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.

The designers are broken into teams of two to create a design that's larger than life--their models are stilt walkers! In the first ever outdoor challenge, the runway show is held outside in New York for all to see. Kim Kardashian serves as guest judge.