The 16 new designers are introduced and their first challenge: making clothing out of unusual sources.

The contestants are forced to expand and purify their thinking by "going green" with the help of their models.

The remaining designers are inspired by New York's night life for their new creations.

Short track speed skating five-time Olympic medalist and 2007 Dancing with the Stars winner Apolo Anton Ohno is guest judge. Inspired by his wins, the designers have to create sport outfits for the Olympic Games.

Inspired by her role on Lipstick Jungle, Brooke Shields guest judges as the designers must create outfits for the working woman.

The designers were asked to make an outfit for a drag queen. Chris March of Season 4 made a guest appearance to deliver the challenge. The designers were picked at random to they select which drag queen to work with. They were given $200 to shop for supplies and two days to complete their designs. The winner received immunity for the next challenge. The designers' models were not used in this challenge. Designers and Drag Queens: * Blayne with Miss Understood * Daniel with Annida Greenkard * Jerrell with LeMay * Joe with Varla Jean Merman * Keith with Sherry Vine * Kenley with Farrah Moans * Korto with Sweetie * Leanne with Sharon Needles * Stella with Luisa Verde * Suede with Hedda Lettuce * Terri with Acid Betty * Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors * Guest Judge: RuPaul

The designers were required to make an outfit made entirely out of the spare parts and raw materials from a Saturn hybrid car. They were told to walk to 142 West 31st Street in Manhattan. After taking an elevator to the roof of the building, they were instructed to collect as much of the recycled car parts from within the parked Saturn vehicles. They had four minutes to collect the materials and one day to complete their outfits. The winner received immunity for the next challenge. * Judges: Heidi Klum, Michael Kors * Guest judges: Laura Bennett (sitting in for Nina Garcia), Rachel Zoe

The designers were taken to the Meatpacking District and brought to the offices and design showroom of living fashion legend and current CFDA president, designer Diane von Furstenberg. Their challenge was to create a look for her Fall 2008 collection inspired by the movie, A Foreign Affair, starring screen legend, Marlene Dietrich. They were given free rein and 15 minutes inside Diane von Furstenburg's fabric sample room to select fabrics for their designs. The winning garment will be produced in limited quantities and exclusively sold to American Express cardholders, with proceeds going to the CFDA Foundation. The winner did not receive immunity for the next challenge. * Judges: Heidi Klum, Michael Kors * Guest judge: Fern Mallis (sitting in for Nina Garcia), Diane von Furstenberg

The designers team up in pairs with eliminated designers to create an avant-garde garment around one of the two astrological signs of their group. They had one day and 8 hours to complete the look. The night before the runway, they were brought to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. There the designers were greeted with surprise guest appearances of former Project Runway designers and winners Kara Janx, Alison Kelly, Jay McCarroll, Robert Plotkin, Christian Siriano, Daniel Vosovic, & Carmen Webber, who all voted on a winning look. This episode featured a surprise double elimination & the winner no longer had the advantage of immunity going forward. Teams: * Blayne and Stella (Libra) * Jerell and Jennifer (Sagittarius) * Joe and Daniel (Aries) * Kenley and Wesley (Aquarius) * Korto and Kelli (Aquarius) * Leanne and Emily (Scorpio) * Suede and Jerry (Libra) * Terri and Keith (Leo) * Judges: Heid

The designers are assigned recent college graduates and are given the task of giving them a fashion makeover to help them enter the workforce. Each designer was to gear their look to their client's specific profession, whilst keeping their style and pleasing both the clients and their mothers. The clients wore the outfits down the runway; the models were not used in this challenge. * Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors * Guest judge: Cynthia Rowley

The designers are given the task of designing for each other. The looks were to be inspired by different genres of music. The designers wore their outfits down the runway; the models were not used for this challenge. Teams (Designers names are in bold; genre applies to teammate): * Jerell designed for Kenley (Pop Music) * Kenley designed for Leanne (Hip Hop Music) * Leanne designed for Korto (Country Music) * Korto designed for Suede (Punk Rock) * Suede designed for Jerell (Rock and Roll) * Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors * Guest judge: LL Cool J

The remaining contestants head outdoors, to design an outfit of their choice inspired by nature.

The series begins to sew up its fifth season with Part 1 of the two-part finale, in which the remaining contestants prepare to showcase their designs at New York's Fashion Week.

The final designers are on pins and needles as the winning contestant is revealed in the conclusion of the Season 5 finale. Tim Gunn serves as the guest judge.