Sparking creativity: Young designers work with the pros on design

Talk about sparking creativity.

Leaders of the Exhibit Columbus and Foundation For Youth Design Camp which wrapped up on Friday at Columbus Youth Camp have covered some of the most rudimentary principles of architectural design for a dozen participants from middle school to high school.

“They have seen that even building a fire that will start requires some basic elements of design,” said Laura Garrett.

She’s director of partnerships for the Landmark Columbus Foundation. That is the non-profit umbrella agency for Exhibit Columbus, an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus.

A $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant made the program available.

For the two previous summers, Britt Brewer with the local J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program worked with retired teacher Robin Cain to host a design camp at Columbus Youth Camp. This marks the first year for Exhibit Columbus to organize such a venture, or perhaps adventure, that has included Exhibit Columbus’ four Miller Prize winner firms working with the students.

Five members of Exhibit Columbus’ High School Design Team have served as mentors during the camp that began on Monday.

Activities have ranged from nature hikes to lantern creation to the youngsters designing a wayfinding beacon — a directional element meant to encourage visitors to the architectural exhibition titled Public By Design, opening Aug. 25, to move from one installation to the next. Their finalized creation, constructed partly with swimming pool noodles, will be on display at 411 Gallery on Sixth Street during the exhibition.

“It’s been nice to see the students really get into it,” Garrett said.

And students were hardly the only ones learning.

“We … learned through the camp the process of working in a different environment with students that have a unique approach and a fresh point of view,” said Alba Cortes of Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO in Mexico City, Mexico.