The Fashion Show
In 1982, The Iowa State University Fashion Show began as a simple runway show held in a MacKay Hall classroom with only a few Iowa State students in attendance. Over the past thirty-seven years, The Fashion Show has grown into one of the largest student run fashion shows in the nation and is produced by nearly 150 students selected to be part of the planning committees. In addition, The Fashion Show selects 50 student models who showcase the garments chosen by industry guest judges. Garments included in the show are designed by over 75 Iowa State students from the Apparel, Merchandising, and Design program.
I have had the opportunity to serve as one of the Art Directors for the 2019 Show; this included creating print and digital content for branding, marketing, and social media. I am currently serving at an Outreach Producer for the 2020 Show. In this role I oversee the entire production of the show, more specifically, I manage our fundraising campaign, attain a Guest Designer company for the show, and work with a corporate company to create a Merchandising Case Study.
2020 Guest Designer Proposals
One of the main responsibilities in my role as Outreach Producers is communicating with companies in the apparel industry and asking them to partner with The Fashion Show at Iowa State. In doing so we ask the company to send a few employees, typically a designer, a recruiter and any other role they desire, to our campus the week prior to the show. We do so through creating a proposal that highlights details about Iowa State University, The Fashion Show and the role of Guest Designer. Throughout this past year I created a number of proposals which you will find displayed below.
Crowd Funding Campaign
As previously stated a significant responsibility I held as Outreach Producer was leading our organizations fundraising campaign. The funds raised through our various efforts allow us to not only support the events and efforts of 15 committees, but also provide monetary support for various scholarships sponsored through The Fashion Show. Alongside my Co-Producer, Tammie Melton, I launched a new fundraising initiative based on the power of hand written letters. Members of The Fashion Show sent over 500 letters to their friends, families and supporters sharing their personal impact on the show. This effort helped raise over $10,000 in the first 5 days of our 30 day campaign, which was the beginning of our record breaking fundraising year. We ended our campaign by far surpassing our initial $25,000 goal, with a total of $34,005. The video below provides more information on our fundraising efforts and the show as a whole, or find out more at https://fundisu.foundation.iastate.edu/project/17770/updates/1.
Merchandise Collection
A merchandise line is designed and produced each year. Design, budget, logistics, and sourcing is all done through the Outreach Producer team. The collection below is what I worked to create for this years show. This process included communicating with venders, managing a budget, organizing marketing, and collecting consumer research to make design and product decisions.
2019 Show Program
This program was created in collaboration with Lauren Hansen in 2019, and won Best of Category in Editorial Design by Art Director’s Association of Iowa Awards in 2020.
2019 Guest Designer Reveal GIF
2019 Brand Standards Guide
Model Casting Poster
2018 Brand Relaunch
In the fall of 2018, I worked alongside Ellen Titman (Art Director) and Lauren Hansen (Designer) to rebrand The Fashion Show. The display below depicts a brand release exhibition we completed and displayed on campus. Photos by Emma Dau.
International Design Awards; Silver in Print/Corporate Identity, Gold in Print/Wayfinding & Environmental Graphics.
