It's All About Design
The Use of a Seasoned Landscape Designer
by Scott Hutcheon

'Creative engineer' is the term I like to use to explain the mind of a landscape designer. The mix of the left and right brain. The whole process with all the elements involved is very complicated, but with a good landscape designer could be simplified and made to be an enjoyable one.

Having a Design Mentality - Knowing construction costs and how things are built can steer many decisions in the conceptual design phase. One of the functions of a landscape designer is to provide a biddable set of plans to the client that ultimately lands them at or around their budget.

Experience - With a little creativity and pushing the envelope of experience will take the designs to the next level. Knowing how conceptual ideas and materials work together will take one idea and transform it into the next big idea. Experience is the only way to get there.

Special Layout - Taking all of the client's wants and needs and designing them within the confines of the existing space is key to the overall feel of the project. Knowing the size requirements of certain functions in the landscape and understanding the three-dimensional elements of them will help with a successful special layout. To have a successful special layout the designer must understand all the elements of design: furniture layout and use, materials, planting, specimen trees and three-dimensional space. This will set a project apart from the designer that only has good style. When a landscape that has a good special layout, you can feel the quality of design and will have that natural flow or feel.

Knowledge of Materials - Our materials library is huge. We feel that the more research that is done and ideas at hand (or in the back of the mind) when designing, the more unique the project can be. Research and Development is always part of the job. Staying on top of new trends and materials will push the next project to be better than the last. Understanding the attributes of a material is integral to design. For instance, a slab of onyx can be placed in a situation where it can be lit from the back to provide a dramatic lighting concept for a certain space.

Personable - A major part of the driving force in a successful project is the personality of the landscape designer or design team. The better the client relationship, the better it is for everyone. We have developed friendships with almost all of our clients that seem to surpass the construction process. This was all built on trust from the beginning of the design phase. Understanding client psychology is critical during every aspect of the process. Knowing the personality types of each client, when to push, when not to push. We are the professionals and should be suggesting the direction of the project but must always remember that this is the client's living space and that we the designers will not be living there. We don't want to force ideas down their throats, but we do want to give suggestions. The better the designer knows the client the better they will read them and the more you can protect them from pitfalls.

Service Oriented - We must always remind ourselves that we are in a service related industry. Especially with our market of high-end custom landscaping, the clients are expecting the service. For us this has always won our clients over. It is the nature of our business and requires certain personalities to have a successful landscape company.

Scott Hutcheon
Seasons Landscape
Laguna Beach, CA
949-419-6530
www.seasonslandscaping.com

(Winter 2008)