May 16, 2014

We are pleased to announce that Graduate Fashion Design student Yi Deng has received the highly coveted $25,000 Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship, awarded each year to the most exemplary and innovative women’s wear design student in the country. Established in 2007 by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) as part of the CFDA’s core scholarships, the prestigious award program engages students in a specialized teaching curriculum centered on the work of legendary American designer Geoffrey Beene and on the advancement of the art form.

Yi Deng was part of Professor Cynthia Golembuski’s Fashion Presentation class which studied Geoffrey Beene’s work and brought students to the Fox Historic Costume Collection, where curator Clare Sauro shared garments designed by Beene and discussed their many signature elements. During the class, Yi Deng’s portfolio created a progression of “signature pieces” for a Fall/Winter 2015 Geoffrey Beene women’s collection, based on Mr. Beene’s design aesthetic and the incorporation of a personal inspiration – the geometric shapes in pottery as they translate to elegant garments. Additionally, the CFDA awarded Yi Deng an Honorable Mention for her 2015 Spring/Summer Children’s Wear portfolio, “Playful & Poetic.”

The competitive Geoffrey Beene Scholarship award is based solely on merit and is judged by an esteemed panel of industry experts. Yi Deng is invited to attend the annual CFDA Fashion Awards in June.