Macy's Flower Show 2020

June 5, 2020

For the past six years, students on the San Francisco campus of FIDM have had the unique experience of designing and executing displays for the Macy's Flower Show. Each year, we’ve transformed an area into a breathtaking scene based on a theme developed by Macys HQ using mostly recycled materials. 2020 was "Voyage to Oceanum".

This year was very different however. This year we ended the project as Covid-19 began spreading around the country. We installed the epic scenes the students produced only to find out the following day that Flower Show would be canceled. A couple of days later the stores closed. The designs would have been completed with live plants to breath even more life into the work.

The installation was also designed to include an activation. Throughout the display participants were encouraged to spot fabric fish. There were three special fish with red star buttons attached. When found, we asked everyone to take a photo, post it to Instagram with the hashtag #MacysXFIDM, and be entered to receive a prize.

2020 Flower Show Teams: “Coral Queen and Mobiles”: Christian Jouvin, Jordan Gancas, Marie McCarthy, Annelise Nolting. “Bubble Creatures on Star Island”: Danny Do, Victoria Duong, Saffia King, Dolly Xie. “Tidal Queen and Wave”: Edith Garcia, Cat Boozenny, Hannah Brock, Christiana Rodriguez

We were thrilled to be named a finalist in this year’s WindowsWear Student Competition. From the WindowsWear website:

“The WindowsWear 2020 Student Awards reached over 100,000+ people around the world, with 3,000+ submitting their votes! Each voter selected their favorite project per category, and the project with the most votes won!

Participating schools included Berkeley College, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), King Abdulaziz University, Marist College, Marymount University, Parsons School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Seneca College, Sheridan College, University of Minnesota, West Virginia, and many others.”

Macy’s Flower Show 2017

May 4, 2017

FIDM San Francisco Visual Communications students once again had the opportunity to participate in the annual Macy’s Flower Show at the flagship SF store March 26 - April 9.

For the third year in a row we worked with the visual team from Macy’s to create these special attractions. The vintage carnival theme this year was especially fun to work with. Students are given the theme and a small budget, and are encouraged to use recycled and alternative materials.

Congratulations to the Visual Communications students on their beautiful designs and hard work: Paige Ladensack, Ke Liang, Sydney Shives, Kyle Howell, Cindy Voong, Joy Ann, Amber Talley, Katie Jystad, Taylor Michelle Cole, Janella Amonoy, Carolina Recendez De Luna, and Nicolette Fleming.

Cotton Candy Lady Designed by Kyle Howell — **Cotton Candy Lady**
Designed by Kyle Howell

Oops: Spilled Bag of Popcorn Designed by Paige Ladensack and Ke Liang — **Oops: Spilled Bag of Popcorn**
Designed by Paige Ladensack and Ke Liang

Swing Babe Designed by Carolina Recendez De Luna and Nicolette FlemingDart Boy Designed by Sydney Shives — **Swing Babe**
Designed by Carolina Recendez De Luna and Nicolette Fleming
**Dart Boy**
Designed by Sydney Shives

Live TV with KTVU Mornings On 2 coverage of the event.

ICMAD 2017 – Honorable Mention

May 4, 2017

The Young Designers Award was created in 1998 by The Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD) to encourage creativity in graphic design and package design. This year, more than 100 students from 18 schools across the United States submitted an original design concept for a cosmetic or personal care product. FIDM SF student, Eva Edgren, received an honorable mention this year for her "Lock Block: Hair Sunscreen Cream". Congratulations, Eva!

I thought Michelle's was worthy of placement as well, but not in this year's tough competition.

Graphic Design students in SF and LA have the opportunity to work with Warner Bros. this quarter.

WB + FIDM

June 2, 2016

Today we video chatted with students in LA and heard feedback from our contact. Hope to share more news on this project in the coming months.

2016 Macy's Flower Show

May 31, 2016

The Macy's Flower Show in San Francisco's flagship store opened to the public on March 18th for two weeks. For the second year, FIDM students created installations featured on the third floor overlooking Union Square. The Macy's Visual Team participated in our Design Installation class by challenging students to create mannequin displays using alternative materials and inspired by American Icons.

American Icon inspirations from left to right: Julia Morgan, Sacagawea, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Rosa Parks, Babe Ruth, Betsy Ross.

The Macy's Visual Team reviewing student drawings.

Visual Communications students working on their installations.

2015 Set Design — European Study Tour

May 26, 2015

During the first two weeks of May I had an amazing opportunity to join students from FIDM's Advanced Study Program in Set Design & Decoration on their European Study Tour. For two weeks we traveled through London, Florence, Venice, and Rome going to various theaters, museums, and historic sites. Seeing some of my favorite cities through the lens of this trip was a truly exceptional experience and it was a fantastic group of women to share the adventure with.

The displays in Fortnum & Mason are beautiful sets. — The displays in Fortnum & Mason are beautiful sets.

We rode on the top of the bus as we explored Central London.

Had an amazing tour of the National Theatre stages and art department.

Next was Florence where in addition to lots of history and art, we had two days of mask making workshop. Here we were getting inspiration from the Masks of Agostino Dessi's shop.

Then we went to his daughter Alice's Workshop to learn the process first hand.

The process starts with choosing a plaster cast and lining it with layers of felted paper.

This is the mask I worked on, a bird-like face.

Once dry, these will be cut and stringed for masks.

Each day we also had a walking tour with art historian, Rocky Ruggiero.

Our first day with Rocky included the history of Florence and the David.

I fell for this interpretation of David, "HERO for Florence — Homage to David: Saracino interprets Michelangelo", 2015. In the courtyard at the Accademia. — I fell for this interpretation of David, "HERO for Florence — Homage to David: Saracino interprets Michelangelo", 2015. In the courtyard at the Accademia.

The Duomo from the roof of our hotel at sunset.

While in Florence we took a day trip to Venice. A highlight from this study tour, seeing one of my favorite cities through their eyes, — While in Florence we took a day trip to Venice. A highlight from this study tour, seeing one of my favorite cities through their eyes,

So much inspiration in this beautiful city.

Final stop, Rome. Collage of the Spanish Steps.

Learning about the spectacles that would have been witnessed in the Coliseum.

From the Hall of Maps in the Vatican Museums.

Detail of tapestry from the Vatican Museums.

All dressed up for dinner and the opera on our last night in Italy. Memories that will last a lifetime.

2015 SF Beauty Tour

May 18, 2015

FIDM 2015 Advanced Study Program Beauty Tour to SF.

Macy's Flower Show + FIDM

March 23, 2015

On Friday the Macy's Flower Show in San Francisco's flagship store opened to the public. On the third floor overlooking Union Square is a colorful installation by FIDM SF Visual Communications students. The Macy's Visual Team participated in our Design Installation class by challenging students to create mannequin displays inspired by the works of famous artists throughout time. Check out the Fashionable Art Masterpieces created by FIDM students using recycled and alternative materials. The Flower Show is on view during store hours through April 4th.

Click image for more photos.
Macy's info here.