The first time I attended Mercedes Benz Fashion Week was for the Project Runway, season two show at Bryant Park. I sat in the front row and felt like royalty as a bunch of reporters came up to ask me questions; “Do you know how lucky you are to be sitting in the front row?” “Is this the best day of your life?” “Who do you think will win?” “Tell me a secret about the show without violating your contract.” New York Fashion Week has just wrapped up. It's an event that reminds me twice a year of the moment I knew I was meant to be a fashion designer (as opposed to a computer programmer or electrical engineer). I was still trying to get over the fact that I was actually at a fashion week show. Debra messing walked by and said “Hi Diana” and I was like, “OMG, Debra Messing, you know my name!” The speed of the fashion cycle is faster than ever, and yet, in the constant drive for newness, the past is often used as a point of reference. Many contemporary designers embrace looking back at fashion history as a fundamental part of the design process. In doing so, they create inventive and modern re-interpretations of everything from crinolines to “flapper” dresses. As cutting-edge designer Yohji Yamamoto once said, “Going to the future means you have to use your past.” Like any other art, the long-term trends in fashion are often driven by advancements in technology. New materials merge with the old and new needs drive innovation while fashion slowly evolves. Which of today’s trends are driving the wearable’s of tomorrow? Join us as we explore the high tech fashion of the future– from energy to protection to information directly within the clothing we wear. RFID Technology can have a stunning application in fashion, depending on the execution. RFID tags have been embedded in products sold by some large labels and retail chains, tracking the use of their products for the purpose of marketing and store security. Yet other designers have used RFID technology to aid stroke patients or to help people remember their keys when leaving the house. A Selection of Innovative Graphic Design Projects with Game-like Qualities, the exhibition gotoAndPlay(); reflected the youthful vision of the young designers in the Media Design Club at FIT. It included a selection of interactive and time-based design projects with game-like qualities which engaged audiences in a playful, charismatic, and compelling manner. Approximately 120 projects from 100 students were reviewed, and the Exhibition Planning Committee of the department of Communication Design selected the top 30 pieces for the exhibition. The exhibition also included an award-winning poster series by Professor Rocco Piscatello.