HP Technology Inspires Design on Lifetime Television’s Hit Series "Project Runway"

TV show designers stay on cutting edge of fashion using technology from HP and Intel

NEW YORK, Calif. - HP today announced that aspiring designers will have the opportunity to “make it work” with HP technology on the ninth season of Lifetime Television’s Emmy® Award nominated design sensation “Project Runway.”

The season kicks off with 20 designers – the largest group in the show’s history – tomorrow, July 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime Television.

The use of HP technology enables the show’s designers to express their artistic vision with the latest HP touch-enabled PCs based on Intel processors while competing in challenges to gain a spot at New York Fashion Week.

Throughout season nine of “Project Runway,” designers have the option to swap their sketchbooks for HP PCs with Intel processors, allowing them to use the latest in touch technology and responsiveness to explore new ideas and processes.

“I am thrilled to see the return of HP in our ninth season of ‘Project Runway,’” said Meryl Poster, president, Television, The Weinstein Company. “Last year, the HP-Intel challenge resulted in some of the most evocative garments and emotional story elements of the season. This year we’ve upped the stakes with tougher, more ambitious creative challenges, and HP is there with us to bring the designers up to a new level of creativity through technology.”

Technology on the show

“Project Runway” designers use the latest HP EliteBook Tablet PC notebooks available with second-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors to create winning designs throughout the season. Trading up for this digital sketchpad allows designers to use a pen or touch technology to create custom designs for each challenge in unlimited colors and styles, and make modifications with ease. Additional products, including HP TouchSmart desktop PCs, HP video cameras and HP Veer, will be used throughout the season to help designers connect with friends and family and tackle challenges beyond the workroom.(1)

HP has been on the forefront of fashion and technology since its unveiling of the HP Mini Vivienne Tam “digital clutch“ notebook on the catwalk of Tam’s 2008 fashion show at New York Fashion Week. The company’s collaboration with fashion trendsetters continued with Tam in 2009 and relationships with other fashion heavy hitters, such as “Project Runway“ and the trend-defining film “Sex and the City 2.”

The winning designer of season nine will receive a $50,000 prize package from HP and Intel to create his/her own vision and run his/her business.

Online and on the runway

During the season, “Project Runway” fans can visit the HP and Intel Brand Boutique on www.mylifetime.com/hp to learn about an array of technology and tap into their inner creativity. The Brand Boutique also will announce the upcoming “On the Runway Sketching Challenge,” during which fashionistas everywhere can show off their inner designer in a drawing contest. Season eight designer Mondo Guerra will be a guest judge.

For more design entertainment, HP and Intel are bringing fans the Designer Showdown, a digital design series featuring four young designers who will compete to create fashionable garments using the latest HP technology. The designer who wows the judges’ panel, made up of celebrities and fashion veterans, and wins the series will have the opportunity to pitch designs to industry pros and take home a suite of HP technology.

In addition, HP is extending the runway fashion experience to enthusiasts at home with Mall World, a virtual reality game featuring designers and the HP technology seen on the show. Users can shop the latest designs in the virtual store or relive the challenges with a virtual fashion show. Additional information is available at www.facebook.com/hp.

About “Project Runway”

Hosted by supermodel and fashion maven Heidi Klum, the hit series Project Runway provides budding designers with an opportunity to launch their careers in fashion, under the watchful eye of mentor and Liz Claiborne Chief Creative Officer Tim Gunn. Project Runway was 2010’s No. 1 rated and most watched competitive reality program on ad-supported cable among Women 18-49, Women 25-54, Women 18+, Adults 18-49, Adults 18+ and Households. The show recently was awarded with a 2011 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program and also was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award in the Reality-Competition Program category.

Project Runway is produced by The Weinstein Company, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture. Executive producers include Bob and Harvey Weinstein (co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company), Meryl Poster of The Weinstein Company, Jon Murray and Sara Rea of Bunim-Murray Productions, Heidi Klum, and Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber of Full Picture Entertainment. Barbara Schneeweiss oversees the production on behalf of The Weinstein Company. Rob Sharenow, Gena McCarthy and David Hillman of Lifetime Television also executive produce.

About The Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company (TWC) was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corporation in 1979. TWC is a multimedia company that officially launched on Oct. 1, 2005.

About Lifetime Television

Lifetime Television is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television®, Lifetime Movie Network®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.tv, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com and LifetimeMoms.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, and a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure at the convergence of the cloud and connectivity, creating seamless, secure, context-aware experiences for a connected world. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

(1) Within wireless coverage area only. Actual speeds may vary. Email, mobile number and related information required for setup and activation. Required data services sold separately; unlimited plan recommended and may be required. Not all web content may be available.

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