Monica Guerrero, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Nathan Davis, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; 3rd Place Team (Culturally Inspired Design - Kiera Cullinan, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Monica Guerra, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design; Bonnie Huertas, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design.
Contact: Communications Design Pathways Professors Anne Kong ([email protected]) and Glenn Sokoli ([email protected]).

SDC International Design Competition (June 2017 – November 2018)

Sponsor: Society of Dyers and Colourists
Challenge: Students were tasked with submitting finished roughs, design sheets, illustrations, working drawings, mood boards, photographs, fabric indicators, material swatches, with at least one board outlining the color theme with the colour palette clearly indicated. Each submission had to be titled and supported by a typewritten statement in English explaining the background and inspiration for the work.
Participants: Open to fashion and textile design undergraduates in: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA and the United Kingdom.
Outcome: 1st Place (US): Michael Vargas ’20, Textile Development and Marketing.
Contact: Textile Development and Marketing Professor Sean Cormier ([email protected]).

MetroCAF 2017 (Metropolitan Computer Animation Festival)

Sponsor: MetroCAF is the annual NYC Metropolitan Area College Computer Animation Festival organized by the New York City chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH.
Challenge: All types of computer-generated imagery - not just character animations. Visual effects, animatics, motion graphics, research work, visualizations - we want to see whatever you have. Don't think what you have is "good enough"? Let us make that decision. As long as it's moving images, submit it!
Participants: Open to all students who attend college in the NYC metropolitan area, and who have produced any type of computer generated imagery (animation, visualization, visual effects, research work, etc.) within the course of their studies - in other words, you haven't been paid for it.
Outcome: 3rd Place Award Winner: Niso Tamoulis, Computer Animation and Interactive Media.
Contact: Computer Graphics Director Terry Blum ([email protected]).
Articles: NYC ACM SIGGRAPH's MetroCAF 2017

IBM Reimagining Retail Project 2017

Sponsor: FIT/INFOR Design+Tech Lab, IBM, Tommy Hilfiger
Challenge: FIT/Infor Design+Tech Lab sponsored teams of faculty and students from FIT’s School of Art and Design and School of Business and Technology to work with researchers and marketing leaders from IBM’s Watson team. We collaborated to explore, on behalf of iconic lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger, how they might use AI to improve decision making and enhance experiences across the entire fashion value chain.
Participants: Lucy Chen ’18, Fashion Design; Stefka De Ruiter ’18, Fashion Design; Amy Taehwa Eun ’19, Fashion Design; Luis Hernandez ’18, Fashion Design; Grace McCarty ’18, Fashion Design; Nate Sjoholm ’18, International Trade and Marketing; Jamie Tyrrell ’18, International Trade and Marketing.
Outcome: As a result of the high caliber work demonstrated by the FIT team, the project was showcased in the IBM booth at NRF, January 2018. Fashion Design student Grace McCarty’s ’18, tech jacket was recognized as the Top Design of the project, displayed at NRF and is currently under consideration for production. Fashion Design student Amy Taehwa Eun’s ’19, SolarActive dress was also displayed at NRF.
Contact: FIT/INFOR Design+Tech Lab Executive Director Michael Ferraro ([email protected]).
Articles: FIT, IBM and Tommy Hilfiger Get into AI for Fashion DesignStudent Designers Unleash Creativity with AI

Scott Kay Jewelry Design Student Contest (September 2017 – February 2018)

Sponsor: Scott Kay/Frederick Goldman Inc. 
Challenge: Jewelry design students were tasked with designing men’s fashion jewelry (a pendant, bracelet, ring and cufflinks).
Participants: The contest was open to all students with Jewelry Design Major from the School of Art & Design
Outcome: 1st Place:  JungSoo Lee ’18, Jewelry Design; 1st Runners Up:  Jaclyn Bedell ’18, Jewelry Design; and Anni Juergenson ’18, Jewelry Design; 2nd Runners Up:  Tiffany Doan ’18, Jewelry Design; and Kathleen Mon ’18, Jewelry Design.
Contact: Jewelry Design Professor Alison Nagasue ([email protected]).
Article: Scott Kay And FIT Announce Jewelry Design Contest Winner 

Re-Imagine Goodwill Student Contest (September 2017 – December 2017)

Sponsor: Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey
Challenge: Students were tasked with conceiving, designing, and presenting the best e-commerce options for a virtual Goodwill store.
Participants: Re-Imagine Goodwill contest was open to all the students in the Baker School of Business and Technology.
Outcome: 1st Place team:  Brianna Destratis ’18, Fashion Business Management; Alexis Helbert ’18, Fashion Business Management; Alin Intravisit ’18, Fashion Business Management; Lara Voronkov ’18, Fashion Business Management;
Runners Up: Megan Good ’18, Fashion Business Management; Caitlyn Kennedy ’18, Advertising & Marketing Communications; Corinna Sanni ’18, Fashion Business Management; Gabriella Stevens ’18, Fashion Business Management.
Contact: Fashion Merchandising Management Professor Madhumeeta (Meeta) Roy ([email protected]).
Article: FIT Student Team Wins $10,000 1st Prize in 'Re-Imagine Goodwill' Contest

Cricut Student Contest (September 2017 – December 2017)

Sponsor: Cricut Maker
Challenge: The students were tasked with designing collections that can be made using the Cricut Maker, a small portable machine that cuts designs on over 400 different types of material, including leather, silk, felt, etc…  
Participants: The Cricut Maker student contest involved both the School of Art and Design and the Baker School of Business and Technology and was mounted jointly by the Accessories Design and Home Products Development departments.
Outcome: 1st Place:  Saumya Sharma ’18, Accessories Design; 2nd Place:  Catherine Clock ’18, Home Product Development and Marketing; 3rd Place: Chloe Sooyeon Kang ’18, Accessories Design.
Contact: Accessories Design Chairperson Sarah Mullins ([email protected]) and Home Product Development Chairperson Shannon Maher ([email protected]).
Article: See How These Student Designers Made Magic with Cricut Maker  [Article no longer available]

Creative Matters Art Day Competition 2017 (September 2017 – October 2017)

Sponsor: Creative Matters
Challenge: The show participants were asked to submit cleaned art. Students had to use Photoshop to reduce color and clean up the work so it would be sensible to weave.
Participants: Open Competition (open to anyone).
Outcome: 1st place – Amanda Tonnelli ’18, Textile Surface Design BFA.
Contact: Textile Surface Design Professor Deborah Hernandez ([email protected]).
Article: Creative Matters Art Day

2017 23rd Annual Student Design Competition Sponsored by Chick-fil-A

Sponsor: The Planning and Visual Education Partnership
Challenge: The 2017 PAVE Design Challenge invited students to re-invent the experience of Chick-fil-A on a college campus. The goal was to develop concepts that expand the platforms and expressions in which Chick-fil-A serves a college campus while exploring new ways of creating an experience that is more than just a food transaction. Prizes included grants to students and schools, and the winning students may see their designs implemented.
Participants: Open to all full time students matriculated in the United States.
Outcome: 2nd Place winner: Laura Pariot, Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design.
Contact: Communications Design Pathways Professor Anne Kong ([email protected]).
Article: PAVE Announces Winners of the 23rd Annual Student Design Competition Sponsored by Chick-fil-A

The Green Bauhaus Communications Project 2017

Sponsor: The United Nations
Challenge: The goal of this international design project and competition is to raise global awareness about the dangers of extensive plastic pollution in our oceans. Students of numerous and diverse art programs worldwide were required to conceptualize and create impactful images pertaining to this developing global crisis.
Participants: For this international design project, FIT was designated as the sole US participant.
Outcome: In June 2017, the poster created by Illustration student Emi Anderson was chosen to represent the US and be displayed at the UN Ocean Climate Conference at UN. Headquarters. Images by Illustration students Julia Rios and Rachel Lim were also selected for an exhibition during the conference at the German Missions in the United States at the United Nations Plaza. This prestigious Green Bauhaus Communications Project features some 300 posters from 33 universities on five continents.
Contact: Illustration Professor Leslie Cober-Gentry ([email protected]