FAQs

Questions are answered on a rolling basis with newest on top…

We are finalizing our awards submissions but having some trouble getting the slide presentations down to below 10 mgs. That seems really small for 20 slides with images. Especially when it is typically the images that really grab the viewer’s attention. Can you please confirm that this is indeed what you need from us?

Understood.

In short, if you want, hedge your bets. YES, do downsize your presentation to 10MB or less and submit via the SlideRoom system — that is the current upload limit and uploads are required in order to complete your submission. AND, if you’d like to email a higher res version (up to 20MB please) to the chapteroffice@bslanow.org as backup, please do.

Please know that we want your work to look great(!!!) as we navigate the ins and outs of this new system.

But wait?! you say — you submitted early and you had no idea you could submit a higher res backup?!? Please don’t fear. Our goal is a lively and thorough discussion about excellent design — not about snagging anyone through this system. IF, in our preliminary review, images seem overly grainy or pixelated in the Slideroom viewer, we will reach out on a case by case basis and ask you to swap out the image for a higher res one.

I successfully submitted our first application into SlideRoom but I’m having trouble starting the submission for additional projects. It keeps bringing me back to the receipt from the first submission but won’t let me do anything else. What’s going on?

We’ve just discovered that the SlideRoom system only allows one submission per email address. If you/your team are submitting more than one project, please use a second email address for that second (or third, etc.) submission.

It is OK to list the same person as the primary contact assuming that there should be one primary contact for each team. Please don’t hesitate to email the chapteroffice@bslanow.org with any additional submission issues or additional questions. We apologize for the hassle!

I’ve got a site plan drawing with labels on it. Do these count toward the 25 word limit?

No, drawing labels do not count toward the 25 word caption limit. That said, they may not be read 100% by the jury since we consider labels supplementary info.

Do spaces and punctuation count in the character count?

Yes.

We're submitting in the Analysis and Planning category. In years past, we were able to send in supplemental materials. Is that still the case?

In short, no. This jury is conducted online, and physical documents will not be reviewed. While one might argue for digital versions, in the interest of anonymity, fairness across submissions, and juror overload, at this point we are not accepting supplemental materials, physical or digital for any of the Awards categories.

The caveat is that IF, in the preliminary review of submissions, the Awards chairs or the jurors find that digital links to supplemental materials would help in the review, then we will contact all submitters in that category to request digital links to supplemental files.

May we make changes after we start the online submission?

You will be able to make changes to your entry after you begin your upload. Submission forms may be revised until payment is completed. Once payment is complete and you hit “submit,” the submission is final.

PLEASE NOTE that this has been clarified since the March 10 info session. The video is not clear on this point. Thank you for your patience as we get to know the SlideRoom system.

What if I was under the impression that I could make changes and am now locked out of my entry?

Please, be in touch with this or with any other problems. We are real humans here, with the goal of recognizing design excellence — not trying to zing you with extra fees or hassle. Likewise, this is our first year working with SlideRoom and we’re still learning too. Please send an email to gretchen@bslanow.org and we’ll work with you to get it fixed. (Gretchen is on the administration side of Design Awards and NOT part of the jury. Your submission will stay anonymous to the jurors.)

Is there a required template for entries?

No. Unlike in years past, there is not a required template for the images for the submission. As you can imagine, the jurors will be reviewing many submissions, so the more you do to make graphics and text simple, clean, clear, and legible will go a long way to helping the jurors see the ideas and elegance of your submission.

I’m new to BSLA Design Awards. May I see one of the old submission templates, even if it’s no longer required?

Welcome! And sure. So long as you don’t let it limit you. Again, this is no longer required. The goal was to offer a format for straightforward, easily readable submissions. If this helps you, terrific. If not, ignore it.

Click here to see the old template.

(This template is from the 2020 BSLA Design Awards).

What if I’m submitting a mixed use development project. Should it go in the Residential or in the General Design category?

Most likely General Design, but don’t sweat it.

The intent of re-introducing a Residential category is to ensure that projects are considered in the appropriate context. (We very much welcome single family residential projects, and want to ensure that smaller projects don’t get lost among larger institutional or public projects.)

If the category of a submitted project needs to be changed so that it’s viewed in the context of similar projects, we’ll make that shift. The goal is ensuring that excellent projects from the full spectrum of landscape architecture practice get a fair consideration.

What if I’ve done work that is really innovative and advances the profession, yet doesn’t fit neatly into any of the categories?

Please submit! This is why we’ve created the Special Recognitions. The Special Recognitions give the jury the license and means to recognize excellence in ways that don’t fit neatly into the other categories. This could be a whole host of things — from a public art installation to creative community engagement to accomplishing a lot with a tiny budget to an innovative planting plan or climate resilient strategies or any number of things we haven’t thought of. That’s why the category is open-ended. Again, our goal is to recognize excellence in the full spectrum of landscape architecture practice today.

What if we don’t have professional photos?

Use the best photos that you can — photos that explain and celebrate the design. Professional photos are not required.

We’d be inaccurate to say that photography doesn’t matter; it does. For this process, text and images are all the jury has to understand your work. But again, our goal truly is to recognize excellence in the full spectrum of landscape architecture practice today — including projects with limited budgets. Be as clear as you can in your text and images in conveying the aspects that you think are most exceptional.

Could I combine several contiguous projects in their greater context as one submission?

Yes. That sounds like an interesting design story. Just make sure that the overall story is told in the graphics and photos of the submission.

I’m an architect. May I submit to BSLA Design Awards?

It depends. As long as the project’s creative team includes a registered landscape architect or a graduate of an accredited landscape architecture program, then YES, you are eligible to submit. ANYONE on the project team may be the entity that submits: individuals, firms, project owners, public agencies, organizations, lead consultants or subconsultants or others may submit an entry into the BSLA Design Awards as long as there was a landscape architect (firm or individual, licensed or unlicensed) on the team.

Please note that if awarded, the award is “given” to the project. Anyone on the project team may be listed on the award certificate. We’ll confirm certificate citations after awards are announced.

I’m not a member. Does that matter?

Welcome! We’re glad you’re here. Non-members are very much invited and encouraged to participate in the BSLA Design Awards. The goal is recognizing design excellence in landscape architecture overall.

We do have a tiered pricing structure — entry fees are discounted for students, for ASLA members from anywhere, and for ASLA members in our “Boston” chapter which includes all of Massachusetts and Maine. Entry fees also increase in price as we approach the final deadline.

I’m a student in a landscape design program in Massachusetts but my program is not an accredited BLA/MLA program. May I submit?

Yes! Any college and graduate student from anywhere in the world who is studying in a landscape architecture or design program in Massachusetts or Maine may submit a student entry to the 2022 BSLA Design Awards.

I’m a Maine resident but I go to school for landscape architecture in Colorado. May I submit?

Yes! Any landscape architecture student who goes to school anywhere in the world may submit IF they are residents of Maine or Massachusetts.

I recently graduated. May I submit?

Recent graduates within two years of graduation may submit student work for the Student Award category.

Got more questions?

Please ask! Email chapteroffice@bslanow.org with your question. It will be reviewed by the Design Awards Co-Chairs and we will post the answer here. Questions are answered on a rolling basis with the newest on top.

OR — we know that the deadline is SOON. You are welcome to text Gretchen at 617 686 4362. Evenings are fine, up until the deadline. We’re here to help, and we want your submission to be as amazing as can be, as we all learn the ins and outs of this new system.