Casual Style

Gigi Bottega:  Downtown Bloomington, Bloomington, Illinois

This display is has a monochromatic color scheme of blues.  Just looking at this display makes the viewer calm and relaxed.  It is a simple asymmetrical display that flows evenly from left to right.  Because the clothed mannequins are the only objects in the display, it is proportional to the rest of the window.  They are all the same size and they are all wearing clothes that fit them properly.  The display has the mannequins dressed in different styles and outfits to show viewers that they have the perfect outfit for every girl.  Even though this display is very simple, it has all of the elements needed to make a wonderful and eye catching display.

Pint Size

ModKid:  Downtown Bloomington, Bloomington, Illinois

This display is very cute and fun for little girls.  All of the clothes in the display are bight and vibrant color perfect for spring and Easter.  The mannequins are on different levels, like a wave pattern, so the viewers eyes flow from left to right and are able to look at all of the dresses.  The string of white lights in the background help to hide what is in the studio and also helps to emphasize the cute little dresses in the display.  Because of the wave like levels, there is an equal balance from one side of the display to the other.  It is a symmetrical window.  The middle of the window is the blue and green dress and there are an equal amount of mannequins on either side.  This display is truly effective and would make any little girl want to wear the outfits displayed.

11 First Dates

Churchill's Formal Wear:  Downtown Bloomington; Bloomington, Illinois

This display was inside the store in the back corner, but all of the different vibrant colors caught my eye as would any viewer's.  This display uses levels to covey their image.  The light colors are on the bottom and as the viewer's eye goes up, the colors become darker.  All of the mannequins are the same size making the display very balanced and repetitive.  The display is asymmetrical and gives the eyes a path to follow up to the tallest mannequin.  The viewer's eyes start at the bottom then move from left to right as they go up.  It is an effortless and smooth transition from one level to the next.  This display is effective because of the effortless movement of the viewer's eyes and the different levels of the mannequins which are used to make that smooth transition from one mannequin to the next.

Winter Knits

Crossroads:  Fair trade Shop; Downtown Bloomington; Bloomington, Illinois

This window has a lot of merchandise in it, but it is proportional.  The merchandise is through out the entire window so not one area is empty.  When a viewer walks by they will notice all of the merchandise in the window, but what really stands out are the red gloves and the sign next to it that states all winter knits are on sale.  The emphasis is on those winter knits, but because they are so small, the window needed bigger merchandise.  The wind chimes in the back are a lot bigger then the gloves, but looks right together due their placement.  The viewers eyes flow from the middle of the display to the top where the wind chimes are located and the around the window so the viewer is able to see all of the merchandise.  This window's main objective is immediate action due to all of the merchandise in the display and the sign in the center stating the sale.  It is an effective display to those passing by and because of the winter knits sign, more viewers will go into the store to see what winter knits the store has.

The Little Red Sign

Earthbound Trading Company:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

This display has a lot going on, but it definitely works.  The Earthbound Trading Company is a store that sells many different products, and viewers can tell through this display.  This window is displaying the immediate action objective due to the amount of merchandise they have in their display.  Even though there is a lot of merchandise in the display, the window looks balance.  There is an equal amount of merchandise in every part of the window.  When a viewer walks by, their eyes will immediate look at the picture in the center and then work their way around the display to look at everything.  This helps to get them in the store to see what other kinds of merchandise they have.  In the center of the display their is a little red sign right at eye level saying there is a sale.  The small sign helps with the proportions and levels of the window.  Viewers will be looking around the window and when they see that small red sign, they will immediately want to go inside.  Also, because of the small sign, the Earthbound Trading Company was able to put more merchandise in the window and lure more consumers in.  This little red sign just sweetened the deal and made this display extremely effective.

Endless Shoes

Foot Locker:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

This display is incredibly unique.  Although there is no signage, the way they displayed the shoes is creative and fun.  There are an equal amount of shoes in each row, making the window symmetrical.  The whole display itself is the focal point.  It makes viewers stop and stare, not only to see how they put the display together, but to also look at the different shoes they have.  There is repetition in this display due to the rows of shoes and it makes the viewer look from left to right at every single shoe.  The display is well lite making it easy to see the different styles.  The shoes look like they are floating or balancing on a platform, which helps to draw the attention of viewers.  This display is extremely creative and makes viewers want to go inside to find that one shoe they saw in the display.

Multiple Colors, Multiple Styles

The Limited:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

In this display, not only do they have many of the principles of design, but they also have a lot of elements to make this display successful.  This window has six different mannequins in different positions wearing different outfits.  Although each outfit is different they all come together with the similar colors they are wearing.  Although the signage is small, it talks about they sale which they have at the current moment.  There are also different levels in the display and the higher the level the less color the mannequin is wearing.  On the floor, the mannequins are wearing three different colors, and at the highest level the mannequin is in all white.  This helps balance out the display and puts the focal point on all of the mannequins.  This window displays immediate action because they are showing off all of the different ways to pair their clothes together and they have the signage with the sale at eye level.  This is a simple, but effective window.

Valentine's Day

Express:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

This window might be small, but it's effective.  They have a picture, mannequins and signage.  Express is asking women viewers, "What's Your Desire?"  Which is perfect for Valentine's Day.  Their mannequins are dressed in either a shirt or a dress showing off their legs and emphasizing the way they're standing.  Express is trying to show their female consumers that if you wear our merchandise, you will feel confident and sexy with the hope to get them in their store to shop.  The window is asymmetrical so it is easier to read the verbiage that is in the middle.  The verbiage is also at eye level so it is easier for the women viewers too see and read.  Express's main goal is to get women viewers in the store so they can find that perfect outfit for Valentine's Day.

Dreaming of Jeans

Gap:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

Have you been dreaming about pants this week?  Well that's what Gap wants you to do.  Their display window has signage, and merchandise.  It also is trying to get the viewers attention.  Gap is telling their consumers, "no matter who you are or what your style is, we have the jeans you've been dreaming of."  The three mannequins are dressed in three different styles of jeans and they have even more styles hanging on the left side of the window.  The pictures in the background help the viewer to imagine being in a grassy field with a blue sky and not a cloud in sight, that's a lot nicer looking then grey skies and snow everywhere.  This window transports the viewer to summer and gets them in their store to buy their merchandise.

Stepping Into The Window

Bath & Body Works:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

Looking at this picture, it looks like just another window display.  Except it's not.  This is a picture inside the store!  With the door less entryway, it looks like you have to step into a display window to get inside the store.  Bath & Body Works is obviously having a sale.  With big signage saying "Sale" and "New" why wouldn't a consumer want to go in.  Their merchandise is all at eye level so it is impossible to avoid the bright colors and signs.  Bath & Body Works is with no doubt using the immediate action objective to get consumers in the store to shop.  Looking in the store, it is very bright so consumers not only see merchandise from outside of the store, but as they are shopping they can see anything and everything they want to purchase.  This goes to show that not all stores have to have a window display to get consumers into the store to shop.

Show me all your pants

American Eagle:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

From the look of this window, viewers would ask themselves what is the theme?  What are they trying to sell?  It is not until they read the sign at the upper left hand corner that viewers figure out that American Eagle is promoting their pants.  The mannequins display all of the different styles of pants American Eagle has to offer.  Even in the picture that is located in the middle of the display, the first thing the viewer notices are the model's black pants.  The mannequins also show that these pants can be worn with many different outfits and styles.  American Eagle is telling viewers through their display that they have the pants for them and they should come into the store to look at them and possibly buy them.

Buckle Up

Buckle:  Eastland Mall, Bloomington, Illinois

This widow's target market are male consumers.  Buckle wants men to walk by this window and see all of the different kinds of merchandise that their store has to offer.  Not only do they have mannequins, but they also have a small table display filled with even more items for purchase.  This window has consumer's eyes looking at the entire display.  From the picture near the top of the display to the table near the bottom, consumers look up and down and notice all of the different items that are available for purchase.  They want them to see it all.  This window display's main objective is immediate action, because they have laid out of their merchandise in the window and want male consumers to go in the store right away.  

Aéro Will Always Love You

Aéropostale:  Eastland Mall; Bloomington, Illinois

Walking through the Mall, this window definitely caught my eye.  Not only is it huge, but they use a lot of elements in the display.  The window display is very balanced there are an equal amount of mannequins dressed in clothes for males and females.  Their signage is in the middle of the window making viewers stand a little longer to read it.  They have their mannequins at different levels making the viewers eyes do the wave from left to right so you see the whole window and possibly their merchandise inside.  The eyes of the viewer also go straight to the hot pink sign at the bottom letting them know that there is a sale going on.  This hot pink sign is the focal point.  The mannequins and the Aéro Loves Me sign are all in place to make sure viewers see that the store is having a sale.  This window does a really good job of getting viewers to look at their whole window and get them through the doors to buy something.

I've Been Charmed

 Charmed Boutique:  Pontiac, Illinois 

This store window looked so cool from both the inside and the outside that I went inside and got a picture.  The store window is very symmetrical.  The two mannequins in the middle are wearing dresses and the two mannequins on the far left and right are both wearing shirts and pants, which shows viewers that the store carries all different kinds of merchandise.  The mannequins are wearing merchandise perfect for valentines day, and the other props for the window are geared more towards the spring season.  The window makes viewers look at all the corners of the window because of the four different outfits and all of the props.  The Charmed Boutique window is very inviting and made me literally go inside to see what I could buy.