Get ready to see yourself in a whole new light by interacting with Swindon’s new range of window designs which are set to transform empty shops in the town centre.
 
The New Swindon Company (TNSC) - acting on behalf of Swindon Borough Council - and inSwindon will be giving the town centre a colourful boost this summer with an interactive window design project which is set to spruce up empty shop windows and add more fun and interest to popular shopping areas in Swindon town centre.
 
The new window designs will incorporate mirrors into the window displays making them interactive as passersby catch their reflection and immediately bring to life new characters – from pirates and rock stars to ballerinas.
 
Why not take a picture of yourself or your friends in character and send them into www.strikeaposeswindon.co.uk and be in with a chance of winning an iPod Shuffle! The iPod Shuffles will be given away every month for the next six months to members of the public who send in the funniest pictures.
 
Cllr Roderick Bluh, Swindon Borough Council, commented: “I am delighted that the New Swindon Company and InSwindon are following up my recommendation to make the town centre more attractive during these troubled economic times with these interactive window designs. Swindon has a long record of being a centre of innovation and these displays will build on that tradition.”
 
Carol Heneghan, Director of Marketing at The New Swindon Company, comments: “The retail market in Swindon, like everywhere else, faces tough times, but taking action to encourage recovery is what will count in the long term. Simple and creative use of empty shop fronts will help to show the town in a better light and cheer up residents and visitors at the same time. We are also exploring the opportunity of opening up empty units temporarily for use by community groups, as we have already done in a number of cases, and welcome any further interest on that front.”
 
Simon Jackson, chief executive of inSwindon, who will also contribute financially to the project, added: “InSwindon and The New Swindon Company have been discussing a number of ways in which we can give Swindon the competitive edge by making it an attractive and fun place to visit. I’m sure the public will enjoy the new window designs and have great fun creating some crazy images for the competition.”
 
The new and improved shop fronts will be unveiled in the coming weeks with the old Zavvi store on Canal Walk being the first unit to get this unique treatment.
 
TNSC is managing the project on behalf of inSwindon and Swindon Borough Council. Local design agency, WOW Creative has produced the concepts and artwork for each unit. Smart City Dressing is tasked with the installation and inSwindon will manage the ongoing management and window cleaning of the units.
 
Your photographs can be uploaded onto www.strikeaposeswindon.co.uk