FIT’s Newest, Largest Residence Hall Dedicated
“A shopping bag is a walking
In the last issue, we asked: How does your life now compare to what you envisioned when you were at FIT?
What was your best (or worst) shopping experience— either in a store or online?
Mazzotta, vice president of sales and marketing services at Elizabeth Arden. “If the design and execution are appealing enough, a woman will carry it with her everywhere
Design, chaired by Associate Professor Brenda Cowan, on a
christened George and Mariana
student competition to create a
Kaufman Hall. An FIT Board of
holiday-themed shopping bag for
Trustees member since 1982, George
the retailer’s newly reopened
Kaufman, a real-estate developer,
flagship Fifth Avenue store. The
acted as an advisor on the building’s
winning design, by Chen Lin He
acquisition. He and his wife, Mariana,
(also an Interior Design BFA ’06
are longtime friends of the college.
grad), depicts the store’s façade on
a wintry day.
Opened to students in fall 2006,
Kaufman Hall is FIT’s fourth
residential building and, with a
showing of their designs in the
capacity of 1,100, its largest.
store this past May; all entries
Architects, community board
remained on display for two weeks
representatives, and Dormitory
thereafter. In addition to having his
Authority of the State of New York
winning design produced, He
officials—all of whom worked
received $5,000 to attend the
together on the project—joined the
exclusive Gravity Free Design
Kaufmans, Board of Trustees
Innovation Conference in Chicago
members, and President Joyce F.
next June. “Every young designer
Brown for the ceremony, which
dreams of attending,” he says.
included an unveiling of a plaque
“Thanks to this competition, I will
honoring the couple.
experience this dream.”
Students looking to hone their written communication skills have a new resource at FIT—the School of Liberal Arts’s Writing Center, Scott Stoddart, dean for Liberal Arts,
or send it to the Editors at Hue Magazine.
and directed by Brian Fallon, former
FIT, Footwear News, Nine West Choose
assistant director of the writing center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the center offers consulting resources for faculty.
hue | fall 2008
Students were feted at a private
School of Liberal Arts Opens Writing Center
and workshops for students, and
4
graduate program in Exhibition
hall at 406 West 31st Street was
Email your story to hue@fitnyc.edu,
in a future issue, and may be edited for clarity and content.
partnered last spring with FIT’s
On September 25, FIT’s residence
opened this fall. Established by Dr.
Submissions will be considered for publication
she goes.” With this in mind, Arden
Jusil Carroll’s winning design.
Jerry Speier
At FIT, I had visions of working for a major department store, then opening a boutique and traveling all over the world on exotic buying trips. I started working in advertising right after graduation. I didn’t do much exotic travel, but I learned a lot. Ten years later, I burned out and became a massage therapist. While other therapists struggled to create a niche for themselves, I had branding, marketing, everything. Since then, my husband and I have started a barter exchange. What I learned at FIT has made our business a major success. – catherine napoli- cohen, marketing: fashion and related industries ’86, fashion buying and merchandising ’84
advertisement,” says Mary Beth
Laura Lou Levy
I thought I’d still be living in the fashion mecca of New York City. I graduated in December 2001, a difficult time for a new college graduate. I’d interned at Harper’s Bazaar and was offered a position upon graduation, but it fell through. I returned home devastated and not sure what to do. The good news is I found a job immediately in Washington, DC, as a contractor for the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting an admiral. Talk about a night-and-day change from Harper’s Bazaar! What made me laugh was that the admiral was familiar with FIT, and hired me because of its reputation. I now work for a defense contractor as a corporate marketing communications manager. It’s a completely different industry than what I thought I’d be in, but the knowledge and skills I developed at FIT helped me climb the ladder quickly. – melissa nelson, advertising and marketing communications ’01, fashion merchandising management ’00
Grad Student Designs Arden’s Holiday Shopping Bag