Im telling you I havent said this very much Ihatedseason 14.
I felt that other than a couple of designers that the contestants werent working up to their potential.
The whole thing was lackluster.
Credit: Barbara Nitke/Lifetime
But clearly you got roped in.
What was the audition process like with teens?
Well, I was a secret.
So I wasnt involved in auditions.
They must have lost their minds.
You know, Im thrilled to say they did, but they lost their minds over everything!
First trip to Mood?
They lose their minds!
Frankly, if I ever went to Mood with you, I would also freak out.
Im not sure that has anything to do with being a teen, for what its worth.
And they looked at him and said, Its Mr. MOOOOD!
They were just like this about everything!
[Laughs] Theyre old souls these kids cannot be fresh on this planet.
When we had eliminations and of course with every challenge we do the designers were statesmanlike.
Meanwhile, the judges and me, were all sobbing!
Lets bring them back, lets do it now!
I know how much you love the kids, but we cant have a finale with 12 finalists.
[Laughs] It wouldnt be meaningful.
The future has never looked brighter to me.
And they were fantastic with critiques.
Theyre so mature about the critiques, and the also assimilate everything.
Did you have to change that for these kids?
Well, let me put it this way: I learned that I didnt have to.
Sensitive kids, theoretically.
Are most of them from small towns?
For many, it was their first time in New York.
And Im not denigrating Jo-Ann Godblessyou, Jo-Ann!
but their resources are not immediately available.
Yet they all just ascended to the most phenomenal levels and did really great work.
And she said, I know!
Id ask, How did you learn how to do this?
And theyd look at me like I have three heads and say, YoutTube!
I didnt even know this content was there!
Did they get along, for the most part?
They got along famously!
I couldnt believe it?
So are you telling me this going to be a drama-freeProject Runway?
Well, Ill take that.
Theyre just so wide-eyed.
I mean, we hadonemean girl.
And you know whats so interesting?
She was the one designer in the group who was homeschooled.
So on one hand I thought shes filled with insecurities and this is her way of compensating.
I dont like what Im seeing.
But no, for the most part, they get along.
The final runway show, was it at Fashion Week?
We were the tail end of Fashion Week.
We learned about the venue from Christian Siriano, another standing judge.
How did they relate to the kids?
The kids were in awe.
We didnt have any guest judges until the finale.
So it was nice to have that consistency in terms of voice.
And they were I mean, Im using you like a therapist!
Their interactions were about probing, learning more about the context, how the contestants were working.
It was just uplifting.
It was inspiring, I was so glad to be a fly on the wall.
Did you tailor the challenges for a younger competitor?
Whats the wackiest thing well see?
Our second challenge is an unconventional material challenge.
Im gonna really get in trouble for this interview but you know what?
The shows so good I dont care!
Lifetime was beside themselves [about this challenge].
No no no, we cant do this challenge.
Its gonna be horrible, its gonna be a big old mess.
I got on the call with Sarah Rea to the web link to say, Just stop it.
Theyre fearless, theyre talented, let them fly.
And the work was phenomenal.
We took them to a car wash. Yeah.
You took them to a car wash and had them do what, exactly?
They had a blast!
[Laughs] Youre not gonna believe it.
Bella Thorne is the seasons one guest judge, in the finale.
How did you guys settle on her?
Can I be honest with you?
I havent a clue why we chose her.
[Laughs] I havent a clue!
I didnt get it at all.
I thought … why?
Well, howd she do?
She was very engaged, and totally disarmed by these teens!
They looked at me and said, Wait, wait wait wait wait.
Who executed this work?
And I said, What do youmeanwho executed this?Theydid!
No, they designed it, who made it?
And they just said this cant be.
But yeah, it can be!
Thats exactly what happened.
What do you think well see from these kids?
Theres a huge journey ahead for these teens and as for where theyll end up?
I dont even think they can imagine, just aesthetically.
Theyll encounter so many things that are new.
And the fact that they possess such a strong point of view now, its remarkable.
In the first challenge, for every designer, theres a different point of view.
And I didnt even have to talk to them about that in the workroom.
Theyre so palpably who they are.
Its very much in your face.
And did that result in a closer competition?
Much much much much much so.
Boy, was it a tough race.
At the finale it really was anyones call.
But I believe it will all be work related.
So the adults fromRunwaycaused you more headaches than a bunch of teens?
[Laughs] YES.
