Type: Competition (IIDA Product Runway, Columbus)

 Firm: ms Consultants, Inc.

Project Collaborators: Abby Callos, Cary Ehrman, Eric Elizondo, Alexis Jones, Lydia Karoscik, Nathan Lephart, Alex Long, Melissa Poeppelman, Kristen Rush

Role: Research, Design, Construction, Presentation, Competition Poster Design

 Awards: Best Poster, Top 5 Runway Designs

Software: Photoshop, Illustrator

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) hosts regular Product Runway design competitions. During these, teams are invited to compete by designing and producing outfits and presentation boards. The outfits must be made of at least 90% interior design product or finish. On the night of the competition, models wear the outfits down a runway to be scored. Additionally, the presentation boards are placed on display to be judged. Each year has a theme to prompt and inspire the competitors. The year of this competition the theme was Music Icons.

After randomly drawing Jennifer Lopez as our inspiration, we chose to pull our design influence from her iconically recognized feminine curves and provocative style. She has an ability to blend together beauty and irregular form. We chose to articulate her style and juxtaposition into a piece meant to have highly contrasting elements. The dress, much like J-Lo, conflicts whether to be form fitting or overly exuberant. The use of geometry, both close to the body and distant, creates relationships meant to symbolize J-Lo’s individuality and constantly fluctuating style.

With MDC Wallcoverings as our sponsor, we played off of the subtle changes in the material of their product. On the exterior face of the design we wanted to keep the textures smooth and simple to highlight the complexity of the dress. On the inside however, we wanted to dress to capture the light as our model turned down the runway so we used a more sparkly product. The air pipe was used to help hold the form of the dress away from the body.

Material Study

As we started to explore our material we began by trying to push its constraints. How much can we delaminate it? What is the breaking point of a pull? What happens when we scratch or buff the surface?

Stitch Study

Once we began to understand the product by itself, we had to determine how it would work with other similar products. How do we fasten a glittered material to a leather texture?

Pattern Making

While the early design of our project was done through sketching, we had to face reality once working with our patterns and learn what shapes worked with the body and which did not.

Assembly

Assembly consisted of laminating multiple products together to create a two sided material. This was then laser cut and assembled using hole punches and jewelry fasteners to allow the dress to flow.