 		{
 			// infer default instance id, but allow for manual override
 			attributes = new Hash({ id: (object_name + '_' + object_property) }).update(attributes);
-			// instantiation
-			var instance:* = sprite(name, attributes, styles);
-			// assignment
+			// assignment via attributes hash
 			try
 			{
-				instance[assign_property] = this[object_name][object_property];
+				attributes[assign_property] = this[object_name][object_property];
+				//instance[assign_property] = this[object_name][object_property];
 			}
 			catch (exception:*)
 			{

		
		// >>> PROTECTED METHODS
		// >>> HELPERS
		// label: String. Text label to display on button.
		// attr: Hash. Optional. Properties to be applied to button upon creation (w, h, x, y, etc).
		protected function button (label:String, attr:Object = null, styles:Object = null) :*

		// horizontal layout helper:
		protected function hbox (options:Object, ...args) :DisplayObjectContainer
		{
			args.unshift(options);
			return box.apply(null, args);
		}

		protected function image (object_name:String, property:String, attributes:Object = null, styles:Object = null) :Image
