Samsung Mobile and Internationally Recognized Designer Alexander Wang Partner for Industry’s First Crowd-Sourced Design Process to Benefit Art Start Charity

Creative expression and drawing tools on the Samsung GALAXY Note II will be used to interpret inspiration for the creation of a limited-edition bag  

February 21, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, and New York-based designer Alexander Wang announced today a collaboration to create the industry’s first co-created print inspired by crowd-sourced sketches and images using the GALAXY Note II. The print will appear on a limited-edition bag that will be sold in key markets around the world to raise funds for Art Start, an award-winning, nationally-recognised charity that uses the arts to nurture the creative talents of at-risk children and youth.

Leveraging the GALAXY Note II’s inherent create-and-share benefit, Wang will engage a group of special friends, stylists, photographers, and others to create “doodles” – an image, pattern, or a photo – on their GALAXY Note II device. Gathering from active idea-capturing and immediate-sharing, the celebrated New York designer will then curate these sketches into one collectively-inspired final print.

“I am most inspired from my everyday life and the people that surround me, so the idea of a co-creation with the people that I admire and respect the most is very exciting,” said Alexander Wang. “This collaboration represents a new way that technology and style can come together. And, through a concerted effort, I am happy to be a part of supporting such a great charity as Art Start that embraces creativity and art in a way that can change lives.”

Wang quickly joined the fashion elite after winning the coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2008. He is recognised for his global fashion sensibility that exudes a sense of irony and ease. Wang’s knack for pushing boundaries and delightfully surprising his consumers made him the perfect partner for Samsung’s most cutting-edge technology.

“A passion for experimentation, Wang’s jovial sensibility and on-the-go lifestyle are the characteristics that we seek to empower with the GALAXY Note II,” said Kwon Jae Hoon, Managing Director of Samsung Malaysia Electronics. “Technology has brought many possibilities in the creative industry of fashion designers. Further, Samsung has provided people with limitless freedom to be creative and productive with their products such as the GALAXY Note II. With the advent of fashion and technology convergence, Samsung is determined to develop more products that elevate their passion through innovation.”

The multi-tasking GALAXY Note II, with a perfect viewing experience and unique and differentiated features, allows users to discover information and capture their ideas faster, express thoughts freely and manage tasks more efficiently. It is the ultimate smartphone for creative, expressive and unique individuals. Consumers can easily use the phone’s simple expression tools to personalize messages with the S Pen, share calendars and contacts, write information while on a call, or share links to maps, YouTube videos and apps, making it ideal for those constantly on the move. Thanks to the GALAXY Note II’s 5.5” HD Super AMOLED screen, they will also be able to see crystal clear images on a larger screen.

Art Start is a New York City-based non-profit organization that uses the arts to save lives and to transform communities. Focusing on at-risk children and youth between the ages of 5 – 21, Art Start’s creative arts workshops seek to nurture the creativity and talents of their youth participants, while instilling the confidence to pursue meaningful opportunities in life.

"As we have found over the past 21 years, art is the starting point of a process; the medium through which change takes place,” said Johanna De Los Santos, Executive Director at Art Start. “By partnering with Alexander Wang and Samsung mobile, we’ll be providing our youth with exceptional opportunities that are typically not available. By inspiring and enabling our participants with technology, industry mentorships and direction, we’ll demonstrate how creativity begets success and happiness."

In addition to partnering with Wang, Samsung mobile is also an official sponsor of New York Fashion Week. Samsung mobile will host an exclusive VIP lounge that will engage and inspire the fashion elite with the power of the Samsung GALAXY products. Art Start students will also get a backstage look at this iconic NYC event through on-site visits and mentorship opportunities. Media can also take advantage of the media tents with working stations and high-speed internet, as well as courtesy battery replacements during the show. Follow the action at Fashion Week via the #GalaxyNoteFW hashtag. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com