diff --git a/examples/src/bin/appsink.rs b/examples/src/bin/appsink.rs
index e6e8e6a73..3b2119d66 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/appsink.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/appsink.rs
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -40,9 +36,8 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
     gst::init()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audiotestsrc"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("appsink"))?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink").build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &sink])?;
     src.link(&sink)?;
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/appsrc.rs b/examples/src/bin/appsrc.rs
index 5349750dc..1d0109310 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/appsrc.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/appsrc.rs
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -38,11 +34,9 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
     gst::init()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("appsrc"))?;
-    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autovideosink"))?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc").build()?;
+    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
     gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/cairo_compositor.rs b/examples/src/bin/cairo_compositor.rs
index 64ec19393..f6adb31f0 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/cairo_compositor.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/cairo_compositor.rs
@@ -567,12 +567,17 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
 
     // Create our pipeline with the compositor and two input streams.
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src1 = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).context("Creating videotestsrc")?;
-    let src2 = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).context("Creating videotestsrc")?;
+    let src1 = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "ball")
+        .build()?;
+    let src2 = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "smpte")
+        .build()?;
     let comp = cairo_compositor::CairoCompositor::new(None);
-    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None).context("Creating videoconvert")?;
-    let sink =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None).context("Creating autovideosink")?;
+    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
+
+    comp.set_property("background-color", 0xff_33_33_33u32);
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src1, &src2, comp.upcast_ref(), &conv, &sink])?;
 
@@ -603,11 +608,6 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
     .context("Linking converter")?;
     conv.link(&sink).context("Linking sink")?;
 
-    src1.set_property_from_str("pattern", "ball");
-    src2.set_property_from_str("pattern", "smpte");
-
-    comp.set_property("background-color", 0xff_33_33_33u32);
-
     // Change positions etc of both inputs based on a timer
     let xmax = 1280.0 - 320.0f64;
     let ymax = 720.0 - 240.0f64;
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/custom_meta.rs b/examples/src/bin/custom_meta.rs
index 4289aa5f6..6c6270d10 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/custom_meta.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/custom_meta.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ mod custom_meta {
         }
 
         // Retrieve the stored label.
-        #[doc(alias = "get_label")]
         pub fn label(&self) -> &str {
             self.0.label.as_str()
         }
@@ -183,11 +182,13 @@ fn example_main() {
 
     // This creates a pipeline with appsrc and appsink.
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc", None)
+    let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc")
+        .build()
         .unwrap()
         .downcast::<gst_app::AppSrc>()
         .unwrap();
-    let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", None)
+    let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink")
+        .build()
         .unwrap()
         .downcast::<gst_app::AppSink>()
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/decodebin.rs b/examples/src/bin/decodebin.rs
index 328aafe84..b7204e544 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/decodebin.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/decodebin.rs
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -71,12 +67,10 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     };
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesrc", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("filesrc"))?;
-    let decodebin =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("decodebin", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("decodebin"))?;
-
-    // Tell the filesrc what file to load
-    src.set_property("location", uri);
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesrc")
+        .property("location", uri)
+        .build()?;
+    let decodebin = gst::ElementFactory::make("decodebin").build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &decodebin])?;
     gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &decodebin])?;
@@ -135,14 +129,10 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
             if is_audio {
                 // decodebin found a raw audiostream, so we build the follow-up pipeline to
                 // play it on the default audio playback device (using autoaudiosink).
-                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("queue"))?;
-                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audioconvert"))?;
-                let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audioresample"))?;
-                let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autoaudiosink"))?;
+                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert").build()?;
+                let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample").build()?;
+                let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink").build()?;
 
                 let elements = &[&queue, &convert, &resample, &sink];
                 pipeline.add_many(elements)?;
@@ -163,14 +153,10 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
             } else if is_video {
                 // decodebin found a raw videostream, so we build the follow-up pipeline to
                 // display it using the autovideosink.
-                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("queue"))?;
-                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-                let scale = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoscale", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoscale"))?;
-                let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autovideosink"))?;
+                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+                let scale = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoscale").build()?;
+                let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
 
                 let elements = &[&queue, &convert, &scale, &sink];
                 pipeline.add_many(elements)?;
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/encodebin.rs b/examples/src/bin/encodebin.rs
index 5db2cc527..bb6d6b492 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/encodebin.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/encodebin.rs
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -90,15 +86,13 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     };
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("uridecodebin", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("uridecodebin"))?;
-    let encodebin =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("encodebin", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("encodebin"))?;
-    let sink =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("filesink", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("filesink"))?;
-
-    src.set_property("uri", uri);
-    sink.set_property("location", output_file);
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("uridecodebin")
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()?;
+    let encodebin = gst::ElementFactory::make("encodebin").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesink")
+        .property("location", output_file)
+        .build()?;
 
     // Configure the encodebin.
     // Here we tell the bin what format we expect it to create at its output.
@@ -157,12 +151,9 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
         let link_to_encodebin = |is_audio, is_video| -> Result<(), Error> {
             if is_audio {
-                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("queue"))?;
-                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audioconvert"))?;
-                let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audioresample"))?;
+                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert").build()?;
+                let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample").build()?;
 
                 let elements = &[&queue, &convert, &resample];
                 pipeline
@@ -188,12 +179,9 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
                 let sink_pad = queue.static_pad("sink").expect("queue has no sinkpad");
                 dbin_src_pad.link(&sink_pad)?;
             } else if is_video {
-                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("queue"))?;
-                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-                let scale = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoscale", None)
-                    .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoscale"))?;
+                let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+                let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+                let scale = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoscale").build()?;
 
                 let elements = &[&queue, &convert, &scale];
                 pipeline
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/fd_allocator.rs b/examples/src/bin/fd_allocator.rs
index 8094d087a..9edc57653 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/fd_allocator.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/fd_allocator.rs
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ use std::{
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -51,13 +47,11 @@ fn create_receiver_pipeline(
     let caps = video_info.to_caps()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("appsrc"))?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc").build()?;
     let filter = video_filter::FdMemoryFadeInVideoFilter::default().upcast::<gst::Element>();
-    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-    let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("queue"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autovideosink"))?;
+    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
 
     src.downcast_ref::<gst_app::AppSrc>()
         .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("is not a appsrc"))?
@@ -131,11 +125,10 @@ fn create_sender_pipeline(
     let caps = video_info.to_caps()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videotestsrc"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("appsink"))?;
-
-    src.set_property("num-buffers", 250i32);
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        .property("num-buffers", 250i32)
+        .build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink").build()?;
 
     sink.downcast_ref::<gst_app::AppSink>()
         .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("is not a appsink"))?
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/gtksink.rs b/examples/src/bin/gtksink.rs
index e9cec0a30..82845a99d 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/gtksink.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/gtksink.rs
@@ -20,20 +20,22 @@ use std::cell::RefCell;
 
 fn create_ui(app: &gtk::Application) {
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).unwrap();
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc").build().unwrap();
     // Create the gtk sink and retrieve the widget from it. The sink element will be used
     // in the pipeline, and the widget will be embedded in our gui.
     // Gstreamer then displays frames in the gtk widget.
     // First, we try to use the OpenGL version - and if that fails, we fall back to non-OpenGL.
-    let (sink, widget) = if let Ok(gtkglsink) = gst::ElementFactory::make("gtkglsink", None) {
+    let (sink, widget) = if let Ok(gtkglsink) = gst::ElementFactory::make("gtkglsink").build() {
         // Using the OpenGL widget succeeded, so we are in for a nice playback experience with
         // low cpu usage. :)
         // The gtkglsink essentially allocates an OpenGL texture on the GPU, that it will display.
         // Now we create the glsinkbin element, which is responsible for conversions and for uploading
         // video frames to our texture (if they are not already in the GPU). Now we tell the OpenGL-sink
         // about our gtkglsink element, form where it will retrieve the OpenGL texture to fill.
-        let glsinkbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("glsinkbin", None).unwrap();
-        glsinkbin.set_property("sink", &gtkglsink);
+        let glsinkbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("glsinkbin")
+            .property("sink", &gtkglsink)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
         // The gtkglsink creates the gtk widget for us. This is accessible through a property.
         // So we get it and use it later to add it to our gui.
         let widget = gtkglsink.property::<gtk::Widget>("widget");
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ fn create_ui(app: &gtk::Application) {
         // Unfortunately, using the OpenGL widget didn't work out, so we will have to render
         // our frames manually, using the CPU. An example why this may fail is, when
         // the PC doesn't have proper graphics drivers installed.
-        let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("gtksink", None).unwrap();
+        let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("gtksink").build().unwrap();
         // The gtksink creates the gtk widget for us. This is accessible through a property.
         // So we get it and use it later to add it to our gui.
         let widget = sink.property::<gtk::Widget>("widget");
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/gtkvideooverlay.rs b/examples/src/bin/gtkvideooverlay.rs
index 7bb64d258..92c13f4aa 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/gtkvideooverlay.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/gtkvideooverlay.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ fn create_video_sink() -> gst::Element {
     // When we are on linux with the Xorg display server, we use the
     // X11 protocol's XV extension, which allows to overlay regions
     // with video streams. For this, we use the xvimagesink element.
-    gst::ElementFactory::make("xvimagesink", None).unwrap()
+    gst::ElementFactory::make("xvimagesink").build().unwrap()
 }
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "gtkvideooverlay-x11"))]
 fn set_window_handle(video_overlay: &gst_video::VideoOverlay, gdk_window: &gdk::Window) {
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fn set_window_handle(video_overlay: &gst_video::VideoOverlay, gdk_window: &gdk::
 fn create_video_sink() -> gst::Element {
     // On Mac, this is done by overlaying a window region with an
     // OpenGL-texture, using the glimagesink element.
-    gst::ElementFactory::make("glimagesink", None).unwrap()
+    gst::ElementFactory::make("glimagesink").build().unwrap()
 }
 
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", feature = "gtkvideooverlay-quartz"))]
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn set_window_handle(video_overlay: &gst_video::VideoOverlay, gdk_window: &gdk::
 
 fn create_ui(app: &gtk::Application) {
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).unwrap();
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc").build().unwrap();
 
     // Since using the window system to overlay our gui window is making
     // direct contact with the windowing system, this is highly platform-
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/iterator.rs b/examples/src/bin/iterator.rs
index b8703b04d..d29d7b9b1 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/iterator.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/iterator.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ fn example_main() {
     // Create and use an identity element here.
     // This element does nothing, really. We also never add it to a pipeline.
     // We just want to iterate the identity element's pads.
-    let identity = gst::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+    let identity = gst::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
     // Get an iterator over all pads of the identity-element.
     let mut iter = identity.iterate_pads();
     loop {
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/overlay-composition.rs b/examples/src/bin/overlay-composition.rs
index 103e30f84..412c313d3 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/overlay-composition.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/overlay-composition.rs
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -58,19 +54,14 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
     gst::init()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videotestsrc"))?;
-    let overlay = gst::ElementFactory::make("overlaycomposition", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("overlaycomposition"))?;
-    let capsfilter =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("capsfilter", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("capsfilter"))?;
-    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autovideosink"))?;
 
-    pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
-    gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
+    // The videotestsrc supports multiple test patterns. In this example, we will use the
+    // pattern with a white ball moving around the video's center point.
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "ball")
+        .build()?;
+
+    let overlay = gst::ElementFactory::make("overlaycomposition").build()?;
 
     // Plug in a capsfilter element that will force the videotestsrc and the overlay to work
     // with images of the size 800x800, and framerate of 15 fps, since my laptop struggles
@@ -80,11 +71,15 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
         .height(800)
         .framerate((15, 1).into())
         .build();
-    capsfilter.set_property("caps", &caps);
+    let capsfilter = gst::ElementFactory::make("capsfilter")
+        .property("caps", &caps)
+        .build()?;
 
-    // The videotestsrc supports multiple test patterns. In this example, we will use the
-    // pattern with a white ball moving around the video's center point.
-    src.set_property_from_str("pattern", "ball");
+    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
+
+    pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
+    gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
 
     // The PangoFontMap represents the set of fonts available for a particular rendering system.
     let fontmap = pangocairo::FontMap::new();
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/pango-cairo.rs b/examples/src/bin/pango-cairo.rs
index 81badbced..f9440f761 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/pango-cairo.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/pango-cairo.rs
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -61,19 +57,12 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
     gst::init()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videotestsrc"))?;
-    let overlay = gst::ElementFactory::make("cairooverlay", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("cairooverlay"))?;
-    let capsfilter =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("capsfilter", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("capsfilter"))?;
-    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videoconvert"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autovideosink"))?;
-
-    pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
-    gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        // The videotestsrc supports multiple test patterns. In this example, we will use the
+        // pattern with a white ball moving around the video's center point.
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "ball")
+        .build()?;
+    let overlay = gst::ElementFactory::make("cairooverlay").build()?;
 
     // Plug in a capsfilter element that will force the videotestsrc and the cairooverlay to work
     // with images of the size 800x800.
@@ -81,11 +70,15 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
         .width(800)
         .height(800)
         .build();
-    capsfilter.set_property("caps", &caps);
+    let capsfilter = gst::ElementFactory::make("capsfilter")
+        .property("caps", &caps)
+        .build()?;
 
-    // The videotestsrc supports multiple test patterns. In this example, we will use the
-    // pattern with a white ball moving around the video's center point.
-    src.set_property_from_str("pattern", "ball");
+    let videoconvert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
+
+    pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
+    gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &overlay, &capsfilter, &videoconvert, &sink])?;
 
     // The PangoFontMap represents the set of fonts available for a particular rendering system.
     let fontmap = pangocairo::FontMap::new();
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/playbin.rs b/examples/src/bin/playbin.rs
index b6c2a44f5..1d024e60a 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/playbin.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/playbin.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ fn example_main() {
     };
 
     // Create a new playbin element, and tell it what uri to play back.
-    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", None).unwrap();
-    playbin.set_property("uri", uri);
+    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
 
     // For flags handling
     // With flags, one can configure playbin's behavior such as whether it
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/rtpfecclient.rs b/examples/src/bin/rtpfecclient.rs
index a2f0610ca..75d5621ee 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/rtpfecclient.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/rtpfecclient.rs
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ mod examples_common;
 use anyhow::Error;
 use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "No such pad {} in {}", _0, _1)]
 struct NoSuchPad(#[error(not(source))] &'static str, String);
@@ -34,17 +30,6 @@ struct ErrorMessage {
     source: glib::Error,
 }
 
-fn make_element(
-    factory_name: &'static str,
-    element_name: Option<&str>,
-) -> Result<gst::Element, Error> {
-    match gst::ElementFactory::make(factory_name, element_name) {
-        Ok(elem) => Ok(elem),
-        Err(_) => Err(Error::from(MissingElement(factory_name))),
-    }
-}
-
-#[doc(alias = "get_static_pad")]
 fn static_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad, Error> {
     match element.static_pad(pad_name) {
         Some(pad) => Ok(pad),
@@ -55,7 +40,6 @@ fn static_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad
     }
 }
 
-#[doc(alias = "get_request_pad")]
 fn request_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad, Error> {
     match element.request_pad_simple(pad_name) {
         Some(pad) => Ok(pad),
@@ -83,11 +67,11 @@ fn connect_rtpbin_srcpad(src_pad: &gst::Pad, sink: &gst::Element) -> Result<(),
 }
 
 fn make_fec_decoder(rtpbin: &gst::Element, sess_id: u32) -> Result<gst::Element, Error> {
-    let fecdec = make_element("rtpulpfecdec", None)?;
     let internal_storage = rtpbin.emit_by_name::<glib::Object>("get-internal-storage", &[&sess_id]);
-
-    fecdec.set_property("storage", &internal_storage);
-    fecdec.set_property("pt", 100u32);
+    let fecdec = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpulpfecdec")
+        .property("storage", &internal_storage)
+        .property("pt", 100u32)
+        .build()?;
 
     Ok(fecdec)
 }
@@ -104,33 +88,54 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     let drop_probability = args[2].parse::<f32>()?;
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = make_element("udpsrc", None)?;
-    let netsim = make_element("netsim", None)?;
-    let rtpbin = make_element("rtpbin", None)?;
-    let depay = make_element("rtpvp8depay", None)?;
-    let dec = make_element("vp8dec", None)?;
-    let conv = make_element("videoconvert", None)?;
-    let scale = make_element("videoscale", None)?;
-    let filter = make_element("capsfilter", None)?;
+
+    let rtp_caps = gst::Caps::builder("application/x-rtp")
+        .field("clock-rate", 90000i32)
+        .build();
+
+    let video_caps = gst_video::VideoCapsBuilder::new()
+        .width(1920)
+        .height(1080)
+        .build();
+
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("udpsrc")
+        .property("address", "127.0.0.1")
+        .property("caps", &rtp_caps)
+        .build()?;
+    let netsim = gst::ElementFactory::make("netsim")
+        .property("drop-probability", drop_probability)
+        .build()?;
+    let rtpbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpbin")
+        .property("do-lost", true)
+        .build()?;
+    let depay = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpvp8depay").build()?;
+    let dec = gst::ElementFactory::make("vp8dec").build()?;
+    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let scale = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoscale").build()?;
+    let filter = gst::ElementFactory::make("capsfilter")
+        .property("caps", &video_caps)
+        .build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &netsim, &rtpbin, &depay, &dec, &conv, &scale, &filter])?;
     gst::Element::link_many(&[&depay, &dec, &conv, &scale, &filter])?;
 
     match args[1].as_str() {
         "play" => {
-            let sink = make_element("autovideosink", None)?;
+            let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink").build()?;
             pipeline.add(&sink)?;
             filter.link(&sink)?;
         }
         "record" => {
-            let enc = make_element("x264enc", None)?;
-            let mux = make_element("matroskamux", None)?;
-            let sink = make_element("filesink", None)?;
+            let enc = gst::ElementFactory::make("x264enc")
+                .property_from_str("tune", "zerolatency")
+                .build()?;
+            let mux = gst::ElementFactory::make("matroskamux").build()?;
+            let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesink")
+                .property("location", "out.mkv")
+                .build()?;
 
             pipeline.add_many(&[&enc, &mux, &sink])?;
             gst::Element::link_many(&[&filter, &enc, &mux, &sink])?;
-            sink.set_property("location", "out.mkv");
-            enc.set_property_from_str("tune", "zerolatency");
             eprintln!("Recording to out.mkv");
         }
         _ => return Err(Error::from(UsageError(args[0].clone()))),
@@ -218,21 +223,6 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         }
     });
 
-    let rtp_caps = gst::Caps::builder("application/x-rtp")
-        .field("clock-rate", 90000i32)
-        .build();
-
-    let video_caps = gst_video::VideoCapsBuilder::new()
-        .width(1920)
-        .height(1080)
-        .build();
-
-    src.set_property("address", "127.0.0.1");
-    src.set_property("caps", &rtp_caps);
-    netsim.set_property("drop-probability", drop_probability);
-    rtpbin.set_property("do-lost", true);
-    filter.set_property("caps", &video_caps);
-
     let bus = pipeline
         .bus()
         .expect("Pipeline without bus. Shouldn't happen!");
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/rtpfecserver.rs b/examples/src/bin/rtpfecserver.rs
index 74e9d9f8d..721f0bf6d 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/rtpfecserver.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/rtpfecserver.rs
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ use std::env;
 use anyhow::Error;
 use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "No such pad {} in {}", _0, _1)]
 struct NoSuchPad(&'static str, String);
@@ -30,17 +26,6 @@ struct ErrorMessage {
     source: glib::Error,
 }
 
-fn make_element(
-    factory_name: &'static str,
-    element_name: Option<&str>,
-) -> Result<gst::Element, Error> {
-    match gst::ElementFactory::make(factory_name, element_name) {
-        Ok(elem) => Ok(elem),
-        Err(_) => Err(Error::from(MissingElement(factory_name))),
-    }
-}
-
-#[doc(alias = "get_static_pad")]
 fn static_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad, Error> {
     match element.static_pad(pad_name) {
         Some(pad) => Ok(pad),
@@ -51,7 +36,6 @@ fn static_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad
     }
 }
 
-#[doc(alias = "get_request_pad")]
 fn request_pad(element: &gst::Element, pad_name: &'static str) -> Result<gst::Pad, Error> {
     match element.request_pad_simple(pad_name) {
         Some(pad) => Ok(pad),
@@ -70,11 +54,11 @@ fn connect_decodebin_pad(src_pad: &gst::Pad, sink: &gst::Element) -> Result<(),
 }
 
 fn make_fec_encoder(fec_percentage: u32) -> Result<gst::Element, Error> {
-    let fecenc = make_element("rtpulpfecenc", None)?;
-
-    fecenc.set_property("pt", 100u32);
-    fecenc.set_property("multipacket", true);
-    fecenc.set_property("percentage", fec_percentage);
+    let fecenc = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpulpfecenc")
+        .property("pt", 100u32)
+        .property("multipacket", true)
+        .property("percentage", fec_percentage)
+        .build()?;
 
     Ok(fecenc)
 }
@@ -91,15 +75,31 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     let uri = &args[1];
     let fec_percentage = args[2].parse::<u32>()?;
 
+    let video_caps = gst::Caps::builder("video/x-raw").build();
+
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = make_element("uridecodebin", None)?;
-    let conv = make_element("videoconvert", None)?;
-    let q1 = make_element("queue", None)?;
-    let enc = make_element("vp8enc", None)?;
-    let q2 = make_element("queue", None)?;
-    let pay = make_element("rtpvp8pay", None)?;
-    let rtpbin = make_element("rtpbin", None)?;
-    let sink = make_element("udpsink", None)?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("uridecodebin")
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "ball")
+        .property("expose-all-streams", false)
+        .property("caps", video_caps)
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()?;
+    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert").build()?;
+    let q1 = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+    let enc = gst::ElementFactory::make("vp8enc")
+        .property("keyframe-max-dist", 30i32)
+        .property("threads", 12i32)
+        .property("cpu-used", -16i32)
+        .property("deadline", 1i64)
+        .property_from_str("error-resilient", "default")
+        .build()?;
+    let q2 = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build()?;
+    let pay = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpvp8pay").build()?;
+    let rtpbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpbin").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("udpsink")
+        .property("host", "127.0.0.1")
+        .property("sync", true)
+        .build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &conv, &q1, &enc, &q2, &pay, &rtpbin, &sink])?;
 
@@ -149,20 +149,6 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         },
     );
 
-    let video_caps = gst::Caps::builder("video/x-raw").build();
-
-    src.set_property_from_str("pattern", "ball");
-    sink.set_property("host", "127.0.0.1");
-    sink.set_property("sync", true);
-    enc.set_property("keyframe-max-dist", 30i32);
-    enc.set_property("threads", 12i32);
-    enc.set_property("cpu-used", -16i32);
-    enc.set_property("deadline", 1i64);
-    enc.set_property_from_str("error-resilient", "default");
-    src.set_property("expose-all-streams", false);
-    src.set_property("caps", video_caps);
-    src.set_property("uri", uri);
-
     let bus = pipeline
         .bus()
         .expect("Pipeline without bus. Shouldn't happen!");
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/rtsp-server-subclass.rs b/examples/src/bin/rtsp-server-subclass.rs
index ffa9d5742..58f040b0c 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/rtsp-server-subclass.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/rtsp-server-subclass.rs
@@ -121,17 +121,22 @@ mod media_factory {
             fn create_element(&self, _url: &gst_rtsp::RTSPUrl) -> Option<gst::Element> {
                 // Create a simple VP8 videotestsrc input
                 let bin = gst::Bin::new(None);
-                let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).unwrap();
-                let enc = gst::ElementFactory::make("vp8enc", None).unwrap();
+                let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+                    // Configure the videotestsrc live
+                    .property("is-live", true)
+                    .build()
+                    .unwrap();
+                let enc = gst::ElementFactory::make("vp8enc")
+                    // Produce encoded data as fast as possible
+                    .property("deadline", 1i64)
+                    .build()
+                    .unwrap();
 
                 // The names of the payloaders must be payX
-                let pay = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpvp8pay", Some("pay0")).unwrap();
-
-                // Configure the videotestsrc live
-                src.set_property("is-live", true);
-
-                // Produce encoded data as fast as possible
-                enc.set_property("deadline", 1i64);
+                let pay = gst::ElementFactory::make("rtpvp8pay")
+                    .name("pay0")
+                    .build()
+                    .unwrap();
 
                 bin.add_many(&[&src, &enc, &pay]).unwrap();
                 gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &enc, &pay]).unwrap();
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/subclass.rs b/examples/src/bin/subclass.rs
index 62cde50ee..40336837a 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/subclass.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/subclass.rs
@@ -231,10 +231,6 @@ mod fir_filter {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -249,21 +245,18 @@ fn create_pipeline() -> Result<gst::Pipeline, Error> {
 
     // Create our pipeline with the custom element
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audiotestsrc"))?;
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc")
+        .property_from_str("wave", "white-noise")
+        .build()?;
     let filter = fir_filter::FirFilter::new(None);
-    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("audioconvert"))?;
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("autoaudiosink"))?;
+    let conv = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink").build()?;
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, filter.upcast_ref(), &conv, &sink])?;
     src.link(&filter)?;
     filter.link(&conv)?;
     conv.link(&sink)?;
 
-    src.set_property_from_str("wave", "white-noise");
-
     // Create a windowed sinc lowpass filter at 1/64 sample rate,
     // i.e. 689Hz for 44.1kHz sample rate
     let w = 2.0 * std::f32::consts::PI / 64.0;
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/thumbnail.rs b/examples/src/bin/thumbnail.rs
index 33f87f699..52d519050 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/thumbnail.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/thumbnail.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/toc.rs b/examples/src/bin/toc.rs
index 3e218a7dc..d7a9d79b9 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/toc.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/toc.rs
@@ -28,10 +28,11 @@ fn example_main() {
     };
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesrc", None).unwrap();
-    let decodebin = gst::ElementFactory::make("decodebin", None).unwrap();
-
-    src.set_property("location", uri);
+    let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesrc")
+        .property("location", uri)
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let decodebin = gst::ElementFactory::make("decodebin").build().unwrap();
 
     pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &decodebin]).unwrap();
     gst::Element::link_many(&[&src, &decodebin]).unwrap();
@@ -59,8 +60,8 @@ fn example_main() {
         // In this example, we are only interested about parsing the ToC, so
         // we simply pipe every encountered stream into a fakesink, essentially
         // throwing away the data.
-        let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", None).unwrap();
-        let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("fakesink", None).unwrap();
+        let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue").build().unwrap();
+        let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("fakesink").build().unwrap();
 
         let elements = &[&queue, &sink];
         pipeline.add_many(elements).unwrap();
diff --git a/examples/src/bin/transmux.rs b/examples/src/bin/transmux.rs
index b50ef90ff..403107420 100644
--- a/examples/src/bin/transmux.rs
+++ b/examples/src/bin/transmux.rs
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 #[path = "../examples-common.rs"]
 mod examples_common;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -59,20 +55,18 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
     let src = gst::Element::make_from_uri(gst::URIType::Src, uri, None)
         .expect("We do not seem to support this uri");
-    let typefinder =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("typefind", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("typefind"))?;
-    let queue =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("multiqueue", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("multiqueue"))?;
-    let muxer = gst::ElementFactory::make("matroskamux", None)
-        .map_err(|_| MissingElement("matroskamux"))?;
-    let sink =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("filesink", None).map_err(|_| MissingElement("filesink"))?;
+    let typefinder = gst::ElementFactory::make("typefind").build()?;
+    let queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("multiqueue")
+        .property("max-size-buffers", 0u32)
+        .property("max-size-time", 0u64)
+        .property("max-size-bytes", 1024u32 * 1024 * 100)
+        .build()?;
+    let muxer = gst::ElementFactory::make("matroskamux").build()?;
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("filesink")
+        .property("location", output_file)
+        .build()?;
 
-    sink.set_property("location", output_file);
     // Increase the queue capacity to 100MB to avoid a stalling pipeline
-    queue.set_property("max-size-buffers", 0u32);
-    queue.set_property("max-size-time", 0u64);
-    queue.set_property("max-size-bytes", 1024u32 * 1024 * 100);
 
     pipeline
         .add_many(&[&src, &typefinder, &queue, &muxer, &sink])
@@ -96,12 +90,12 @@ fn example_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         let format_name = caps.structure(0).expect("Failed to get format name").name();
 
         let demuxer = match format_name {
-            "video/x-matroska" | "video/webm" => {
-                gst::ElementFactory::make("matroskademux", None).expect("matroskademux missing")
-            }
-            "video/quicktime" => {
-                gst::ElementFactory::make("qtdemux", None).expect("qtdemux missing")
-            }
+            "video/x-matroska" | "video/webm" => gst::ElementFactory::make("matroskademux")
+                .build()
+                .expect("matroskademux missing"),
+            "video/quicktime" => gst::ElementFactory::make("qtdemux")
+                .build()
+                .expect("qtdemux missing"),
             _ => {
                 eprintln!("Sorry, this format is not supported by this example.");
                 std::process::exit(-1);
diff --git a/examples/src/glupload.rs b/examples/src/glupload.rs
index 7b007ae61..e13266de6 100644
--- a/examples/src/glupload.rs
+++ b/examples/src/glupload.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ use std::sync;
 use anyhow::Error;
 use derive_more::{Display, Error};
 
-#[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
-#[display(fmt = "Missing element {}", _0)]
-struct MissingElement(#[error(not(source))] &'static str);
-
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error)]
 #[display(fmt = "Received error from {}: {} (debug: {:?})", src, error, debug)]
 struct ErrorMessage {
@@ -535,18 +531,15 @@ impl App {
         gl_element: Option<&gst::Element>,
     ) -> Result<(gst::Pipeline, gst_app::AppSink, gst::Element), Error> {
         let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
-        let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None)
-            .map_err(|_| MissingElement("videotestsrc"))?;
+        let src = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc").build()?;
 
-        let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", None)
-            .map_err(|_| MissingElement("appsink"))?
+        let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink")
+            .build()?
             .dynamic_cast::<gst_app::AppSink>()
             .expect("Sink element is expected to be an appsink!");
 
-        appsink.set_property("enable-last-sample", false);
-        appsink.set_property("emit-signals", false);
-        appsink.set_property("max-buffers", 1u32);
-
+        appsink.set_enable_last_sample(true);
+        appsink.set_max_buffers(1);
         let caps = gst_video::VideoCapsBuilder::new()
             .features(&[&gst_gl::CAPS_FEATURE_MEMORY_GL_MEMORY])
             .format(gst_video::VideoFormat::Rgba)
@@ -555,8 +548,7 @@ impl App {
         appsink.set_caps(Some(&caps));
 
         if let Some(gl_element) = gl_element {
-            let glupload = gst::ElementFactory::make("glupload", None)
-                .map_err(|_| MissingElement("glupload"))?;
+            let glupload = gst::ElementFactory::make("glupload").build()?;
 
             pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &glupload])?;
             pipeline.add(gl_element)?;
@@ -568,10 +560,9 @@ impl App {
 
             Ok((pipeline, appsink, glupload))
         } else {
-            let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("glsinkbin", None)
-                .map_err(|_| MissingElement("glsinkbin"))?;
-
-            sink.set_property("sink", &appsink);
+            let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("glsinkbin")
+                .property("sink", &appsink)
+                .build()?;
 
             pipeline.add_many(&[&src, &sink])?;
             src.link(&sink)?;
diff --git a/gstreamer-app/src/app_sink.rs b/gstreamer-app/src/app_sink.rs
index 39a43837e..c46bb4d8e 100644
--- a/gstreamer-app/src/app_sink.rs
+++ b/gstreamer-app/src/app_sink.rs
@@ -1006,10 +1006,11 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_app_sink_stream() {
         gst::init().unwrap();
 
-        let videotestsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", None).unwrap();
-        let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", None).unwrap();
-
-        videotestsrc.set_property("num-buffers", 5);
+        let videotestsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+            .property("num-buffers", 5)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
+        let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink").build().unwrap();
 
         let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
         pipeline.add(&videotestsrc).unwrap();
diff --git a/gstreamer-app/src/app_src.rs b/gstreamer-app/src/app_src.rs
index e6dfbae0c..4c94f4cb7 100644
--- a/gstreamer-app/src/app_src.rs
+++ b/gstreamer-app/src/app_src.rs
@@ -458,10 +458,11 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_app_src_sink() {
         gst::init().unwrap();
 
-        let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc", None).unwrap();
-        let fakesink = gst::ElementFactory::make("fakesink", None).unwrap();
-
-        fakesink.set_property("signal-handoffs", true);
+        let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc").build().unwrap();
+        let fakesink = gst::ElementFactory::make("fakesink")
+            .property("signal-handoffs", true)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
 
         let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(None);
         pipeline.add(&appsrc).unwrap();
diff --git a/gstreamer/Gir.toml b/gstreamer/Gir.toml
index b05d65b88..ba1a009d1 100644
--- a/gstreamer/Gir.toml
+++ b/gstreamer/Gir.toml
@@ -1248,13 +1248,13 @@ status = "generate"
 final_type = true
     [[object.function]]
     name = "create"
-        [object.function.return]
-        nullable_return_is_error = "Failed to create element from factory"
+    rename = "create_with_name"
+    manual = true
 
     [[object.function]]
     name = "make"
-        [object.function.return]
-        nullable_return_is_error = "Failed to create element from factory name"
+    rename = "make_with_name"
+    manual = true
 
     [[object.function]]
     name = "create_full"
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/auto/element_factory.rs b/gstreamer/src/auto/element_factory.rs
index 148fafd39..e8878291e 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/auto/element_factory.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/auto/element_factory.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 // DO NOT EDIT
 
 use crate::Caps;
-use crate::Element;
 use crate::Object;
 use crate::PluginFeature;
 use crate::URIType;
@@ -60,17 +59,6 @@ impl ElementFactory {
         }
     }
 
-    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_create")]
-    pub fn create(&self, name: Option<&str>) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
-        unsafe {
-            Option::<_>::from_glib_none(ffi::gst_element_factory_create(
-                self.to_glib_none().0,
-                name.to_glib_none().0,
-            ))
-            .ok_or_else(|| glib::bool_error!("Failed to create element from factory"))
-        }
-    }
-
     #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_get_element_type")]
     #[doc(alias = "get_element_type")]
     pub fn element_type(&self) -> glib::types::Type {
@@ -140,18 +128,6 @@ impl ElementFactory {
         assert_initialized_main_thread!();
         unsafe { from_glib_full(ffi::gst_element_factory_find(name.to_glib_none().0)) }
     }
-
-    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_make")]
-    pub fn make(factoryname: &str, name: Option<&str>) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
-        assert_initialized_main_thread!();
-        unsafe {
-            Option::<_>::from_glib_none(ffi::gst_element_factory_make(
-                factoryname.to_glib_none().0,
-                name.to_glib_none().0,
-            ))
-            .ok_or_else(|| glib::bool_error!("Failed to create element from factory name"))
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 unsafe impl Send for ElementFactory {}
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/bin.rs b/gstreamer/src/bin.rs
index d4dd784c2..8bdc27c3e 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/bin.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/bin.rs
@@ -246,10 +246,20 @@ mod tests {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
         let bin = crate::Bin::new(None);
-        bin.add(&crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", Some("identity0")).unwrap())
-            .unwrap();
-        bin.add(&crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", Some("identity1")).unwrap())
-            .unwrap();
+        bin.add(
+            &crate::ElementFactory::make("identity")
+                .name("identity0")
+                .build()
+                .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        bin.add(
+            &crate::ElementFactory::make("identity")
+                .name("identity1")
+                .build()
+                .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
 
         let mut child_names = bin
             .children()
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/element.rs b/gstreamer/src/element.rs
index f309a9134..2f439732e 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/element.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/element.rs
@@ -1595,7 +1595,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_get_pads() {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
-        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
 
         let mut pad_names = identity
             .pads()
@@ -1626,7 +1626,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_foreach_pad() {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
-        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
 
         let mut pad_names = Vec::new();
         identity.foreach_pad(|_element, pad| {
@@ -1642,7 +1642,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_call_async() {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
-        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
         let (sender, receiver) = channel();
 
         identity.call_async(move |_| {
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/element_factory.rs b/gstreamer/src/element_factory.rs
index 07fe5bd5e..84ee8364d 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/element_factory.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/element_factory.rs
@@ -25,64 +25,12 @@ impl ElementFactory {
     ) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
         assert_initialized_main_thread!();
 
-        // The below is basically a reimplementation of the C function. We want to call
-        // glib::Object::with_type() ourselves here for checking properties and their values
-        // correctly and to provide consistent behaviour.
-        use crate::prelude::{
-            ElementExtManual, GstObjectExt, GstObjectExtManual, PluginFeatureExtManual,
-        };
-
-        let factory = self.load().map_err(|_| {
-            crate::warning!(crate::CAT_RUST, obj: self, "loading plugin returned None");
-            glib::bool_error!("Failed to create element from factory")
-        })?;
-
-        let element_type = factory.element_type();
-        if !element_type.is_valid() {
-            crate::warning!(crate::CAT_RUST, obj: self, "factory has no type");
-            return Err(glib::bool_error!("Failed to create element from factory"));
-        }
-
-        let element = glib::Object::with_type(element_type, properties)
-            .downcast::<crate::Element>()
-            .unwrap();
-        unsafe {
-            use std::sync::atomic;
-
-            let klass = element.element_class();
-            let factory_ptr: &atomic::AtomicPtr<ffi::GstElementFactory> =
-                &*(&klass.as_ref().elementfactory as *const *mut ffi::GstElementFactory
-                    as *const atomic::AtomicPtr<ffi::GstElementFactory>);
-            if factory_ptr
-                .compare_exchange(
-                    std::ptr::null_mut(),
-                    factory.as_ptr(),
-                    atomic::Ordering::SeqCst,
-                    atomic::Ordering::SeqCst,
-                )
-                .is_ok()
-            {
-                factory.set_object_flags(crate::ObjectFlags::MAY_BE_LEAKED);
-            }
-
-            if glib::gobject_ffi::g_object_is_floating(factory.as_ptr() as *mut _)
-                != glib::ffi::GFALSE
-            {
-                glib::g_critical!(
-                    "GStreamer",
-                    "The created element should be floating, this is probably caused by faulty bindings",
-                );
-            }
-        }
-
-        crate::log!(
-            crate::CAT_RUST,
-            obj: self,
-            "created element \"{}\"",
-            factory.name()
-        );
-
-        Ok(element)
+        let mut builder = self.create();
+        builder.properties = properties
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(name, value)| (*name, ValueOrStr::Value(value.to_value())))
+            .collect();
+        builder.build()
     }
 
     #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_make_with_properties")]
@@ -93,22 +41,59 @@ impl ElementFactory {
     ) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
         assert_initialized_main_thread!();
 
-        crate::log!(
-            crate::CAT_RUST,
-            "gstelementfactory: make \"{}\"",
-            factoryname
-        );
+        let mut builder = Self::make(factoryname);
+        builder.properties = properties
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(name, value)| (*name, ValueOrStr::Value(value.to_value())))
+            .collect();
+        builder.build()
+    }
 
-        let factory = Self::find(factoryname).ok_or_else(|| {
-            crate::warning!(
-                crate::CAT_RUST,
-                "gstelementfactory: make \"{}\"",
-                factoryname
-            );
-            glib::bool_error!("Failed to create element from factory name")
-        })?;
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_create")]
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_create_with_properties")]
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn create(&self) -> ElementBuilder {
+        ElementBuilder {
+            name_or_factory: NameOrFactory::Factory(self),
+            properties: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
 
-        factory.create_with_properties(properties)
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_make")]
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_make_with_properties")]
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn make(factoryname: &str) -> ElementBuilder {
+        assert_initialized_main_thread!();
+
+        ElementBuilder {
+            name_or_factory: NameOrFactory::Name(factoryname),
+            properties: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_create")]
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn create_with_name(&self, name: Option<&str>) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
+        let mut builder = self.create();
+        if let Some(name) = name {
+            builder = builder.name(name);
+        }
+        builder.build()
+    }
+
+    #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_make")]
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn make_with_name(
+        factoryname: &str,
+        name: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
+        assert_initialized_main_thread!();
+
+        let mut builder = Self::make(factoryname);
+        if let Some(name) = name {
+            builder = builder.name(name);
+        }
+        builder.build()
     }
 
     #[doc(alias = "gst_element_factory_get_static_pad_templates")]
@@ -196,3 +181,219 @@ impl ElementFactory {
         self.metadata(&ELEMENT_METADATA_ICON_NAME)
     }
 }
+
+// rustdoc-stripper-ignore-next
+/// Builder for `Element`s.
+#[must_use = "The builder must be built to be used"]
+pub struct ElementBuilder<'a> {
+    name_or_factory: NameOrFactory<'a>,
+    properties: Vec<(&'a str, ValueOrStr<'a>)>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Copy, Clone)]
+enum NameOrFactory<'a> {
+    Name(&'a str),
+    Factory(&'a ElementFactory),
+}
+
+enum ValueOrStr<'a> {
+    Value(glib::Value),
+    Str(&'a str),
+}
+
+impl<'a> ElementBuilder<'a> {
+    // rustdoc-stripper-ignore-next
+    /// Sets the name property to the given `name`.
+    pub fn name(self, name: &'a str) -> Self {
+        self.property("name", name)
+    }
+
+    // rustdoc-stripper-ignore-next
+    /// Set property `name` to the given value `value`.
+    pub fn property<T: glib::ToValue + 'a>(self, name: &'a str, value: T) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name_or_factory: self.name_or_factory,
+            properties: {
+                let mut properties = self.properties;
+                properties.push((name, ValueOrStr::Value(value.to_value())));
+                properties
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    // rustdoc-stripper-ignore-next
+    /// Set property `name` to the given string value `value`.
+    pub fn property_from_str(self, name: &'a str, value: &'a str) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name_or_factory: self.name_or_factory,
+            properties: {
+                let mut properties = self.properties;
+                properties.push((name, ValueOrStr::Str(value)));
+                properties
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    // rustdoc-stripper-ignore-next
+    /// Build the element with the provided properties.
+    ///
+    /// This fails if there is no such element factory or the element factory can't be loaded.
+    ///
+    /// # Panics
+    ///
+    /// This panics if the element is not instantiable, doesn't have all the given properties or
+    /// property values of the wrong type are provided.
+    #[track_caller]
+    #[must_use = "Building the element without using it has no effect"]
+    pub fn build(self) -> Result<Element, glib::BoolError> {
+        let mut _factory_found = None;
+        let factory = match self.name_or_factory {
+            NameOrFactory::Name(name) => {
+                let factory = ElementFactory::find(name).ok_or_else(|| {
+                    crate::warning!(crate::CAT_RUST, "element factory '{}' not found", name);
+                    glib::bool_error!(
+                        "Failed to find element factory with name '{}' for creating element",
+                        name
+                    )
+                })?;
+                _factory_found = Some(factory);
+                _factory_found.as_ref().unwrap()
+            }
+            NameOrFactory::Factory(factory) => factory,
+        };
+
+        // The below is basically a reimplementation of the C function. We want to call
+        // glib::Object::with_type() ourselves here for checking properties and their values
+        // correctly and to provide consistent behaviour.
+        use crate::prelude::{
+            ElementExtManual, GstObjectExt, GstObjectExtManual, PluginFeatureExtManual,
+        };
+
+        let factory = factory.load().map_err(|_| {
+            crate::warning!(
+                crate::CAT_RUST,
+                obj: factory,
+                "loading element factory '{}' failed",
+                factory.name(),
+            );
+            glib::bool_error!(
+                "Failed to load element factory '{}' for creating element",
+                factory.name()
+            )
+        })?;
+
+        let element_type = factory.element_type();
+        if !element_type.is_valid() {
+            crate::warning!(
+                crate::CAT_RUST,
+                obj: &factory,
+                "element factory '{}' has no type",
+                factory.name()
+            );
+            return Err(glib::bool_error!(
+                "Failed to create element from factory '{}'",
+                factory.name()
+            ));
+        }
+
+        let mut properties = Vec::with_capacity(self.properties.len());
+        let klass = glib::Class::<Element>::from_type(element_type).unwrap();
+        for (name, value) in self.properties {
+            match value {
+                ValueOrStr::Value(value) => {
+                    properties.push((name, value));
+                }
+                ValueOrStr::Str(value) => {
+                    use crate::value::GstValueExt;
+
+                    let pspec = match klass.find_property(name) {
+                        Some(pspec) => pspec,
+                        None => {
+                            panic!(
+                                "property '{}' of element factory '{}' not found",
+                                name,
+                                factory.name()
+                            );
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    let value = {
+                        if pspec.value_type() == crate::Structure::static_type() && value == "NULL"
+                        {
+                            None::<crate::Structure>.to_value()
+                        } else {
+                            #[cfg(feature = "v1_20")]
+                            {
+                                glib::Value::deserialize_with_pspec(value, &pspec)
+                                    .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                                        panic!(
+                                            "property '{}' of element factory '{}' can't be set from string '{}'",
+                                            name,
+                                            factory.name(),
+                                            value,
+                                        )
+                                    })
+                            }
+                            #[cfg(not(feature = "v1_20"))]
+                            {
+                                glib::Value::deserialize(value, pspec.value_type())
+                                    .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                                        panic!(
+                                            "property '{}' of element factory '{}' can't be set from string '{}'",
+                                            name,
+                                            factory.name(),
+                                            value,
+                                        )
+                                    })
+                            }
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    properties.push((name, value));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        let element = glib::Object::with_values(element_type, &properties)
+            .downcast::<crate::Element>()
+            .unwrap();
+
+        unsafe {
+            use std::sync::atomic;
+
+            let klass = element.element_class();
+            let factory_ptr: &atomic::AtomicPtr<ffi::GstElementFactory> =
+                &*(&klass.as_ref().elementfactory as *const *mut ffi::GstElementFactory
+                    as *const atomic::AtomicPtr<ffi::GstElementFactory>);
+            if factory_ptr
+                .compare_exchange(
+                    std::ptr::null_mut(),
+                    factory.as_ptr(),
+                    atomic::Ordering::SeqCst,
+                    atomic::Ordering::SeqCst,
+                )
+                .is_ok()
+            {
+                factory.set_object_flags(crate::ObjectFlags::MAY_BE_LEAKED);
+            }
+
+            if glib::gobject_ffi::g_object_is_floating(factory.as_ptr() as *mut _)
+                != glib::ffi::GFALSE
+            {
+                glib::g_critical!(
+                    "GStreamer",
+                    "The created element should be floating, this is probably caused by faulty bindings",
+                );
+            }
+        }
+
+        crate::log!(
+            crate::CAT_RUST,
+            obj: &factory,
+            "created element \"{}\"",
+            factory.name()
+        );
+
+        Ok(element)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/gobject.rs b/gstreamer/src/gobject.rs
index e80e2f47e..be2645445 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/gobject.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/gobject.rs
@@ -21,11 +21,25 @@ impl<O: IsA<glib::Object>> GObjectExtManualGst for O {
             } else {
                 #[cfg(feature = "v1_20")]
                 {
-                    glib::Value::deserialize_with_pspec(value, &pspec).unwrap()
+                    glib::Value::deserialize_with_pspec(value, &pspec).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                        panic!(
+                            "property '{}' of type '{}' can't be set from string '{}'",
+                            name,
+                            self.type_(),
+                            value,
+                        )
+                    })
                 }
                 #[cfg(not(feature = "v1_20"))]
                 {
-                    glib::Value::deserialize(value, pspec.value_type()).unwrap()
+                    glib::Value::deserialize(value, pspec.value_type()).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                        panic!(
+                            "property '{}' of type '{}' can't be set from string '{}'",
+                            name,
+                            self.type_(),
+                            value,
+                        )
+                    })
                 }
             }
         };
@@ -42,7 +56,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn test_set_property_from_str() {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
-        let fakesink = crate::ElementFactory::make("fakesink", None).unwrap();
+        let fakesink = crate::ElementFactory::make("fakesink").build().unwrap();
         fakesink.set_property_from_str("state-error", "ready-to-paused");
         let v = fakesink.property_value("state-error");
         let (_klass, e) = glib::EnumValue::from_value(&v).unwrap();
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/iterator.rs b/gstreamer/src/iterator.rs
index 9a916c69c..6f90dad9c 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/iterator.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/iterator.rs
@@ -798,8 +798,8 @@ mod tests {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
         let bin = crate::Bin::new(None);
-        let id1 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
-        let id2 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+        let id1 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
+        let id2 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
 
         bin.add(&id1).unwrap();
 
@@ -829,8 +829,8 @@ mod tests {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
         let bin = crate::Bin::new(None);
-        let id1 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
-        let id2 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", None).unwrap();
+        let id1 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
+        let id2 = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity").build().unwrap();
 
         bin.add(&id1).unwrap();
 
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/lib.rs b/gstreamer/src/lib.rs
index 876e415ca..91255848c 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/lib.rs
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ pub use promise::{Promise, PromiseError};
 
 pub mod bus;
 mod element;
-mod element_factory;
+pub mod element_factory;
 
 mod bin;
 
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/object.rs b/gstreamer/src/object.rs
index 2770904b4..62ac57524 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/object.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/object.rs
@@ -136,7 +136,10 @@ mod tests {
         crate::init().unwrap();
 
         let bin = crate::Bin::new(None);
-        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity", Some("id")).unwrap();
+        let identity = crate::ElementFactory::make("identity")
+            .name("id")
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
         bin.add(&identity).unwrap();
 
         let notify = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/plugin_feature.rs b/gstreamer/src/plugin_feature.rs
index e13f316fd..d6b76d0ef 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/plugin_feature.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/plugin_feature.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,6 @@ mod tests {
         let factory = crate::ElementFactory::find("identity").unwrap();
         let loaded = factory.load().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(factory.type_(), loaded.type_());
-        let _element = loaded.create(None).unwrap();
+        let _element = loaded.create().build().unwrap();
     }
 }
diff --git a/gstreamer/src/subclass/element.rs b/gstreamer/src/subclass/element.rs
index 11245d53b..13bb9e144 100644
--- a/gstreamer/src/subclass/element.rs
+++ b/gstreamer/src/subclass/element.rs
@@ -781,10 +781,11 @@ mod tests {
         );
 
         let pipeline = crate::Pipeline::new(None);
-        let src = ElementFactory::make("fakesrc", None).unwrap();
-        let sink = ElementFactory::make("fakesink", None).unwrap();
-
-        src.set_property("num-buffers", 100i32);
+        let src = ElementFactory::make("fakesrc")
+            .property("num-buffers", 100i32)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
+        let sink = ElementFactory::make("fakesink").build().unwrap();
 
         pipeline
             .add_many(&[&src, element.upcast_ref(), &sink])
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-2.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-2.rs
index 0cb0a8067..e73f3f71b 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-2.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-2.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,14 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
     gst::init().unwrap();
 
     // Create the elements
-    let source = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc", Some("source"))
+    let source = gst::ElementFactory::make("videotestsrc")
+        .name("source")
+        .property_from_str("pattern", "smpte")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create source element.");
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", Some("sink"))
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink")
+        .name("sink")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create sink element");
 
     // Create the empty pipeline
@@ -20,9 +25,6 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
     pipeline.add_many(&[&source, &sink]).unwrap();
     source.link(&sink).expect("Elements could not be linked.");
 
-    // Modify the source's properties
-    source.set_property_from_str("pattern", "smpte");
-
     // Start playing
     pipeline
         .set_state(gst::State::Playing)
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-3.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-3.rs
index e8de962b2..9fb436df8 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-3.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-3.rs
@@ -7,14 +7,27 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
     // Initialize GStreamer
     gst::init().unwrap();
 
+    let uri =
+        "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm";
+
     // Create the elements
-    let source = gst::ElementFactory::make("uridecodebin", Some("source"))
+    let source = gst::ElementFactory::make("uridecodebin")
+        .name("source")
+        // Set the URI to play
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create uridecodebin element.");
-    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", Some("convert"))
+    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert")
+        .name("convert")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create convert element.");
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", Some("sink"))
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink")
+        .name("sink")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create sink element.");
-    let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample", Some("resample"))
+    let resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample")
+        .name("resample")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create resample element.");
 
     // Create the empty pipeline
@@ -27,11 +40,6 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
         .unwrap();
     gst::Element::link_many(&[&convert, &resample, &sink]).expect("Elements could not be linked.");
 
-    // Set the URI to play
-    let uri =
-        "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm";
-    source.set_property("uri", uri);
-
     // Connect the pad-added signal
     source.connect_pad_added(move |src, src_pad| {
         println!("Received new pad {} from {}", src_pad.name(), src.name());
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-4.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-4.rs
index 372cf1c65..47d9832bb 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-4.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-4.rs
@@ -24,14 +24,16 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
     // Initialize GStreamer
     gst::init().unwrap();
 
-    // Creat the playbin element
-    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", Some("playbin"))
-        .expect("Failed to create playbin element");
-
-    // Set the URI to play
     let uri =
         "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm";
-    playbin.set_property("uri", uri);
+
+    // Creat the playbin element
+    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+        .name("playbin")
+        // Set the URI to play
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()
+        .expect("Failed to create playbin element");
 
     // Start playing
     playbin
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-5.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-5.rs
index 3bf3f6f58..41b7cd67c 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-5.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-5.rs
@@ -301,8 +301,10 @@ mod tutorial5 {
 
         let uri = "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/\
                    data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm";
-        let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", None).unwrap();
-        playbin.set_property("uri", uri);
+        let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+            .property("uri", uri)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
 
         playbin.connect("video-tags-changed", false, |args| {
             let pipeline = args[0]
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-6.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-6.rs
index bca32490e..4af38968f 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-6.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-6.rs
@@ -90,10 +90,14 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
 
     // Ask the factories to instantiate actual elements
     let source = source_factory
-        .create(Some("source"))
+        .create()
+        .name("source")
+        .build()
         .expect("Failed to create source element");
     let sink = sink_factory
-        .create(Some("sink"))
+        .create()
+        .name("sink")
+        .build()
         .expect("Failed to create sink element");
 
     // Create the empty pipeline
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-7.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-7.rs
index d1113d570..37aafbcd1 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-7.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-7.rs
@@ -10,24 +10,52 @@ fn tutorial_main() {
         return;
     }
 
-    let audio_source = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc", Some("audio_source")).unwrap();
-    let tee = gst::ElementFactory::make("tee", Some("tee")).unwrap();
-    let audio_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", Some("audio_queue")).unwrap();
-    let audio_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", Some("audio_convert")).unwrap();
-    let audio_resample =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample", Some("audio_resample")).unwrap();
-    let audio_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", Some("audio_sink")).unwrap();
-    let video_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", Some("video_queue")).unwrap();
-    let visual = gst::ElementFactory::make("wavescope", Some("visual")).unwrap();
-    let video_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", Some("video_convert")).unwrap();
-    let video_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", Some("video_sink")).unwrap();
+    let audio_source = gst::ElementFactory::make("audiotestsrc")
+        .name("audio_source")
+        .property("freq", 215.0)
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let tee = gst::ElementFactory::make("tee")
+        .name("tee")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue")
+        .name("audio_queue")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert")
+        .name("audio_convert")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample")
+        .name("audio_resample")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink")
+        .name("audio_sink")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue")
+        .name("video_queue")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let visual = gst::ElementFactory::make("wavescope")
+        .name("visual")
+        .property_from_str("shader", "none")
+        .property_from_str("style", "lines")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert")
+        .name("video_convert")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink")
+        .name("video_sink")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(Some("test-pipeline"));
 
-    audio_source.set_property("freq", 215.0);
-    visual.set_property_from_str("shader", "none");
-    visual.set_property_from_str("style", "lines");
-
     pipeline
         .add_many(&[
             &audio_source,
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-8.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-8.rs
index be5c220cd..cc747fec4 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-8.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/basic-tutorial-8.rs
@@ -47,26 +47,63 @@ fn main() {
         return;
     }
 
-    let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc", Some("audio_source")).unwrap();
-    let tee = gst::ElementFactory::make("tee", Some("tee")).unwrap();
-    let audio_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", Some("audio_queue")).unwrap();
-    let audio_convert1 = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", Some("audio_convert1")).unwrap();
-    let audio_resample =
-        gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample", Some("audio_resample")).unwrap();
-    let audio_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", Some("audio_sink")).unwrap();
-    let video_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", Some("video_queue")).unwrap();
-    let audio_convert2 = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", Some("audio_convert2")).unwrap();
-    let visual = gst::ElementFactory::make("wavescope", Some("visual")).unwrap();
-    let video_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert", Some("video_convert")).unwrap();
-    let video_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink", Some("video_sink")).unwrap();
-    let app_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue", Some("app_queue")).unwrap();
-    let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink", Some("app_sink")).unwrap();
+    let appsrc = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsrc")
+        .name("audio_source")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let tee = gst::ElementFactory::make("tee")
+        .name("tee")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue")
+        .name("audio_queue")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_convert1 = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert")
+        .name("audio_convert1")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_resample = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioresample")
+        .name("audio_resample")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink")
+        .name("audio_sink")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue")
+        .name("video_queue")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let audio_convert2 = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert")
+        .name("audio_convert2")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let visual = gst::ElementFactory::make("wavescope")
+        .name("visual")
+        .property_from_str("shader", "none")
+        .property_from_str("style", "lines")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("videoconvert")
+        .name("video_convert")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let video_sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autovideosink")
+        .name("video_sink")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let app_queue = gst::ElementFactory::make("queue")
+        .name("app_queue")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
+    let appsink = gst::ElementFactory::make("appsink")
+        .name("app_sink")
+        .build()
+        .unwrap();
 
     let pipeline = gst::Pipeline::new(Some("test-pipeline"));
 
-    visual.set_property_from_str("shader", "none");
-    visual.set_property_from_str("style", "lines");
-
     pipeline
         .add_many(&[
             &appsrc,
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-1.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-1.rs
index 1366ea0a4..2ae670c2b 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-1.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-1.rs
@@ -107,13 +107,17 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     // Initialize GStreamer
     gst::init()?;
 
-    // Create PlayBin element
-    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", Some("playbin"))?;
-
-    // Set URI to play
     let uri =
         "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_cropped_multilingual.webm";
-    playbin.set_property("uri", uri);
+
+    // Create PlayBin element
+    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+        .name("playbin")
+        // Set URI to play
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        // Set connection speed. This will affect some internal decisions of playbin
+        .property("connection-speed", 56u64)
+        .build()?;
 
     // Set flags to show Audio and Video but ignore Subtitles
     let flags = playbin.property_value("flags");
@@ -129,9 +133,6 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         .unwrap();
     playbin.set_property_from_value("flags", &flags);
 
-    // Set connection speed. This will affect some internal decisions of playbin
-    playbin.set_property("connection-speed", 56u64);
-
     // Handle keyboard input
     let playbin_clone = playbin.clone();
     let main_loop_clone = main_loop.clone();
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-2.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-2.rs
index 34f4f9b24..4858edf32 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-2.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-2.rs
@@ -109,19 +109,20 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     // Initialize GStreamer
     gst::init()?;
 
-    // Create PlayBin element
-    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", Some("playbin"))?;
-
-    // Set URI to play
     let uri =
         "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.ogv";
-    playbin.set_property("uri", uri);
-
-    // Set the subtitle URI and font description
     let subtitle_uri =
         "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer_gr.srt";
-    playbin.set_property("suburi", subtitle_uri);
-    playbin.set_property("subtitle-font-desc", "Sans, 18");
+
+    // Create PlayBin element
+    let playbin = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+        .name("playbin")
+        // Set URI to play
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        // Set the subtitle URI and font description
+        .property("suburi", subtitle_uri)
+        .property("subtitle-font-desc", "Sans, 18")
+        .build()?;
 
     // Set flags to show Audio, Video and Subtitles
     let flags = playbin.property_value("flags");
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-4.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-4.rs
index f11c85a5d..1643e3572 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-4.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-4.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     // Build the pipeline
     let uri =
         "https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm";
-    let pipeline = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin", None)?;
-    pipeline.set_property("uri", uri);
+    let pipeline = gst::ElementFactory::make("playbin")
+        .name("playbin")
+        .property("uri", uri)
+        .build()?;
 
     // Set the download flag
     let flags = pipeline.property_value("flags");
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-6.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-6.rs
index 13e8cfe2a..cac0e5f74 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-6.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-6.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     // We have now selected a factory for the visualization element
     let name = vis_factory.longname();
     println!("Selected {}", name);
-    let vis_plugin = vis_factory.create(None).unwrap();
+    let vis_plugin = vis_factory.create().build().unwrap();
 
     // Build the pipeline
     let pipeline = gst::parse_launch("playbin uri=http://radio.hbr1.com:19800/ambient.ogg")?;
diff --git a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-7.rs b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-7.rs
index ac299150f..e736c2560 100644
--- a/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-7.rs
+++ b/tutorials/src/bin/playback-tutorial-7.rs
@@ -14,11 +14,17 @@ fn tutorial_main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         "playbin uri=https://www.freedesktop.org/software/gstreamer-sdk/data/media/sintel_trailer-480p.webm")?;
 
     // Create elements that go inside the sink bin
-    let equalizer = gst::ElementFactory::make("equalizer-3bands", Some("equalizer"))
+    let equalizer = gst::ElementFactory::make("equalizer-3bands")
+        .name("equalizer")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create equalizer element.");
-    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert", Some("convert"))
+    let convert = gst::ElementFactory::make("audioconvert")
+        .name("convert")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create audioconvert element.");
-    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink", Some("audio_sink"))
+    let sink = gst::ElementFactory::make("autoaudiosink")
+        .name("audio_sink")
+        .build()
         .expect("Could not create autoaudiosink element.");
 
     // Create the sink bin, add the elements and link them