Lighting Services Inc./Gene Moore Award Winners

Three display window projects won top honors in the 1997 Lighting Services Inc./Gene Moore Awards, created to recognize excellence in display window and lighting design. Winners included Paul Stuart, New York City; Nordstrom, Schaumberg, Ill.; and Birk's, Montréal. The competition, according to Lighting Services'Executive Vice President Daniel Gelman, was created to “recognize the talent, creativity and magic of display window designers and their ability to create a three-dimensional art form which utilizes imaginative lighting, establishes store image and motivates buyers.” Judges for the competition were Gene Moore and Marvin Gelman, president of Lighting Services. Cash prizes included $2500 for the grand prize, $1500 for second prize and $500 for third prize. The deadline for this year's competition is November 30, 1998. For entry information, contact Lighting Services Inc. at 914-942-2800.

Paul Stuart's 1996 holiday windows, entitled, “Holiday Magic,” featured a whimsical jack-in-the-box theme with expressive jack-in-the-box faces sculpted in papier- mâché by theater mask-maker Barbara Pollitt (see VM SD feature story, April 1997, page 24). The award-winning display was designed within a 10-ft.-wide-by-5-ft.-deep-by-15-ft. high closed back winter window. Lighting consisted of tracks employing a combination of line-voltage 200 Series with 200-watt PAR46 narrow spot lamps and low-voltage 30 Series with 25-watt PAR46 pinspot lamps with spread lens. Windows were illuminated from 6 a.m. to midnight each day during the holiday season. “The clever use of lighting provided just the right drama and excitement to an especially well balanced composition,” noted the competition judges. “The merchandise was the star of the show.” Design Team: Tom Beebe, creative director; Michael Verbert, Gerry Fredella and Thomas Dang Vu, New York design team.

Themed “Designer Season,” the award-winning display at Nordstrom's Woodfield Mall store in Schaumberg, Ill., featured apparel in a simple platform composition. Designed within a 16-ft.-wide-by-7-ft.-deep-by-9 1/2-ft. high closed back window operating from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the display incorporated line-voltage 300 Series with 300-watt PAR56 narrow spot lamps, 200 series with 200-watt PAR46 narrow spot lamps and low-voltage 30 Series with 25-watt PAR46 pinspot lamps. Louver and color filter accessories were also used in the display. “You don't feel the window, you feel the merchandise,” judges commented on the display. Design Team: Larry Van Nevel, display manager; Lisa Stanislawski, Tina Hopkins and Spencer Nodell, design team

“Swiss Watch Week” was the theme of the award-winning display for Birk's, Montréal. European designer furniture was used to embellish the presentation of high-end watches in the display, which was designed within a 3-1/2-ft.-wide-by-2-ft.-deep-by-4-ft. high closed back window operating 24 hours a day during the autumn season. Low-voltage 30 Series with 25-watt PAR46 pinspot lamps were used to illuminate it. Judges commented on “the integration of color and intensity” in the display. Design Team: Lucy-Ann Bouwman