The Element of...Design! by k. Talbott " Designer element, what is that?" you might ask. For SchoolDesigner, this is our idea of how to correctly exhibit a school. Perhaps architects are familiar with the common "architectural feature" or usage of "space," in their jargon. But, for the average person, "designer elements" is a way of "breaking down the overall school into components or 'elements,'" comments creator of the term "designer elements" Joel K. Sims, AIA, founder of SchoolDesigner.com and now CollegeDesigner.com. Three or five photos do not accurately reflect a whole school. Many of the minute facets get lost in overall photos. Therefore, the purpose and usage of a "designer element" at SchoolDesigner is to highlight a project and create an "an online 'idea book' that generates inspiration for the next school project," notes Sims. "The 'elements' are easy to understand because they focus on a defined and specific design idea." A new school can be magnificent and breathtaking, but many of the specific design features may never be seen in photographs. A design element showcases one feature of the school and accurately pieces together the school by giving it the meticulous attention it deserves. It can be as detailed as the design of a student worktable or as spacious as a translucent dome. A typical element consists of three photos or renderings, but those can not be of three different ideas. Therefore a picture of a staircase and the library and the cafeteria is not an element. Although they all may have innovative characteristics, those photos do not connect. A common "theme" or trait connects all three photos together. "Ideally, as more people understand the focus of a designer element, we hope they will submit five, ten, or 15 elements for one school, since we believe that more photos will accurately represent the idea of a school," projects Sims. Since 2006, when Designer Elements first launched, people have come to understand what SchoolDesigner expects. The first element received gave Sims the confidence that "this was a concept people could grasp," thanks to members Marpillero Pollak Architects. Since that time, submissions have not always turned out to be correct elements. Therefore Sims has realized the need to educate participants. SchoolDesigner created the This Is Not An Element to help contrast the difference between what is and is not an element. Currently there are over 370 elements on SchoolDesigner and CollegeDesigner. Elements have been created of Art Rooms, Music Rooms, Commons Spaces , Auditoriums, Ceilings, Media Centers, Aquatic Centers, Gymnasiums, Stadiums and Performing Arts centers to name a few. You can find more elements here. SchoolDesigner just automated its element system catering toward efficiency and preferences of users. For members, there is an additional "direct link to the firm profile page so the creator of the element can be easily identified." Let us know how we can help you become a member! SchoolDesigner introduced The Collabetition in 2007 to provide a cross between collaboration and competition with the ultimate goal of elevating the quality of school designs around the world. In a sense, the submissions are elements. Many of the previous entries can be found on the website under "designer elements." Previous winners include SHW Group, Gelfand Partners, Cannon Design, Friar Associates, DLR Group, and Newport Collaborative Architects, to name a few.
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