Beach Elementary School Donor Tile Wall
Concept, design, and installation of custom tile wall for public elementary school capital campaign.
Creative plan to optimize multiple donor tier engagement and communications.
Incorporation of local flora and fauna depicted in hand thrown tiles to create a life-size creekside scene.
Project raised over 5 times the targeted amount for school facility and grounds (@$250K).
art and design Pear Michaels 2011
20 by 12 foot mural incorporating tiles at tiered donation levels. More than one choice of animal or plant was available at different levels, so design genuinely evolved in conjunction with the donors' choices.
Creating a design that naturally included, and in fact required, different sizes and numbers of tiles for a cohesive, realistic scene mitigated concerns about inclusion and equity in student families’ ability to participate in the campaign. The smallest tiles were some of the most beautiful.
Actual leaves from the neighborhood were pressed between wet paper towels and sent to be imprinted and hand thrown by the artisan to scale.
Local wildlife and habitats were researched to ensure all tiles in the scene were authentic to the immediate Bay Area and of particular educational interest to the student body and wider community.
As the design concept generated interest, campaign participation increased exponentially.
As donor participation surpassed that anticipated, the design was continually redrafted and a new location on a larger edifice found.
The fluid nature of this design was an exciting challenge met with great success.
It was also a testament to the prodigious levels of participation from a truly engaged audience.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was coordinated with the school's newly hired principal and covered by local press.
Final design installed by the auditorium entrance and student lunch area where children and families enjoy it daily.
Egbert W. Beach School 100 Lake Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611