Mind-Scape

Prologue

Mental health is defined as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, to realize their abilities, to learn well and work well, and to contribute to their communities. Mental health is an integral component of health and well-being and is more than the absence of a mental disorder.”

World Health Organization; 2022.

Mental health issues are increasingly becoming a significant problem in colleges, causing student retention and enrollment declines. Resources, particularly counseling centers, are often strained, indicating a need for increased funding. Colleges have taken positive steps, such as introducing telehealth and peer counseling, with some offering courses on emotional regulation. With such strategies being implemented, there remains a pressing concern as students grapple with mental health challenges, and the need for further assistance is paramount. As interior designers, we understand physical space has a role in assisting people to feel safe and well.

2024 FAQ Past Winners
3D white globe graphic with a diamond in the center

Design Scenario

Prompt

A Place of Restoration and Respite for college students

Location

A place on an existing campus (your own or elsewhere)

Time

Current day or near future

Design Scope

Maximum 50 Square Meters. The competition is open to interpretations of the safe space. You can either choose an existing indoor or outdoor venue, or you can propose a temporary installation that can be relocatable or reproducible in other locations. There are no programmatic requirements for this project. You craft the needs and justify the spatial solutions based on your specific site selection and research.

Users

Students in Institutions of Higher Learning

Conceptual Influences

College students are suffering from mental health issues in record numbers. The distress has been magnified by the global pandemic, isolation, financial uncertainty, systemic racism, and challenges related to gender non-conformity and climate change. The American College Health Association reveals considerable mental health issues among students, particularly among non-binary students who face increased academic, financial, and emotional challenges. Specific racial and ethnic groups, including American Indian/Alaskan Native students, reported a notable rise in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. These affected groups are among those least likely to seek mental health services, affording us the opportunity to experiment with the creation of a physical space that might help to address these pressing issues.

There is a critical need for safe, restorative physical spaces on campuses – “mind-scapes” – that promote wellness and foster a sense of community. In response, the development of interior environments which encourage healing, from conventional spaces to more creative, future-oriented solutions, may be an essential step toward addressing these mental health needs. Investigate the potential of an interior environment to provide a healing influence. Consider various aspects such as alternative spaces, the energy they provide, and the experiences they offer, in addition to conventional restorative elements. Utilize your creativity to envision these transformative spaces. Aim not just to address current needs but to provide innovative solutions that might meet future challenges.

Considerations

“Restorative environments should permit and actively promote restoration, meaning that the design of the space must match its intended use. Restorative spaces should be designed so that social or physical demands are absent (e.g., noise, reminders of work obligations), and further introduce other elements that facilitate greater mental ease and rehabilitation.”

WELL Building Standard MIND Research Digest, Feature M07 Restorative Spaces

Consider the following:

  1. What specific needs are being addressed based on your research and site selection?
  2. Some student demographics experience higher levels of mental health distress (neurodiverse, women, non-binary, people of color). Are you designing for a specific user group?
  3. Your design can push the boundaries of a traditional “space”, but it must have elements of enclosure which may or may not be “built” or physical. Your design
    is an installation that may be temporary, demountable and may be replicated
    in other locations.

Research

Research topics relevant to mental health, wellness and inclusion as related to the narrative that your team creates (i.e., scope of student mental health issues; the effect of the pandemic on student mental health; institutional site considerations; specific mental health issues related to user race, class and gender identity, etc.). Research should be evident in the narratives, conceptual description, and design outcomes.

Deliverables

To assure digital viewing, create a single HORIZONTAL [16:9 ratio or 24” x 48”] poster including all the requirements below:

  • All diagrams, drawings, and renderings are to be completed by student teams. Faculty are encouraged to provide critique and feedback to their students in a timely fashion
  • All stages of work including the creation of the poster file must be prepared within the TWO WEEK (14 full days) timeframe of the competition.
  • All entries must be submitted using PDF file format demonstrating the team’s design.

Within the poster, your submission must include:

  • Design concept (maximum 100 words) supported by visuals and notations.
  • Written narrative describing the user and the user’s experience in the environment (maximum 350 words). The narrative should support all design decisions.
  • Visual representation of critical aspects of the user experience in context to the environment, including site analysis, research (e.g., observations, interviews), and what you deem relevant.
  • Documentation of installation to include plan (site plan if needed), axonometric (or equivalence in three-dimensional visuals) and conceptual diagrams.

Each project must adhere to these requirements:

  • The file must be .pdf format and the file size must not exceed 100 Mb.
  • Format to be 24” x 48” wide or ratio of 16:9 to accommodate digital viewing.

To assure blind review, submissions must NOT include author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s) or branding(s), course numbers, or any other forms of identification. Submissions that do not satisfy all requirements will be disqualified from review.

Judging Criteria

To be considered for judging in the IDEC Student Design Competition, all entries must abide by all the competition rules.

35 points

Needfulness and creativity of overall design solution

25 points

Specificity and effectiveness of the restorative environment

20 points

Specificity of user group, user need and evidence-based design

20 points

Graphic composition of the poster presentation

All drawings, diagrams, and other visual items are expected to be executed to the highest level of craft. All writing must be free of spelling and grammar errors. Quotations or support images must be properly cited.

Timeline & Schedule

Half circle with a staircase texture within the shape and blue and green triangles

Due to the variety of studio schedules, the overall timeline for this competition is two full weeks, regardless of times or length of classes. It is suggested students work both inside and outside of the studio as they so need or desire to accomplish the goals of the competition, with the first part of the competition devoted to research and the second for design and execution; however that is split is up to studio teachers. Feedback should be given after the first part to ensure the student is on track, and the final poster should be submitted to the instructor in PDF format at the end of 14 days. Students are encouraged to read the referenced articles noted but should also do first-person research on this via observation, interviews, or other inquiry.

June 26, 2023

Student competition is published on the IDEC website.
Entries may be completed in either the Fall 2023 or early Spring 2024 semester.

Nov 1, 2022 - Feb 2, 2024 (11:59 PM Pacific)

Online submission window opens. In PDF format: Submittal window is open online. Each college or university program can submit up to 2 projects; both may be undergraduate; both may be graduate or a mix of one from each group.

July 1, 2023 – February 2, 2024

Faculty sponsors may choose any consecutive two-week period during this time to facilitate the competition.

February – March 2024

Projects are juried and will be judged by IDEC volunteers and professionals. Winners and their respective faculty will be notified prior to the 2024 IDEC Annual Conference.

March 2024

Finalists are displayed at the 2024 IDEC Annual Conference and recognized, along with the respective faculty. Winners will be displayed digitally and announced at the Annual Conference on March 8, 2024.

Awards

There will be three categories for winning entries, for a total of nine teams recognized.
In the case of a tie or limited entries in any categories, the final jury reserves the right to adjust awards accordingly. The winning entries with more than one person will share equally in the prize money amount.

Community/2-year Program

First place

$500

Second place

$250

Honorable mention

$100

4-year Program

First place

$500

Second place

$250

Honorable mention

$100

Graduate Program

First place

$500

Second place

$250

Honorable mention

$100

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Registration Deadline ClosedFebruary 02, 2024, 11:59 PM PST

Competition Rules

  • The IDEC member faculty sponsor must upload entries to the online submission portal by the deadline of Feb 2, 2024, 11:59 PM Pacific, in PDF format.
  • Students may work individually or in a team of no more than four.
  • In no exception, shall the school be identified within the project. Students may use a specific site on their campus to locate their project, however no school buildings should be identified by the name of program or university. If there are any references to the site, they must be generic and not identifiable (no school mascot, colors or other logos allowed). Entries that show an identification of school or student within the design layout or entries that do not comply with all competition requirements will be disqualified.
  • Teams can be cross-expertise including any level of development (first year and 2nd year; First through 4th yr; graduate only per the submission categories). No graduates shall work with undergraduates on this competition.
  • Students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate interior design programs that have at least one faculty member that is a member of IDEC are eligible to enter. The supervising faculty will facilitate access to competition materials and updates via the IDEC website.
  • Projects must be supervised by a faculty member and completed in a consecutive two-week (14 days) including all changes, edits and revisions.
  • Projects must be submitted with no student and/or program identification on the poster or in the file name.
  • A total up to two (2) projects will be accepted from each program, including undergraduate and graduate submissions.
  • Project information will be available on the IDEC website through Jan 20, 2024, and can only be accessed by a member of IDEC.
  • Faculty are encouraged to use this design challenge to aid in fulfilling their school’s learning objectives as well as those outlined in this competition.
  • A Q & A section will be available online beginning Aug 20, 2023, with the competition information and will be updated through Jan 15, 2024. It is the responsibility of the supervising faculty to visit the Q & A postings frequently to stay updated on the competition project.
  • Questions or inquiries should be directed to: info@idec.org and will be answered within a 48-hour period.

Past Recipients

View the Winners’ Projects on the Winner’s Circle page

View all past recipients
Graduate Winners
First Place : Project Oasis

Celia Armstrong, Julia Huhnh, and Andrew Sheetz
Instructor: Ada Tremante
Drexel University
East Region

Second Place: H3

Dongniya Xu
Instructor: Gabriela Fonseca Pereira
Illinois State University
Midwest Region

Undergraduate Winners
First Place : Yeni Bir Hayat- A New Life

Samantha Kubiak and Deja Carter
Instructor: Mary Ellen Fritz
Kendall College of Art and Design (of Ferris State University)
Midwest Region

Second Place: Fallout

Elyse Rutherford and Corah Miller
Instructor: Treva Sprout Ahrenholtz
University of Wyoming
Pacific West Region

Second Place: Bayt to Heimat

Katlyn Pham, Hotian Wang, and Maddi Green
Instructor: Barbara Young and Hannah Bulow
Purdue University
Midwest Region

Second Place: Fallout

Elyse Rutherford and Corah Miller
Instructor: Treva Sprout Ahrenholtz
University of Wyoming
Pacific West Region

Honorable Mention
Mosaic Refugee Shelter

Samantha James and Matthew Dalthrop
Instructor: Amy Edwards
Maryville University
Midwest Region

Sakha’

Emily Chen, Vicky Trinh, and Jessica Chu
Instructor: Tiia Manson, Sharon Hollingsworth, and Robin Bailey
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Pacific West Region

Wera

Ana Gabriela Rueda Gomez, Andres Federico Gutierrez Duran, Ana Sofia Lopez, and Mariana Aguilera
Instructor: Daniel Ronderos
University of Andes
South Region

Finding Adey Abeba: Hope and New Beginnings

Tzu-hui Chen, Aleana Oataluna, and Kathryn Feeney
Instructor: Tharique De Silva and Miranda Anderson
University of Idaho
Pacific West Region

Essence Alaska

Macy Hubbard, Jimmy Day III, and Elena Trage
Instructor: Laura Cole
Colorado State University
Southwest Region

Shifting Permanence

Autumn McFarland and Rebecca Calzada Herrera
Instructor: Jeannine Vail
University of North Texas
Southwest Region

Fleeing War in a Wheelchair The Struggle of Disabled Refugees

Jasmine Davalos and Claire Bright
Instructor: Ela Tekkaya Parsani
The Art Institutes
Southwest Region

References

Abelson, S., Lipson, S.K., Eisenberg, D. (2022). Mental Health in College Populations: A Multidisciplinary Review of What Works, Evidence Gaps, and Paths Forward. In: Perna, L.W. (eds) Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research. Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, vol 37. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org10.1007/978-3-030-76660-3_6

Lipson, S. K., Zhou, S., Abelson, S., Heinze, J., Jirsa, M., Morigney, J., … & Eisenberg, D. (2022). Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by race/ethnicity: Findings from the national healthy minds study, 2013–2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 306, 138-147.

Miwa, Y., & Hanyu, K. (2006). The effects of interior design on communication and impressions of a counselor in a counseling room. Environment and Behavior, 38(4), 484-502.

Mohamed, R. M., & Ali, M. A. M. (2023). Promoting Students’ Mental Health through Design and Implementation of Multi-Activity Pods in Educational Institutions Using the WELL Building Standard. Designs, 7(1), 30.

Pedrelli, P., Nyer, M., Yeung, A., Zulauf, C., & Wilens, T. (2015). College students: mental health problems and treatment considerations. Academic psychiatry, 39, 503-511.

Platt, L. S., Bosch, S. J., & Kim, D. (2017). Toward a Framework for Designing Person‐Centered Mental Health Interiors for Veterans. Journal of Interior Design, 42(2), 27-48. (*This one is tailored for veterans but will provide some insights for students)

Shepley, M. M., & Pasha, S. (2017). Design for mental and behavioral health. Taylor & Francis.

Worsley, J. D., Harrison, P., & Corcoran, R. (2023). Accommodation environments and student mental health in the UK: the role of relational spaces. Journal of Mental Health, 32(1), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.1922648

Inside Higher Ed. (2022, April 19). Survey: College Students Reflect on Mental Health and Campus Help. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/04/19/survey-college-students-reflect-mental-health-and-campus-help

“The Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses.” (2022, July 8). The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/well/mind/mental-health-college-students.html

Thank you to IDEC Sponsors and Partners

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