Breaking News: Designer Zac Posen to Replace Michael Kors on PROJECT RUNWAY; New Team Format Announced

Project Runway's Season 11 returns with a twist that throws 16 eager designers into a panic when they discover they will be participating in the series' first-ever TEAMS EDITION, premiering Thursday, January 24, at 9pm ET/PT.

This season, the controversial "team challenges" are taken to a whole new level when the designers must work together for every challenge while ensuring their own garments stand out on the runway to host and judge Heidi Klum, Marie Claire's Fashion Director Nina Garcia and featured judge, award-winning fashion designer Zac Posen.

Michael Kors, who has served as the show's featured judge from season one, was unable to appear for all the show's season eleven tapings and will return on the season finale, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The game-changing new element will push designers to work collaboratively but who will be a team player and who will throw their teammates under the bus? Tim Gunn, will, once again, serve as the mentor to the designers, as they sew their way to New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Centerwhere Michael Kors will serve as the finale guest judge.

Project Runway's 11th Season also features guest judges from the world of film, television and music including the legendary Bette Midler, Oscar(R) winner Susan Sarandon, country music sensation and Grammy(R) Award winner Miranda Lambert, Grammy-winning singer songwriter John Legend, red-carpet fashion experts Joan and Melissa Rivers, Emmy Rossum, Kristin Davis, Jordana Brewster and designers Rachel Roy, Tracy Reese, Chris Benz and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano.

Lifetime will also air the special Road to the Runway prior to the premiere at 8pm ET/PT as an introduction to the new designers. Hosted by Marie Claire's ZAnna Roberts Rassi, the special will also feature commentary from Project Runway All Stars winner Mondo Guerra and designer alum Laura Kathleen.

As part of the winner's prize package, this season's victorious designer will receive $100,000 from L'Oréal Paris to start his/her own line, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a 2013 Lexus GS 350, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to create his/her own vision and run his/her business and the opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection at Lord & Taylor. The model paired with the winner of Project Runway will also appear in the designer's Marie Claire editorial feature and receive $25,000 from L'Oréal Paris EverStyle.

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