Amanda Perna

20 designers must go in front of Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim to make a case why they deserve one of the 16 coveted spots this season. Once they are chosen, the 16 designers barely have a chance to celebrate before being awoken at the crack of dawn with one of the toughest first challenges in the series' history. Tim arrives at their apartment to wake the designers up and tells them to grab their bedsheets and come as they are. Their PJ's and bedsheets are their fabric for the first challenge! Actress Christina Ricci serves as guest judge.

Sixteen talented, spunky and full of life designers arrive at Madison Square Garden to kick off a new season of Project Runway. They are greeted by Heidi and Tim who have them do a mad dash around the venue for fabric. Supermodel and Project Runway Junior host Hannah Davis is the guest judge.

In the first unconventional materials challenge of the season the designers use greeting cards as their materials. Once in hand, each designer must decide how to read the cards in order to win the challenge. Ashley Tisdale joins the judges.

In the first team challenge of the season, the designers are paired up and treated to a day on a Celebrity Cruise ship. For some of the duos, the friendly seas are left behind and they hit some rocky water in the workroom. Tracee Ellis Ross guest judges.

The designers finally get to go to Mood and they are thrilled! They must put a modern and unique twist on a classic design. Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka joins as a guest judge.

The designers are heading home to work on their collections and prepare for a home visit from Tim. Once back in New York they are met with another twist.