REVEALED WINTER 2024 - Magazine - Page 6
Big Impact,
Small Budget:
Crafting Stunning Window
Presentations Without
Breaking the Bank
BY LAURIE BROOKINS
Anne Kong has spent
more than two decades
in visual presentation,
designing windows for
Bloomingdale’s, Givenchy
and mom-and-pop businesses
alike while also guiding students
in techniques as a professor and
program coordinator at New York’s Fashion Institute of
Technology. If there’s one idea she loves to teach, it’s
that a large budget isn’t required to make a meaningful
design impact.
Showcasing Art
“If you can think creatively, you can make a lot
happen for very little money,” notes the New Yorkbased educator, who is also the co-author of the 2018
book Visual Merchandising and Display. “Between
using your imagination and exploring the resources
within easy reach, you’d be surprised how you can
create really compelling backdrops and settings to
showcase lingerie and other products.”
Once the design is complete, be sure to give the creator of
With that in mind, Kong o昀昀ers her take on the latest and
classic trends in window design, with tips on how they
can be accomplished with a little money and a lot of
imagination.
The trend in creating artful backdrops using sculpted paper art
R E V E A L E D - THE W INTE R IS SUE #10
Kong calls including 昀椀ne art in window presentations “very
exciting, and also a terri昀椀c way to partner with members of
your community.” The latter can be accomplished by reaching
out to local artists, university art programs and galleries to
suggest showcasing pieces in your store. “Beautiful paintings,
sculpture, pottery and other tactile elements that are bright in
color or smooth and soft will work with lingerie,” Kong adds.
“You can use a large-scale painting as a backdrop or pedestal
smaller work, creating di昀昀erent heights, which is important in
visual design.”
the work proper credit, she adds. “Go to your local signage
retailer to create something that will look professional,” she
says. “And then celebrate the art you’ve showcased with a little
Champagne opening or a co昀昀ee in the morning; make an event
around it, which also will bring the customers into your store.”
DIY Paper Sculptures
remains immensely popular with high-end retailers that include
Bergdorf Goodman and Chanel, but independent retailers on
a budget also can achieve a similar impact.
