Person of the Week: Tim Gunn

Image Courtesy Lifetime TV

“Make it work.” Those three words made Tim Gunn a reality TV star as the mentor and voice of reason on Project Runway. However, long before joining forces with Heidi Klum to helm the angst-ridden design competition, Tim Gunn was already a star in his own right.


The son of an FBI agent, Tim Gunn was an athletic lad. He was a champion swimmer in high school. Later, he went on to receive a BFA in Sculpture at Corcoran College of Art and Design. In 1982, Gunn joined the staff of Parsons where in 1989, he was named Associate Dean. And in 2000, was appointed a department chair.

In 2004, Gunn joined Project Runway where he would act as a counselor and sounding board for the contestants. The same sense of balance and forward thinking that made him an integral part of the Parsons’ faculty, made Tim the perfect choice for his new role on Project Runway. In 2007, Gunn retired from Parsons to accept the position of Chief Creative Officer of Liz Claiborne.

Mr. Gunn has hosted his own television program, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style and has published several informative works dedicated to finding a sense of elegance and taste in design. Mr. Gunn’s efforts to make the world less tacky and more pleasant are enough of a reason to name him our “Person of the Week.” However, it’s Mr. Gunn’s dedication to education and fostering young artists of all genres to excel that makes him truly exceptional.