The VM+SD 12th Annual Visual Competition

Award of Merit winners are featured below.

For more information on this year's competition as well as the 2006 visual competition, contact Anne DiNardo at anne.dinardo@stmediagroup.com or at 513-263-9337. Also look for updates at www.vmsd.com.

Award of Merit — In-Store Apparel Presentation
New image campaign
Meijer stores, multiple locations

Rockwell Group (New York) created a new image for Meijer discount stores that played on the warmth, freshness and value-oriented attributes the retailer already imbues in its store environments.

Included in the new package are illuminated signage, new graphics and product displays that provide a seamless experience for the customer from parking lot to point-of-purchase. Strong color statements also punch up the store environment.

Judges applauded the new look. “It's very much stepping up to the plate compared to what their competitors are doing,” said one judge.

Client: Meijer, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Design: Rockwell Group, New York
David Rockwell, founder and ceo
Carmen Aguilar, principal
Barry Richards, senior designer
Craig Byers, graphic designer
Teddy Acero, staff
Etienne Fang, staff
Mark Hacker, staff,
Kate Newsom, staff
Hilli Wuerz, staff

Architect, MEP, Structural Engineer: Progressive AE, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Outside Design Consultant: Focus Lighting, New York (lighting)

General Contractor: Rockford Construction Co., Rockford, Mich.

Flooring/Carpets: Cambridge Commercial Carpets, Cambridge, Mass.
Armstrong Commercial Floors, Lancaster, Pa.
Eurotex, New York

Millwork: Marlite, Dover, Ohio

Fixtures: Lozier, Omaha, Neb.

Wallcoverings/Paint: Pratt & Lambert, Cleveland
Benjamin Moore, Newark, N.J.

Wall Graphics: Jarbo Designs, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Photography: David Joseph, New York

Award of Merit — In-Store Accessories/Beauty/Shoes Presentation
Travel Gear In-Store Display Fixture
Timberland Specialty Stores, multiple locations

The Timberland Co. re-purposed an actual Timberland suitcase as an in-store display fixture for the launch of its Travel Gear footwear, a shoe line with interchangeable components that allows travelers to customize their footwear to their clothes, weather or terrain.

Appealing to travelers, the left-handed side of the suitcase shows the individual Travel Gear components, including the shell, active chassis, comfort chassis and hydrosock, while on the right side, a lenticular image shows shoes being compressed for easier packability.

Judges lauded the fixture for communicating a lot of information in little space. “It makes me want to learn more about the product,” said one judge.

Design: The Timberland Co., Stratham, N.H.
Bevan Bloemendaal, senior director, global creative services
David Curtis, senior manager, environments group
Jean Wood, fixturing manager
Victoria Dimou, director, art and copy
Susan Emerick, project manager

Fixtures, Signage/Graphics: The Royal Promotion Group, New York
Benchmark, Cincinnati

Signage/Graphics: Synnott Imaging, Plainfield, Conn.

Photography: Mark Steele Photography, Columbus

Award of Merit — In-Store Accessories/Beauty/Shoes Presentation
FLIP Watches Display Systems
Titan Watch showrooms across India

Designers delivered the message of innovation and technology with this fixture display for the Titan FLIP watch collection. Using architectural trusses as the inspiration, the unit features an acrylic mirror to display the two faces of the watch at the same time. The same concept was used for the brand lettering with the word FLIP displayed backwards, further reinforcing the watch's unique design.

“It's very innovative,” said McQuilkin.

Design: Titan Industries Ltd., Bangalore, India
Michael Foley, head of design
Abhijit Bansod, product designer

Fixtures: Single Source Zone, Bangalore, India
Colorado, Bangalore, India

Photography: Mr. Paul, Bangalore, India

Award of Merit — Windows: Non-Apparel Display
Travel Gear In-Store Launch
Timberland Specialty Stores, Multiple locations

Timberland needed an attention-grabbing window display to announce the launch of its Travel Gear footwear line, which features interchangeable components that allows travelers to adapt their footwear to their clothing or travel environment.

Supporting the premise of the line, “Pack Less, Do More,” the multi-part window display featured an airline route map, bustform and luggage. Footwear and product feature/benefit graphics suggested an end use — business, touring and adventure.

“No matter where your eye starts, you follow the story,” said McQuilkin. “It's hard to convey performance, but they succeeded.”

Design: The Timberland Co., Stratham, N.H.
Bevan Bloemendaal, senior director, global creative services
David Curtis, senior manager, environments group
Jean Wood, fixturing manager
Victoria Dimou, director, art and copy
Susan Emerick, project manager

Fixtures, Signage/Graphics: The Royal Promotion Group, New York
Benchmark, Cincinnati

Signage/Graphics: Synnott Imaging, Plainfield, Conn.

Photography: Mark Steele Photography, Columbus

Award of Merit — Windows: Theme
Film Fest
Marshall Field's, Chicago

To highlight the 40th anniversary of the Chicago International Film Festival, Marshall Field's took inspiration from the event's promotional poster, which used several tiny photos to create one large image, to fashion a window display for its State Street flagship.

Festival posters were layered in rows to simulate film strips that ran down the walls and continued onto the floor. A mannequin donned a dress made entirely of film fest T-shirts, banners and actual film strips while tipping her black derby hat to hanging images of honorees Faye Dunaway and Sigourney Weaver.

Judges enjoyed the black and white scale and contrast of the window and the reference to movie posters that people often hang on their walls.

“This has stopping power,” said Harlor.

Design: Marshall Field's, Chicago
Jamie Becker, creative director
Amy Meadows, visual marketing manager
State Street Window Display Staff

Photography: Susan Kezon, Chicago

Award of Merit — Windows: Apparel Display
Jennifer Lopez Intimate Apparel Merchandise Window
Marshall Field's, Chicago

To celebrate the launch of Jennifer Lopez's lingerie line, Marshall Field's fashioned a peek-a-boo style window display that highlighted the product while calling attention to Lopez's rising brand status.

An enlarged JLO logo was painted onto the window glass, leaving only the letters transparent. Passersby had to peek inside to see the product line modeled on realistic mannequins. Lighting in shades of pink and peach added a warm, feminine touch.

“The voyeuristic aspect of the window for the product is excellent,” said Lanz.

Design: Marshall Field's, Chicago
Jamie Becker, creative director
Amy Meadows, visual marketing manager
State Street Window Display Staff

Photography: Susan Kezon, Chicago

Award of Merit — Windows: Holiday Display
Holiday — Fairytales
Holt Renfrew, Toronto

For the 2004 holiday season, Canada's Holt Renfrew brought to life lush fantasy interpretations of fairytale imagery at its Bloor Street flagship. Modern representations of Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Princess and the Pea and Little Red Riding Hood challenged onlookers to see if they could figure out the story unfolding before their eyes.

Judges applauded the attention to detail and the new twist on a holiday tradition.

Design: Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd., Toronto
Susanne Shaw, visual manager
Scott Donkervoort, lighting
Janis Bell, former national visual director
Holt Renfrew Visual Team

Outside Design Consultants: Allison Koturbash, Toronto (set designer)
Little Feet Ltd., Toronto (scenery, display and manufacturing)
Tom McAneney, Toronto (paper construction of masks)

Mannequins/Forms: Adel Rootstein Mannequins, London

Props/Decoratives: Forget Me Not Floral, Toronto

Signage/Graphics: Dot and Dash, Toronto

Photography: Jay Robis, Saw Photography, Toronto

Award of Merit — Windows: Holiday Display
Christmas Story
Mitsukoshi Department Store, Tokyo

Tokyo's Mitsukoshi Department Store created the tale of the “Polar Bear Santa” for its 2004 holiday window display. In the story, Santa Claus trips and breaks his leg, leaving him unable to deliver toys on Christmas Day. So the Polar Bear is chosen as Santa's substitute. Scenes included Santa resting in bed while the animals prepared for the big day and the Polar Bear taking off on Christmas Eve in Santa's sled.

LEDs were used to simulate an iridescent aurora in one window and motion — including Santa moving his leg and animals turning — also brought the windows to life. Judges enjoyed the whimsical take on a traditional holiday tale.

Client: Mitsukoshi Co. Ltd., Tokyo
Yukiko Sakahashi, art director

Design: Yamato Visual Planning Co. Ltd. Tokyo
Keiko Ohara, designer and director
Ayako Narita, visual coordinator

Photography: Mitsukoshi Environment Service Co. Ltd., Tokyo

More Winners