Designer Profile: New Eden Landscape Architecture

Designer Profile will be a new feature of our website. As we cross paths, I will interview and feature different residential landscape designers and share their responses to a few questions. To start this adventure, the first designer profile is your chairperson. A few people have asked me to introduce myself and I figured this would be a great way to start.

Name: Rosheen Styczinski, FASLA
Company Name: New Eden Landscape Architecture
Where do you live and work: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Email: neweden@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.newedenlandscape.com


What type of practice do you have?
I am a sole proprietor with a practice that comprises of both residential and commercial clientele. I also focus on the healthcare industry and therapeutic landscapes. My practice is 2 years old, so I am still in the start-up mode. I have been practicing in this area for 25 years with previous experience in urban design and design-build.

How did you become a Fellow in ASLA?
I have served as an ASLA Vice President of Communications in 1999-2001. It was a great experience and a lot of work. I would not trade the experience for anything. A benefit is that I know how ASLA works and who to contact if I need an answer. It is possible for a humble landscape architect in a design-build practice to become a Fellow.

What is your favorite aspect of residential landscape design?
I like the fact that my work affects people's lives. The creative process is energizing but unless it is appreciated and affecting, it is not complete.

What books are you currently reading that you would recommend to LA's?
I am reading The Martha Rules by Martha Stewart. It is a good book about starting a new business. It also is a good conversation piece and she knows what she is talking about.
I also recently started Trading Up by Michael Silverstein and Neil Fiske. It discusses consumer trends that are affecting our industry.

What advice do you have for designers considering the leap to independence as a professional?
I suggest that you do your homework. Read as much as you can and ask yourself some hard questions. Be prepared to not make money for a few years (at least).

What has been your best marketing tool?
Networking has been my best source of work as a new practitioner. I have gotten work from every opportunity. I attend trade shows, belong to professional associations, and volunteered with local business and neighborhood associations. As people get to know you, they will be more comfortable to call and work with you.
I also recommend purchasing a good camera and good photography. I purchased a digital camera and have used it in everything from site analysis to marketing. I remember Jim Van Sweden mentioning it in his interview in Landscape Architecture magazine. The first step to getting published is great pictures, so either have a great camera or hire a good photographer. I have 15 year old pictures that still get published.

Are you more comfortable charging by the hour or lump-sum fees?
I tend to lean toward lump sum quotes. I like to challenge myself to be as profitable as possible. Clients are less likely to question the fees in the end.

What mistakes do you think most residential designers make as businesspeople?
They underestimate the value of a good contract with clients. I have seen some pretty weak documents. You need to protect yourself and invest in some professional advice.

OK, that is enough about me. Next time, I will seek out another interesting designer and ask those probing questions.

More Native Landscaping Resources

Networking is key to linking up with more client contact potential. Sounds kind of techy-right? If native landscaping is your niche, check out the resource area at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website. This should be your Online Resource for Native Plant Information in North America. You can also be listed as an expert in it's directory. Landscape architects have been active in the development of this wonderful facility and organization. Click on the link below and I suggest that you bookmark this resource.

http://www.wildflower2.org/index.html

The winter months are often called our "slow season". Frankly, I do not mind, it gives me time to clear my head and catch up on my continuing education. I intend to stay as busy as possible. This website will post continuing education information and programs. If you know of a great CE opportunity - let me know at neweden@sbcglobal.net.

ASLA Professional Awards Program

It's not too soon to start thinking about entering the ASLA 2006 Professional Awards. The call for Entries is now available online at www.asla.org. Many entries have already been received. Take advantage of this opportunity.

For information on the Residential Design Category click on http://www.asla.org/awards/2006/rules_entries/residential.html

Winners are featured in Garden Design magazine. For members who may not know, ASLA started Garden Design magazine, so we are happy to have partnered with this great publication. It is one of the few American magazines that respects the role and work of landscape architects.

Your web editor will be spending the Thanksgiving week away from computers in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Have a great holiday.

Art and Craft of Stone

Dry stone structures have been identified as "what's hot in 2006" by Canadian magazine Gardening Life. I remembered a few interesting websites for stone wall junkies like me. Whether you like to get dirty and build a wall or in search of a craftman to install them for your clients, these two organizations seem to be at the top of the rock pile. Their publications are not too shabby either.

www.jboyweb.com/drystonewall/index.html

www.stonefoundation.org

2006 Annual Meeting-Proposals

We have barely returned from ASLA's 2005 Annual meeting, and the deadline is already approaching for proposals for programming for the 2006 Annual meeting. Proposals will be accepted until January 9, 2006. Instructions for submitting are online http://www.asla.org/meetings/am2006/minneapolis.html. Members of our network can submit proposals so that our areas of expertise are well represented in the programming.

If you are interested, members of a Professional Practice Network can participate in establishing the content of the 2006 Annual Meeting by volunteering to review proposals in advance of the Annual Meeting Steering Committee's review. Only PPN members participate in the first round of review. The review process will begin shortly after the January 9 proposal deadline. You can contact your PPN chairperson at neweden@sbcglobal.net or contact Jennifer Strassfeld at jstrassfeld@asla.org.

ASLA Expo Review

Now that I have had time to catch up since we got back from Fort Lauderdale, site of the ASLA Annual meeting and Expo, I had a chance to get through my beach bag of goodies from the show. Other than a stray chocolate chip cookie, I discovered all sorts good brochures, catalogs, and memories. Tradeshows tend to lean towards the region they are located in but I found some interesting new vendors of interest to our group. The following rating are purely based on my jaded interests but this is what I saw.

Best New Vendor - The Branch Studio from Pontiac, Michigan,
Handcrafted containers, garden structures, and furniture
www.thebranchstudio.com

Best Give Away - Mimosas from Artist Pokey Park

Software with Potential - SketchUp by @Last Software, easy to use 3-D software
Demos were fun and energetic.

There were all sorts of great things to see, touch, and demo. The show was huge and I wish I had more time to spend with all of the vendors. Finally, I wonder who won the Mini Cooper and the biggest golf club (driver) I had ever seen.

Northwest Sustainable Landscapes

Northwest region designers have great resources. I came across this website for the Oregon Extension Service. Check out some of the links at the end. There are some good basic information.

http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/html/ec/ec1534/ec1534.html

Native Landscaping - Where the Wild Ones Roam

Native Landscaping is nothing new to most landscape architects. However, most homeowners need to be educated on what "natural" really means. The Wild Ones, an organization formed by individuals with a common interest and passion for native plants, is a great resources for designers and clients. The Wild Ones has grown from a small renegade group to a nation-wide movement. Visit their website at :

www.for-wild.org

Horticultural Myths Exposed

As you go through the years, how many times have you given a client advice and found out later that you were wrong? Well, here is a website that I came across that helps decide which is folklore and what is scientific fact.

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott//Horticultural%20Myths_files/index.html

I am passing on this information, but you have to decide for yourself what works for you.

If you know of a website or resource that you would like to share - email the information to neweden@sbcglobal.net. Please send items that pertain to landscape architecture issues and especially for residential design.

ASLA Residential PPN Creates Weblog

As requested, we have created a weblog for the ASLA Residential Professional Practice Network. It is a long name so I will often use Residential PPN. This weblog will be the primary communication tool for the PPN. If you want to contribute information to the blog, please email the information to neweden@sbcglobal.net. As editor of this blog, I will be responsible for posting the information.