Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

What's New in the D&M Program

Special Projects for DSMR Students
Competitions

Nina Henderson/CoMAD and Baiada Center Business Plan Competitions
Emilio Pucci Award for Excellence in Design & Merchandising *D&M t-shirt competition
Fashion Group International's Educational Foundation "Business of Fashion" case study competition

Annual Distinguished Speaker Event
Guest Speakers
Trend Reporting Website
Design Philadelphia
The D&M T-shirt Project
Urban Outfitters Center for Design & Merchandising

Special Projects for DSMR Students

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Point of Purchase displays with Music Industry

For the second year, the Design & Merchandising and Music Industry programs join together to provide this interdisciplinary project. D&M students in Visual Merchandising 1 create Point of Purchase displays for Music Industry's bands. Students work in pairs to create a POP display promoting a cd release. The POPs are to be placed on counters at independent record stores. Each one has to hold a max of 5 cds and promote the image of the band.

Students initially meet as a group with the band. After the first meeting, students communicate their ideas directly to the band members through email. Half way through the project we stage a round robin group critique in a speed dating format-7 minutes for each meeting, each group of designers meets with each group of clients. Students incorporate this feedback into further iterations of their design and present the final presentation to the band, their manager and representatives from Music Industry.

The final design chosen for production is created by Cara Binder and Stacey Hudak who produced the POP through an independent study in the winter term. Using a digital printing process, the student's were able to deliver 100 units for under $1000.

Visual Merchandising I

In winter term, D&M students were paired with INTR students to work on a retail store planning process for a store competition. Teams worked togther to devise a theme, business strategy and retail store plan based on the competition criteria.

Emily Johnson Picture Perfect VM1 Store Design Interdisciplinary

Retail Display Windows

Community Project: Retail Store Window Design

Drexel University's Design & Merchandising Program has been dressing windows in Old City, South Street and Lancaster Avenue retail establishments for the past 8 years. Visual merchandising I students work in groups to complete a window display for an assigned client. The project includes several client meetings, development of a proposal including a sketch of the proposed window, lists of student and client responsibilities, management of a budget, and final window installation.

This opportunity provides the students with valuable field experience in the client communication, proposal development and project management and organization and offers a valuable community service as well. The program is successful on several levels as it translates visual merchandising theory into an immediate hands-on experience.

Participating business include:

La Pearl Beauty Salon

D&M Magazine Publication

May of 2006 celebrated the third publication of the annual D&M Magazine. This publication, the first of its kind within the college, was developed as a teaching tool for marketing and promotion, trending, and merchandising, and journalism skills. It is distributed at the Annual Student Fashion Show, which is also a D&M student production implemented to support and promote the work of Fashion Design majors.

Download the Magazine

CIMM Design Guides

Students work in a group all term to develop a small collection for a vertically merchandised retailer like J. Crew. The final portion of the projects includes marketing and store communications in the form of a Design Guide. Students create three ads for use in magazines and store signage. For each ad (3) show the ad, the advertised items on a mannequin, the items of a t-stand, 4-way and wall. This document is distributed to stores for display purposes to ensure a consistent brand image in every store location.

Isabella Design Directive

Competitions

Design & Merchandising students participate annually in competitions which draw upon different aspects of the curriculum. Most notable among them are the:

Nina Henderson/CoMAD and Baiada Center Business Plan Competitions

D&M students participate in two business plan competitions: the university-wide Baiada Center competition and the Nina Henderson/AWCoMAD competition. Both encourage students to work in teams to develop their ideas from the concept phase through a full business plan. Student teams receive extensive feedback from industry professionals and receive written critiques from a panel of industry judges. Winning teams are awarded cash prizes and certificates for each of the two distinct competitions: the Creative Concept (announced in March) and the complete Business Plan (presented in June.)

Four student teams, working under the direction of Instructor Beth Phillips, are winners in the 2008 Concept Phase competition:

Nina Henderson Business Competition I - Awards for Best Business Concept (awarded Winter 2008):

Rosebud - an undergarments boutique aimed uniquely at tweens to educate young girls about the importance of wearing the correct bra size, to encourage tweens to embrace their body type, and to make ill-fitting undergarments a thing of the past.

Location: Ardmore, PA
Student team: Christine Bugg, Emily Johnson, Jaime Hazley, Kerry Mahoney and Bridget Bramante

So Sweet - a children's spa and salon for ages 3-12 years featuring fun and age-appropriate services including chocolate facials, airbrush tattoos, and healthy nail and foot care.

Location: Ardmore, PA
Student team: Kiersten Belousofsky, Cara Binder, Lauren Burke

Terra - an organic and fair-trade denim jeans and T-shirt bar selling quality sustainable fashions to Philadelphia's increasingly environmentally-minded consumers.

Location: South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Student team: Phylicia Foreman, Dijana Nedelcovych, Danielle Felschow, Francisca Etchegaray

Nina Henderson Business Competition II - Awards for Best Completed Business Plans (awarded May 2008):

First Place: Terra

Student team: Phylicia Foreman, Dijana Nedelcovych, Francisca Etchegaray and Danielle Felschow

Second Place: Rosebud

Student team: Bridget Bramante, Christine Bugg, Jaime Hazley, Kerry Mahoney, Emily Johnson

Third Place: Rocker Kid Studio - a new concept music and video party and event location

Location: Wayne: PA
Student team: Joanne Fiorentino, Lisa DiMartino, Alexandra Malkin, Stacey Hudak

Winner in both the Baiada and Nina Henderson competitions:

Hopscotch - a children's wear retailer with products targeted to serve the special needs of families and their chronically ill children receiving long-term treatment at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania.

Location: University City, Philadelphia, PA
Student team: Victoria Hanks, Laura Matzel, Jessica Nichols, and Julia Guglielmo

Finalists in Baiada Business Incubator Phase Competition:

Hopscotch and Rosebud were invited to continue of to the Incubator phase. This is for students who are ready to start a business.

Emilio Pucci Award for Excellence in Design & Merchandising

Drexel Design and Merchandising students have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 prize to be used for study abroad. Students are invited to submit a paper examining the influence of a prominent Italian designer of the mid-20th century on later American ready-to-wear and home furnishing design. The key designers of the period include:

Pucci
Gucci
Missoni
Fendi
Locatelli

Phylicia Foreman was the recipient of the inaugural award in June 2007.

Fashion Group International's Educational Foundation "Business of Fashion" case study competition

In the area of merchandising and strategic planning, which teaches students to strategically plan a retail launch.

D&M Annual Distinguished Speaker Event

In April 2003, the Design & Merchandising program launched the Distinguished Speaker event. The event invites accomplished individuals in the areas of product development, retail management, special events, product promotion or merchandising media to present their experience and vision of the design and fashion industries to students, faculty, alumni, and the community at large. It is an excellent opportunity for experts to share their points of view, ideas, perspectives and accomplishments.

Since its inception D&M faculty and students have welcomed:

Dana Thomas (2008) - Fashion Journalist and Author of "Deluxe how Luxury lost its luster."
Glen Senk (2007) - President of Anthropologie, Inc. and Executive Vice President of Urban Outfitters, Inc.
Brini Maxwell (2006) - star of Style network's "Brini Maxwell Show" and principal of Brini Maxwell Enterprises
Bob Giampietro (2005) - Vice President for Strategic Alliances at Target Corporation
Gail Onorato (2004) - Vice President for New Product Initiatives at Liz Claiborne, Inc.
George Hall (2003) - Associated Merchandising Corporation/Target Buying Offices

D&M Guest Speakers

Whether studying in Iceland or London, traveling to New York or throughout the Philadelphia region, students have opportunities to meet and network with design and merchandising professionals during their time in the program. Recent speakers include:

Guest Speakers

Heather Iwanow, Senior Lecturer, Clothing Design & Technology, Manchester Metropolitan Univerisity (UK), "Fashion's Environmental Footprint."
Jessica Strubel, PhD. Ohio State University, "Fashion, Music and Identity."
Chris Maher, Manger Internet and E-Commerce development, L'Oreal USA
Suzanne Sullivan, Regional Store Manager, Victoria's Secret
Benjamin Lovell, Owner, Benjamin Lovell Shoes, Philadelphia and branches
Paula Correri, Fashion Editor, Tobe Reports
Craig DeLarge, Manager Integrated E-business Solutions, Glaxco Smith Kline
Lauren DeCarlo, Market Editor, Women's Wear Daily
Debbie Sokoloski, General Merchandise Manager, Intertex Apparel Group
Charlynn Walker, Manager, Kenneth Cole
Catherine Santos, Tiffany & Co.
Basia Szkutnicka, Trend Forecaster, London College of Fashion (United Kingdom)
Judy Deuchar, Director of Merchandising, QVC (United Kingdom)
Gina Deeble, Manager of Internet Content, QVC (United Kingdom)
Marguerite Stanton, Store Manager, Loehmann's Department Store
Kristie Weir, Visual Merchandise Coordinator, David's Bridal
Daniel Green, Manger Couture Collections, Neiman Marcus, King of Prussia
Suzanne Casabello, Creative Designs International
Andre Mitchell, Owner, Bias Fashions

Trend Reporting Website

In January of 2003 a D&M Trend Reporting Website was developed to prepare students as future professionals in the trend forecasting sector of the fashion and design industries.

Design Philadelphia

Student teams in the Design & Merchandising program of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design (CoMAD) at Drexel University partnered with the South Street Headhouse District (SSHHD) to develop new retail business concepts for the area. The South Street Business Improvement District's current reappraisal and reinvigoration of its retail environment provided a perfect opportunity to partner with the creative thinking and business vision of Drexel's Design & Merchandising majors. Teams developed concepts for viable and vibrant retail additions to the area's retail mix.

Decosphere

Decosphere is a boutique featuring a well-edited assortment of stylish decorative accessories and fine household items, all of which reflect a combination of Eastern and Western designs. Decosphere is perfectly positioned to meet the flourishing decorative needs and desires of the hot housing markets in Queen Village, Society Hill, South Street, and Old City.

Team: Mi-Jin Lim, Keni Ng, Andrea Santiago, Emily Webb

Bug Jar

Bug Jar is a children's apparel boutique inspired by an urban aesthetic. The retailer provides the city's youngest dwellers and their parents with fashion that distinguishes itself from the predictable choices found at the national chains.

In March 2006, Bug Jar was recognized as 1 of the top 3 business concepts in the Nina Henderson Business Plan Competition, sponsored annually by the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design.

Team: Danielle Acito, Rachel Harr, Ashley McDonald, Jane Valasek

Escape

Escape is dedicated to minimizing the stress experienced by today's busy individuals. Escape's spa products and personal relaxation products enable the user to create the spa experience at home. Its products are carefully selected to enhance the client's sense of well-being and delight.

Team: Alexis Ganop, Ashley Irons, Allie Jacobson, Carrie Young

The D&M T-shirt Project

A branding and publicity exercise created to further support the D&M Magazine and Annual Fashion Show.

Urban Outfitters Center for Design & Merchandising

In June of 2001 the Design & Merchandising program opened the Urban Outfitters Center for Design & Merchandising. The suite houses a classroom with enough space to host fashion critiques and adequately accommodate large classes and group work, a state of the art computer lab for technical design skill building, several faculty offices, and a display cabinet for exhibiting outstanding student work.

Student Portfolio

New Creativity Sampler