Sony Style's Objects of Affection window display, which presented fantasy lifestyle vignettes of Sony customers, caught the fascination of judges in the 2003 VM+SD International Visual Competition, landing it double honors as this year's recipient of “First Place Windows: Hardline” and “Best in Show.”
The judges, who gathered in April at the Cincinnati offices of FRCH Design Worldwide for the 10th annual balloting, said they appreciated the “refreshingly different, innovative” Sony windows that “showed how to do visual right.”
This year's judging panel included: Peter Borowski and Christian Davies, both vp, creative directors, FRCH; James Frederick, senior client manager, and Richard Westendorf, creative director, Landor & Associates; Brent Hodge, visual merchandiser, Arhaus; Jim Wagner, designer, Federated Department Stores; and Jennifer Wilson, freelance designer and former J.C. Penney visual merchandiser.
The competition, designed to celebrate achievements in visual merchandising, drew entries from around the globe, including Japan, Brazil and South Africa.
The judges were enthusiastic over Sony's windows and found this year's entries for the Windows category to be the best they had seen in years – so much so that they divided the category into “hardline” and “softline,” awarding first place and awards of merit in both categories.
Judges say they also appreciated the “innovative” use of materials in visual displays, “great” mannequin presentations and the “tasteful execution” of Shreve, Crump & Low's windows that memorialized September 11.
Winners are featured on the following pages, beginning with First Place winners, a new Judge's Award and the Awards of Merit.
The deadline for next year's VM+SD International Visual Competition is March 31, 2004. For more information, contact Anne DiNardo, 513-421-2050, ext. 337. Also look for upcoming details about the competition online at www.vmsd.com.