Designers wanted for new Detroit holiday window display competition

The Detroit Center for Design and Technology (DCDT) is looking for local designers to participate in a new competition that will connect them with Detroit retail storefronts.

Simply called the Holiday Window Walk, the competition will match businesses with local designers who will create a holiday-inspired window display. The winning designer will take home a $500 cash prize.

Christopher Stefani, the associate director of DCDT, says the competition will benefit designers and businesses equally. It gives burgeoning designers an opportunity to pad their portfolio as well as gain exposure in the community. For already harried small business owners, it's an easy — and likely less expensive — way to make their business more inviting for holiday shoppers.

"This is an opportunity to offer a service that will have a tangible outcome for the business," Stefani says.

Businesses will be asked to contribute $500 toward their window display and places like Sister Pie, Third Man Records, and 8 Degrees Plato have already signed up to the participate in the competition.

Stefani says they're hoping to recruit at least seven more storefronts to participate in the competition. They're also looking for more designers, and the deadline for entries is quickly approaching.

While Stefani says he's willing to give hopefuls a little leeway, the deadline for designer applications is Friday, Sept. 29. Designers are asked to send a resume, contact information, a 100-word essay on the desire to participate, and up to three examples of past work. All information can be sent via email to [email protected].

The final locations and designers will be announced in early October, and then the work will begin. Displays are expected to be unveiled to the public at each business on Thursday, Nov. 9.

Shoppers can vote for their favorite display by posting on social media with the hashtag #DCDTHoliday. Those postings will be tallied and presented to judges, who will announce the winning business and designer in early December.