In today’s world of international design, artificial intelligence, social media, and various design trends, applying fundamental design principles in any landscape architecture project is crucial. Landscape architects effectively integrate design, art, and science to craft landscapes that are both visually appealing and ecologically sound. Employing these fundamental principles can significantly improve a landscape project’s quality and overall success. Below is a concise guide on utilising fundamental design principles.
Understanding the Site
To create a design, we need to better understand the site and its context. By analysing available data(climate, soil, topography, hydrology, vegetation, utilities, regulatory and census/demographics), we can determine what we know and don’t know, informing us of further research or surveys needed.
Once we have all the information, we can undertake a site analysis using various data overlays along with a site investigation to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints of the site. From this, we can also examine the potential short-term (such as utilities or vegetation) and long-term (climate, hydrology, soil) problems we must address in developing a design strategy.
Design Objectives
Understanding the design objectives of the client is key to understanding the possibilities (ambition, policy & standards, design principles, etc.) and constraints (budget, space, time, etc.) we face as designers. Relying on the brief or first interactions with a client (and community) to determine the design objectives can be limiting. As designers, we often need to discern and define the critical(must-haves) and non-critical (wants vs. needs) objectives. Design objectives can change over time, but it’s best to define them before the initial conceptual stages. We should also see every project as an opportunity to broaden the design objectives for greater environmental, social and economic gains.
We should avoid lengthy and complex design objectives that can only be understood by the brief writer or the designer. Instead, focus on clear, simply worded objectives that everyone can grasp, whether they are community members or government officials, and ensure they are also achievable. The significance of design objectives becomes clearer at the end of this article.
People (Experiences/Cultural)
As landscape architects, we design for people (and the environment), and we need to understand their experiences, cultural background, and who they are as people. This becomes more nuanced as the number of people we are designing for increases, but when it comes down to it, you are fundamentally designing for the user. Whether creating a garden for a single family or master planning a regional park, designers need to understand the current and future users well.
Climate
Understanding the climate is key to creating design solutions for existing and future landscape conditions. Climate impacts design decisions related to hydrology, topography, program and function, material and plant selection, etc. It ultimately determines the success of your project.
Ecology
Understanding the existing site ecology and its role in the broader ecological context is crucial to your design process. How will you address the current hydrology and overland flow? What are the existing flora and fauna communities, and how will the significant habitat areas affect your design? When choosing plants, it’s best to apply the principle of the right plant (species, pollination, dominance) for the right place (orientation and siting) for the right time (shifting climate, planting size) [1].
Design Aesthetics
When working through the design process, we must understand how form and scale can influence space, proportion, views, rhythm, flow, transition, movement, circulation, visibility and accessibility. Creating a design also needs to consider colour, light & shadows, texture, pattern, symmetry, and weight to ensure that the people experience the landscape as we intended.
Aesthetics should be shaped by the design objectives, users, and surrounding viewers to achieve a holistic design outcome. Designers possess the ability to create spaces that offer a multitude of experiences, highlighting the necessity to look beyond the designer’s or client’s ego and to cultivate empathy for the landscape, the users, and other inhabitants.
Constructability and Maintenance
A design’s success is determined by its constructability and the technical skills of the design team during the documentation phase. This fundamental of design is often overlooked due to designers being too engaged (close) to the concept design and under pressure to meet the client’s aspirations rather than considering what can be constructed. It is not until much later, during the detailed design or tender phase, that the client understands the costs of their (and the designers’) aspirations.
Landscapes are a long-term investment, and long after the ribbon has been cut, there is a need to be able to maintain the design. Careful consideration of the maintenance regime and resources is required to ensure the design can be maintained sustainably without excessive resources (money, people, or materials).
Design Refinement & Critique
When working through the various stages of a project, it is crucial to refine the design to ensure it meets the design objectives. All too often, designers become enamoured with their work, not realising they may be under- or over-designing the project, whether that involves excessive programming or a lack of cohesion among the design elements. When making design decisions, the design (and client) must reflect on whether each choice aligns with the design objectives, which makes the refinement process more thorough and ultimately results in a stronger design.
There is also a need for critique (review) of the design at various phases during the design process to ensure the concept meets the design objectives and intent. The best method for this process is to allow someone (or a team) who is impartial (not involved in or influenced by) the project to undertake a review that challenges the design (responses and assumptions) and assesses whether it meets the design objectives. This process can take different forms, from a desktop (printout or PDF) review to a presentation or a pin-up review. The dialogue that arises from the review will help strengthen the design; there may be no changes, or there may be a total redesign, but conducting a review is a fundamental part of the design process that must occur.
Final Thoughts
Utilising these fundamental design principles when creating a design helps the designer(s) to develop a stronger result that aims to meet the objectives of both the client and the designers, while ideally avoiding the pitfalls of relying too heavily on the influence of design precedents or imagery. It encourages them to strive for designs that celebrate the landscape, the people, and its potential.
Article by Damian Holmes, Editor – World Landscape Architecture
Published initially on World Landscape Architecture on May 29, 2025 titled Using Fundamental Principles to Create Better Designs
Cover Image Credits (left to right):
(1) Gate M in Shanghai | People on Sunday Afternoon – Photographer: Damian Holmes
(2) Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, Williamstown – Photographer: Damian Holmes
(3) Australian Garden, Cranbourne Australia designed by TCL – Photographer: Damian Holmes
(4) Vanke Hefei designed by ASPECT Studios – Photographer: Wang Rui
[1] Uknown – The author states they are not the author of this term, but the origin is unknown and has been used in the landscape industry for 10-15 years in various phrasing related to seed, trees, species selection.