1.- What is a Window Dresser?

Window Dressing is a profession for those who feel passion for fashion, design and decoration. The window dresser is a professional in charge of the managerial communication trough the exterior image.
A professional with a complete and updated knowledge of the latest is fashion, design with the theoretical knowledge in every discipline and the practical knowledge in tools and materials. Conscious analyzing and continuous capability to innovate and transform any space and very well informed of the trade economic to be able to develop a highly efficient window dressing. An expert visual communicator that must share his/her illusions to create, have curiosity to know and to learn the job.

2.- What is the job of a Window Dresser?

As the responsible of the visual image in a company, he/she has the ability to transform spaces in urban art. Analyze, develop and built projects of any typology for any window shop. From the assembly to products locations inside shop windows for publicity or cinema. A window dresser designs and builds decorative elements for any kind of business, takes care of all the protocol of the work for the windows shop, applies all the different known decorative visual techniques of communication to potentially improve the business. Experts who know the psychology of the client to be able to satisfy their needs. The window dresser is capable to analyze those factors that affect the external image of the store. They are always updating their knowledge by going to events, runways, and more to catch the latest trends. They also mark the directions for the indirect communication.

3.- What is a Visual Merchandiser?

Visual Merchandising is a relative young term than comes from “MERCHANDISE” plus the action termination “ING” that denotes action, a conjunction of techniques from the professionals in window dressing and trade marketing, with different techniques of visual attraction. Professional competitors that have come a long way from the work that the window dressers have done inside the shops during decades. Today the visual merchandiser is responsible to create and design inside the shops to elevate the sales and commercial growth.

4.- What is the job of a Visual Merchandiser?

It is a profession for those passionate about the fashion and the business industries. This person is responsible for the interior visual communication of any commercial space and is in charge of the interior presentation of the store, changing, moving, designing looks and all the necessary steps to conquer a dynamic sale. A professional very well informed of the urban habits and spaces as well as the competencies as well as having a commercial knowledge for the sale by impulse, marketing and strategic merchandising. To have power to command, analyze and answer quickly. This person is creative and has power of decision to contribute differential values to the brand. Must always be informed of the market reality of the product and the sales. An expert in commercial spaces capable to design furniture or distribute a commercial space.

5.- What can I achieve with the Artidi Diploma?

To access Artidi’s job list which is the main professional network in the sector. Artidi SQA and the professional accreditation allow the student to develop a career as window dresser and visual merchandiser in the category equivalent to national and international agreements.

To count with an Artidi Accreditation is an insurance of professional level and an added value of differentiation.

For those students who search for a well known and very prestigious accreditation that will let you become part of the Window Dressing and Visual Merchandising professional activity.

6.- How can the choice between courses influence on my professional career?

The decision of choosing between schools or taking a window dressing and visual merchandising course relies on the new appearance during the last years of many offers from educational centers that offered courses of window dressing just as one more inside their curriculum. Without doubt everyone is free to choose any center o school for the education, but before taking a decision we should make ourselves the necessary questions...

Is that school or institute a specialized center for the career we want?
- Does the school or institute count with the necessary infrastructure?
- Does the school or institute have prestige?
- Would you be able to pay off the investment?
and you must have in mind that the best investment we make, is our education.

7.- How can schools or courses be compared?

The huge marketing on TV and internet can confuse you on taking a final decision. A good advice is to always look for the correct information that is trustworthy and clear.

The school or institute must be specialized on the career you’re searching for, not just a place that offers a individual course. Classes must be on the school and not through the internet because in this career you learn by executing, by practicing. The school or institute must count with the appropriate infrastructure to develop both practical projects and theoretical.

The school should be able to sustain information showing alumni work and pictures of projects. The link with companies must be real. The space must transmit to you the confidence and positive energy. The staff should be educated and open minded, ready to give answers to your questions and solutions to your doubts. But of course the final decision must be taken thinking about your future.

8.- What is the demand for somebody who has the Artidi diploma?

The actual presence of alumni in more that 70 companies of international recognition is a small proof of our high standards of education. More than 20 years of Artidi’s trajectory and the many company collaborators have given Artidi as a center of education on European level.

The absolute satisfactory work that our alumni have developed and the highly qualified professionals that teach at Artidi, plus the wide range of job opportunities that companies offer to our students, has given to Artidi the accreditation to see our School as the center of your education.

9.- Where and how is it possible to work?

All the wide range of practical and theoretical knowledge obtained at Artidi, will give our students the capacity to work in two lines.

One, as a freelance, offering your professional service to the assembly of window dressing and / or visual merchandiser, designing decorative elements or commercial furniture, directing campaigns.

Or you can become part of a creative team in a specific company putting in action all your knowledge as well. But what is absolutely truthful is that a high level education will open the doors to be related to a world of design, fashion, decoration, marketing, stands, events, scenography and much more.

All these opportunities will be discovered by you during the term of the course. The school is structured in 33 subjects of complete information.

 10.- Is it possible to find a job in any place around the world?

The participants to our courses represent 17 countries and all the Spanish provinces. Today our alumni is actually working in many different countries, at companies of national and/or international recognition, taking their knowledge to cities like, Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Mexico DF among others. The presence of Artidi Alumni around the work has become a community of professionals that develop an activity with a singular seal. To become a part of our family is to become an ARTIDIANO in the world.

11.- How is the window dresser and visual merchandiser world?

The day to day of a professional is full of exciting emotions; he/she must know how to achieve an equilibrium between the capacity as an artist and the functionality of a project in the real world of the market industry. To be positive and reasonable is a necessity, because working in teams will be a part of the daily work. The research for information or any object to obtain the inspiration will be natural, and the daily changing of design for anything is a must, because everything is different all the time.

This person is contagious to everybody with the passion he/she feels for this profession, walks on the streets enjoying every single detail in window shops and will discover new stores on his/her way. The window dresser and visual merchandiser never has a day of monotony.

12.- Is it a world where you are in continuing learning and innovation?

The fashion and design worlds are in a constantly renovation; trends that appear, new designs in runways, new discoveries in marketing or consumer psychology, the advance in new technologies, tools, materials and more. It is a world that twirls constantly, and the professionals must be on the same level. Learning everyday and recycling yourself is a must. To travel around a country or around the world will give you unlimited knowledge of new things. It is very important to visit museums, assist to events, and enjoy art and movies as a part of a professional life

13.- Which are the necessary qualities that one must have to dedicate in a profession as window dressers and visual merchandiser?

The wish is the beginning. To be interested in all the fashion and design industries, a natural instinct for creativity or the desire to learn, to have curiosity for every single detail that can give you inspiration, be positive and willing to engage yourself in new projects. Handy with tools, wish and will to learn practical and theoretical knowledge.

14.- What can this job offer than others can’t?

The works as a window dresser and visual merchandiser has many different aspects that will give you the chance to enjoy this career. It is more than a job; it is a way of life.

The differential value that this career offers in the range of creativity mixes with the professional activity. A job that will take you closer to an exciting world of fashion and design. Traveling becomes a fountain of inspiration and opens a wide range of opportunities to become the best. To communicate with people who walk daily on the streets to get new sensations, feelings and emotions is the value that only this profession can offer.

15.- At Artidi is it possible to obtain a course via distance learning?

There are many careers that can be learned by distance, but window dressing and visual merchandising aren’t part of the group. Distance education is a method in learning that could be appropriate for some theoretical subjects, but the real truth is that many prestigious schools, institutes or universities do not offers this possibility due to the very restricted limitations in the learning process, because the prestige of a school, institute or university is formed by the educational staff, the infrastructure and the methods of teaching. The education where the students are present in class allows a very effective, practical, dynamic, grouped, and to the moment method of learning. To have a teacher that can answer questions right away and learning by practicing in real spaces and real time is the best way to keep collecting knowledge. Handling tools, team work, the school life is the best way to achieve a specialize education and that is what Artidi offers.

16.- Approximately what is the salary in this profession?

Salaries as in many professions are variable depending on diverse situations such as the professional categories, the competency in variety, presentation, exclusivity, originality, or experience.

Also to work as” freelance” offers infinity of services that one can offer having in mind specific points, from the design to the assembly. That is why prices can vary from 120 € to 500 € per unit. A window dressing assembly that can cost up to 2000 €. The services in companies are marked depending on the preparation and development of the professional on the spot. Also prices can vary depending if just the design is prepared, the purchase of elements, direction of action and campaigns reaching 4000 €. This will also depend as well on the square meters or line meters to be worked on.

17.- Are there work opportunities in the window dressing and visual merchandising sector?

We can’t forget that these professions exist to enhance the companies’ profits and be different due to the competencies. It is a profession that will help the consumers to decide between brands and choose one. The final decision has a lot to do with the placement, the space of selling and the image of the product, which will have a perfect flow with the indicated professional who manages those strategic statements.

The minister of Economics implies that Spain is going through a steady moment where the products are stuck, and more professionals are needed to give the right movement to let economy grow.

This is a profession that is day by day more considered and highly valued for the companies to enhance selling due to a necessity of the market to sell more their products with a better image and to leave behind the competitors.

18.- Is it a creative profession?

Creativity is a capacity that people are born with, but can also be learned. Without doubts any profession related to design, creation and innovation needs a professional with creative skills. Today companies search for professionals with new ideas to pass the standards. Any kind of visual communication starts with the ideas born in the marketing, publicity, commercial or sales departments, but the huge difference will be marked by the professional who is able to develop these ideas based on the capacity of creativity that is innate in each person.

Creativity is a way of living, a day by day opportunity to make the difference, to enjoy life and see work with another perspective intensely and passionately.

19.- Is there any association for professionals of the window dressing and visual merchandising?

ASEMAIC is an association for the professionals, which allows for a constant professional growth and quality, oriented for and to them.
www.asemaic.com

20.- Is it possible to work while taking a course?

The Education in Artidi is constant and intense, it is inconvenient to take both activities in parallel. Many students do it but having in mind the major efforts that this will signify. To know how to manage time and optimize classes is the key for a successful result. Also Artidi offers another solution for students for whom it is impossible to assist class everyday. We have a course that takes place on Mondays in an intensive schedule leaving the rest of the week for other activities, this course last 9 months.

21.- If I am already working as a window dresser and/or visual merchandiser, what new things can Artidi offer?

Our students come from many different professions and different levels of experience. The professionals already in the sector come to Artidi looking for specific and specialized knowledge, to find the latest techniques and innovative methods and to experiment during the school period by recycling themselves and learning new designs, ideas or methods for the market. Artidi is a laboratory where our students are constantly discovering, experimenting and searching for new trends. Artidi offers the opportunity to reach perfection when handling materials and tools and letting creativity grow without limitations to overcome competitors. For every professional the renovation is synonymous of professional success.

22.- What is necessary to be matriculated at Artidi?

The steps to follow are easy and quick and can be found at Artidi’s web page, just follow the indications. Click here.

23.- How should the payments be done?

To reserve a place in the schedule wished, it is necessary to do the registration payment. The rest can be paid in two monthly installment: One at the beginning of the course and the second two months later.

24.- If i'm living in another country, how can I matriculate?

Artidi counts with international recognition, and it is familiar with the paperwork for the embassies. We have a high level of foreign students who request the student visa. The steps to obtain the visa are similar to many countries but to facilitate your paperwork with the Spanish Embassy at your country of residence, Artidi will send you the necessary documentation for it. At Artidi’s web page you can follow the steps and download the registration papers. Click here.

25.- Is it possible to access Artidi’s courses at the University of Barcelona?

The courses given at the Science Institute of the Education of the University of Barcelona are exclusively for teachers of the different subjects for medium and superior level. Artidi gives these classes since 1992.