Pragmatic Visions

At LandDesign, curiosity and innovation are a part of our culture. Over the last year, we made an exciting investment in advancing several research and development initiatives that led us down unexpected paths. From internal innovation to academic collaboration, we are thrilled to share with you an inside look into R+D at LandDesign. Listen in as our R+D champions,  Ashley Clark  and  Richard Pete...

As designers, we are constantly ideating, uncovering new ways to make our public spaces safer for all users. After 9/1, solutions like barrier walls were implemented into the public realm, but today we are faced with a new public health crisis, COVID-19.  Chase Weaver  has been exploring and researching the use of self-sanitizing materials, like silver and copper, in design and the impact it could...

Not unlike what we’ve observed during past public health crises, COVID is challenging planners and engineers to think differently about resilient and sustainable strategies for our communities. Having spent his career leading infrastructure planning for towns and cities across the Southeast,  Dale Stewart  has identified new opportunities for planners to embrace decentralization as a way to better...

For  Gabriela Canamar Clark , she sees design as an ever-evolving platform to channel humanity’s diversity and create places that promote social equity. Whether we are uncovering short-term solutions or planning for the long-term, Gabriela believes that approaching design with an open mind and being cognizant of our differences will result in places that can be used and enjoyed by all. Listen in a...

While it’s still anyone’s guess what the long-lasting lifestyle impacts of the pandemic might be,  Richard Petersheim  has aspirations that perhaps our “new normal” might not feel so different than before. Will social distancing and masks impact the way we interact with others forever? Listen in as Richard shares his pragmatic reactions to COVID-19 and the importance of experience in coming out of...

Since the start of COVID-19, a renewed importance of public open space has come to light. People have flocked to open spaces of varying kinds, spaces that  Beth Poovey  describes as places you can experience togetherness, alone. As people continue to find a safe haven in public parks, playgrounds, trails, and greenways, how will communities plan for open space post-pandemic? Listen in as Beth shar...

So much has happened since we sat down with LandDesign founder, Larry Best last week. The interview occurred the days following the murder of George Floyd but before the peaceful marches for racial justice that took place across the world. Larry founded LandDesign on the simple idea that great people, doing great work, would result in great places for all people to enjoy. Hearing him speak to the...

Similar to past global crises, like 9/11, the Great Recession, and even as far back as WWII, COVID will create opportunity, or what  Peter Crowley  refers to as a, “new set of parameters.” These parameters will push us to rethink, innovate, and improve design to better benefit all people. Listen in as Peter shares his optimistic outlook on COVID-19 and the positive impact he believes the pandemic...

At LandDesign, we’ve been having conversations about COVID’s impact on the future of our practice, internal and external collaboration, and ultimately, the way we design. While we don’t have all the answers, we do have a lot of ideas and are thrilled to share these conversations with you through our podcast, Pragmatic Visions.  In our industry, a change order can throw a design team for a loop, ch...