Alumni Stories

Kim Helgeson

FIDM Merchandise Marketing Grad Kim Helgeson has had an exciting career in Store Design, and it shows no sign of slowing down. The last time we caught up with Kim she had transformed a blah building on the Universal Studios lot into a "Tomb Treasures" theme store for Universal Studios inspired by the film The Mummy. Other career high-points for Kim have been designing a high-end shop in New York at 5th Avenue & Madison Avenue and running corporate visual programs for haute couture (Romeo Gigli & Moschino).

But Kim's latest project has girls everywhere swooning! She recently completed the "styled by me"® Barbie® boutique in New York toy mecca F.A.O. Schwarz. It's a young Fashion Designer's dream. Girls select the look of the doll and choose her clothes and accessories. Then the doll debuts her look in a mini fashion show, where every newly designed Barbie® comes down a runway and strikes a pose. Kim, also an instructor at FIDM, received an "Award of Merit" from the Institute of Store Planners/VM+SD (Visual Merchandising + Store Design) International Store Design Competition. She was honored in the "New York Specialty or Department Store" category for her "styled by me"® Barbie® boutique. The future is sure to hold more exciting projects for this talented Store Designer that will have the mark of her award-winning style!