I have two areas of design expertise. The first is sustainable architectural design and the second is sustainable landscape design. I am passionate about both and apply a similar philosophy and process to each.
I believe that when you’re designing something, one decision interacts with and affects most, if not all, other decisions. Some of these interactions are minor and some are major. This may seem unlikely, but as you work through a project you experience these interactions. It’s initially intimidating to look at a blank piece of paper (Read: Screen) and try to start designing something. But if you learn to let your principles and the world around you constrain your design, choices begin being made for you, and interactions between decisions fall in line with your priorities.
I also believe that if you want to make something, you’re often better off to know exactly what you’re trying to make and how you’re going to make it. I feel like this concept doesn’t really sink in until you take on a project of some significant importance and scope and see it through to completion. It’s not that you can’t “shoot from the hip” so to speak. I feel like we all do that from time to time. But without experience and/or luck on your side, shooting from the hip leaves you exposed to potential problems or unforeseen decisions later on in the process.
Process
My design process starts with a free consultation. I prefer to meet in person as these things always tend to flow easier across the table from one another or walking around a site together. If that’s not possible, phone or video works as well. We’ll discuss your principles, goals, schedule and limitations and see if a longer term relationship seems like a good fit.
If we decide to work together, I’ll send along a questionnaire for you to fill out. This helps you and I reconcile your design priorities. I’ll also share an annual calendar of what work typically happens when here in Vermont. This helps us to make decisions in a timely fashion since so much work here is tied to the seasons.
From this point I can provide an estimate on how long I think it will take to complete the design work and how much the project will cost. If we both agree to move forward, I’ll start working. I’ll provide regular updates and ask questions as the work progresses.
Credentials
I hold a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University. I also hold a Dipl. Brew. from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. That last degree is in brewing. Not the most relevant to this type of work, but if you want to chat beer I’d love to. In addition to the architectural and landscape design work I do for my business, I work on the side as a carpenter for a local contractor.
Compensation
In my experience, design often gets overlooked as a means to save money. I feel like this approach is short-sighted. Neglecting to hire a designer or not putting the time in yourself on the front end of a project may seem like a good way to speed up the schedule or cut the budget of your project. But the better prepared you are before breaking ground, the more efficient things will go once you’re project is under way. This results in significant savings in labor and materials limiting the environmental impact of the project, saving people time, and saving you money.
While I’d rather you spend your budget on better materials or more plants, I value my own time as much as I value yours. I find it easiest to bill for my services on an hourly basis ($50/hr) to allow the scope of the project to shrink or expand while keeping things fair for everyone involved. I’m happy to provide an initial estimate for a project with the understanding that the final cost will be invoiced on a time and materials basis. In the interest of helping as many people as possible I also offer my services on a sliding price scale or work-trade basis as well. Please reach out for specifics if you have questions.