These same values carry over to my design firm as well.  We are grounded in the desire to create projects that improve with age.  We have developed particular expertise in the design of our green projects to avoid common mistakes others make:

• Design which underestimates frost damage impacts
• Choosing correct soil type/volume for long term plant health 
• Design  for the inevitable poor maintenance
• Underestimating hot sun & irrigation interruptions
• Inaccessible drainage which cant be visually verified
• Irrigation not designed to fail
• Poorly resolved planter waterproofing

We celebrate finished firm projects that will age gracefully while adding value for our client and the community.  It’s a temporal world, but good thoughful design lasts.

My Uke in Progress

Preparing for the arrival of my new Uke is easy breezy.  I’ve been playing until my fingers are sore, doing my best to match my underwhelming talent to the amazing instrument about to come my way.  Tonight I am thrilled as I will be playing and singing with a singer/guitar player friend who just bought a Uke.  Music and waiting seem to be a wonderful fit and playing my uke seems the least I can do.  I am so excited to get my hands on my Uke 457 (about a week away) I can barely stand it.

I do not let weather stop my daily paddle on Lake Washington.  Whether paddling in the rain like the other day, or finding some rays of sunshine on the lake, it is always new, fresh and beautiful, and now warmish.  Lately we’ve been watching the herons and turtles interact in their dance of life.  Find a heron and you can be sure there is a turtle nearby.  I wouldn’t be suprised to find a heron with a bib, napkin and fork patiently waiting for the right moment to have a turtle lunch.  For their part, the turtles are wary and aware, particularly if they are not sun dazed.  On the lake the dance of life is a daily event.  Last week Karen and I watched an eagle dive on a mother duck and babies, thinning the herd.

Ahhh and then there’s that national and local economy to wait on. Hard to have imagined a few years ago what it would be like now.  As a firm, we are joyfully even now, if not as  busy as old times.  This has forced us to shrink to a size to match our workload.  Our awareness of this economy’s  challenges has fostered a newfound appreciation for the fortitude and foresight of our clients.  We are going out of our way to deliver great ideas, creativity and  talent to our current projects.  At the same time, we are preparing for the future by investing in training, innovation and technology.  With our fun current projects, its nice not to be sitting around waiting…

Winter paddling on Lake Washington reveals the lakes beauty and  intensity.  I paddle year round and have spent time on the lake almost every day for the past two winters. I have cracked ice near foster island with my board fin, have paddled through intense rainstorms, have encountered wind, whitecaps, and bone chilling cold.  There is nothing so mind and body focusing as to see lightning in the distance while you are out on the lake, aware that you have a carbon paddle in hand. That paddle to shore is exhilarating!  

Nature presents an abundance of wildlife to watch from close up. I’ve seen eagles dive for fish and have stood on my board in awe as a flock of Canadian Geese fly close by me just above the water.  There are days when salmon are jumping out of the water, turtles are out sunning near foster island with Herons close by, or beavers are swimming by. Look in any direction and you will find something!

My daily adventure usually starts at Madison Park Beach for a Bill and Back, my default paddle.    I put in at Madison Park beach and paddle straight across the lake to Bill Gates house and back. If I paddle hard, its a 50 minute 3.2 mile trip. For variety, I paddle south to the I-90 bridge, or Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island, or Clyde Hill City Hall Park.  If I head north I have stopped at Hunts Point or Magnuson Park.  If I go west, I can paddle on Lake Union after going through Union Bay and Portage Bay. Sometimes for variety I will put in at MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry, now closed).  I try for 20-30 miles a week.  This summer I’ll be looking for some longer paddles to Kirkland,  Renton or who knows where!  I have gained many summer paddling friends, and one or two winter ones.

Most people assume I wear a wetsuit to brave the weather but most likely I am just wearing my normal gear:  hat, sunglasses, two shirts and waterproof thin shell, smart wool pants, 7 mil booties, gloves and a waist pack flotation device.  I am leashed to my board at all times but rarely fall in. On wild days where falling in is possible, I do wear a 4/3 wetsuit. I do not bring electronic devices, except a camera at times.

That’s essentially the experience I have had over the last 28 years shepherding Weisman Design Group. I’ve discovered that as a result of our investment of time and love, personally and firm wide we’ve acquired a tremendous talent and experience base.  Even the most challenging projects in this chaotic world seem possible and joyful.  Just as my untrained fingers are beginning to move where I want them to, with our real project experience we have moved the firm into a sweet spot of work which gives us joy and stability.

Our firm has always expressed our desire to be hand touch and high tech. This unique combination has grounded us in our raison d’etre: connecting to the landscape. We have used the last three years to sharpen our skills and improve our technological edge.  We stand poised to embark on more amazing projects from our clients of vision with needs to be met!  This includes all of the wonderful School Districts we have had the chance to work with, and our myriad of private and public clients. We thrive on these ongoing and new challenges!

Speaking of challenges, I decided I wanted to find my lifetime Ukulele and came upon an amazing company composed of a husband and wife lutherie team (ukulele makers).  Mya-Moe Ukuleles  is a company located in White Salmon, Washington on a beautiful piece of property up above the Columbia River.  Char and Gordon Mayer are musicians and performers in addition to making amazing custom, one of a kind instruments from scratch.  They complete one instrument a day when working with many in various states of progress. I arranged a visit with them over the holidays and had a chance to experience their graciousness.  I got to play three or four of their instruments which were about to be shipped out, and we sat and talked about ukuleles and life.  Then we went to their workshop and looked at wood sets for possible use. I chose the wood I wanted (Master Grade Koa) the size I wanted (Super Soprano) and other details. I am so excited to see the outcome of my uke which will be ready in July 2011.

Whitney Summerford / Associate

Hard working with an eye for detail, Whitney brings a high level of energy to each project.  Her love for design comes through in her creative and innovative ideas and solutions.  Her talent and experience in producing graphic rendering helps bring those ideas vibrantly to life.  Balancing her artful side with a sharp mind and pragmatic character insures that her fresh ideas meet our clients programmatic, budgetary, and marketing needs.

Whitney graduated from the University of Florida with her Bachelors of Landscape Architecture and has been practicing in the profession since 2005.  A born adventurer, she has immersed herself in the Northwest looking for outdoor adventures, rain or shine.  Her competitive side is fulfilled by a plethora of outdoor sporting activities which she routinely engages in.

Heidi Hughes / Landscape Designer & Office Assistant

With her adaptive and diligent character, Heidi has established herself as an integral part of our team.  By taking each new challenge head on, she has quickly gained valuable experience in multiple areas of the profession.  Exhibiting confidence, intelligence and huge raw talent, Heidi impresses all those around her which foretells of great things to come.  Heidi also supports the team in an administrative role which reinforces her flexible and positive nature.

 Heidi graduated with her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Washington State University.  She has been practicing in the profession since 2009.  As a Washington native, she cherishes her summers on the waters of Puget Sound and her winters on the slopes of the Cascade mountains.  Heidi is also a member of the Junior League of Seattle.

Image by Debra Mersky

You may have heard that we have an ad out for a landscape architect and we have been interviewing applicants.  There is lots of local available candidates with expertise  out there and we want to find someone who fits in with our firm to expand our talents!  This process has made it clear to us that a lot of people are in flux right now, and it has been enlightening to see what talented designers are doing when there is a lack of landscape architectural design work.  We are interested in hearing from anyone who has found a non-traditional  focus for their talent, particularly in ways that help our communities.

The restored plantations and manor houses exhibited colors that were vibrant but perfectly suited to this hot climate.  The combination was so pleasing to see and experience!  Our next slew of projects will benefit from this awareness of color and its impact on our daily lives.

Watching the Whales Play in the Channel

I was reminded again that visualization is a powerful tool in life and business planning. Using it can help to accomplish those crazy ideas which remain undone.   We just returned from a couple weeks on Maui.  When we were there last year, my son-in-law Stephen and I joked about stand up paddling in the channel between Maui and Lanai, and interacting with Whales.  Of course the idea was a little out there, literally and figuratively.  But, between that trip and this one, the idea percolated.  So when the time came, and we were paddling, and the whales were out there, we just did it.  I captured these shots sitting on my board!

The same type of visualization is the likely difference between a dreamer and a designer.  Our firm was founded on the idea of using design energy to create built form which connects to the landscape.  We love to see projects get built and visualization is one of our tools to make this happen!

Beautiful Clouds

Stand up paddleboarding has been particularly rewarding. Its hard to believe its only January with 50 degree weather and beautiful skies.

Penguins by Margaret Clapp

Our design office is brimming with art, collections of found objects, and the richness of life. Over the past 27 years, I have searched for and acquired a wonderful range of art which literally covers our firm’s walls. Sources for our art include travel, auctions, garage sales, antique stores, gifts from friends and family and in-house created works. Each piece adds design energy and richness to the workday experience, and connects to the greater world of design and life.

Sometimes people are overwhelmed when they walk into our design firm. Its rare to see walls literally covered with art outside of museums and galleries. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned my collections (future post). I have seen many smiles as clients and friends poke around and discover our finds.

As an informal collector, I have only one criteria when it comes to collecting art; does it make my heart leap? Art to me is first appreciated viscerally and later cerebrally. Its likely why I collect. There is that feeling that you get when you chance on a piece that makes you catch your breath…