A good fit between designer and client is probably best determined by aesthetic sensibility. This is a vast and interesting topic, but, in general, if you like the overall quality, or vibe, of a designer’s work, as presented, it’s a fair indication that there’s a shared basic ‘Je ne sais quoi’ with regard to physical design. Whatever that is, it is also probably the most unique and authentic thing a designer has to offer. Ask questions about it. It will likely lead to relevant and mutually thought-provoking conversation.

Project scale and complexity is also an important factor. The larger the project, the more important it becomes to simplify and develop a cohesive ‘comprehensive’ plan. Designers spend time on design. That is their specialty. Design build contractors spend more time on organizing resources and installation timelines, and may tend to bring more standard design features and design details to a project. These may all be equally important, depending…

At this point in time, I think it’s safe to say that an experienced designer will assume a new client is going to indicate a preference for a low water, low maintenance, resource conserving, ‘sustainable’ plan. I personally avoid the word ‘sustainable’ altogether because there is no way to verify any aspect of what that might truly mean. As for the rest, I’d say ask a designer what that means to them, and definitely discuss what that means to you, the client. Low water/low maintenance is determined by a myriad of factors that vary by season, year, microclimate, soils, project scale, user behavior & knowledge, resources, proximities, and yes aesthetics, plus quite a few unknowns.

To be continued…..

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