Style Scoop Interview: Jana Garvin

Store windows and interior displays play a huge role in the shopping experience and FIDM alumna Jana Garvin keeps things exciting as the Display Artist for Forever 21 in New York City! We caught up with Jana to talk about the industry, her creative process, and where she's headed. 

Grad year: 2008

Major: Visual Communications

Campus: Los Angeles

How did you get your big break into the industry?
I moved to New York City in the fall of 2008, to pursue a career in publishing. I found out quickly that editorial was extremely political and had limited creativity so I began my own business called Curb Appeal where I did window displays for small boutiques. I found that through that medium I could express the creativity that I had initially wanted to in the world of publishing. Then through my work at Curb Appeal I was referred to Forever 21 to be their full time NYC Display Artist.

What do you love about your current job?
I love the creative freedom that I have with my job. I thrive on working with the current trends and creating a display that makes the clothing have an impact on the customer.  

What have been some of your favorite displays and windows so far?
I just started this fall and immediately began working on the holiday installation that is just being installed now. I’m really looking forward to the windows for Resort 2010.

How do the displays actually come about?
Currently, I work off the theme that the visual design team in Los Angeles decides on. It is my job to take that theme and design the windows for NYC. I will use some of the props that they make and I will create a lot of other ones specifically for the NYC stores.

What is your creative process?
I'm looking for inspiration and doing research on what the theme really means. I will go to the library, read magazines, look on the internet at sites like style.com to see the latest trends, and even walk around the city to gather inspiration. Then I draw up my ideas, travel to Los Angeles to work with the production team who actually make the props/set, and then when it arrives in NYC I work with builders to install it, tweaking it here and there along the way and always overcoming obstacles.

What is a typical day like?
Most days I start work in the stores at 7 AM because I need to get as much done before they open. When the stores get busy I do research, work on my designs, and buy supplies throughout the afternoon. Every few weeks I travel to Los Angeles to work in the corporate office and in the warehouse to produce all of my displays. Sometimes I work overnights because that allows me at least 12 hours of an empty store so that I can do my larger installations.

What do you think it takes to be successful?
I have been told that it is my enthusiasm that has taken me to the level that I am at today. I LOVE what I do and I think that if your passionate about something you automatically work very hard at it and are then you are bound to succeed.

How did you find out about FIDM?
I went to USC for my undergraduate degree and they are in the same neck of the woods, so it was word of mouth. I had always wanted to get my masters or something comparable and a Professional Designation in Visual Communications seemed right for me. Going to FIDM was the best thing I ever did - it gave my the confidence and skills to succeed.

What did you love about your program?
I loved the teachers and the people I met throughout my program. I took classes that made me learn a lot about myself and what I was good at and what I was not. It really broadened my horizons and made way for many opportunities.

What are your future design goals?
There is a blog called anothernormal.com in which a photographer goes around professionally photographing all of the best windows in NYC. My goal is to create a window design for the Forever 21 windows that will get recognized on his blog! I idolize designers like Linda Fargo at Bergdorfs and Simon Doonan at Barneys for their unique and amazing displays and I strive to create windows of that echelon yet be defined by my own unique style.

Comments

[Harriet]

Jana created beautiful sets for FashionClub.com photoshoots while she was a student at FIDM. We are so happy to see her career take off. All the best to Jana from the Fashion Club team!