‘The Cloud Gate’ at Millennium Park in Chicago. Designed by Anish Kapoor
Before beginning a blog about design, we feel that we must attempt to answer the question of, “Why do we design?”, or rather, “Why do we create?”.
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before…Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before-colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.”
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Fowles Residence – by Northland Design Group
Fowles Residence – by Northland Design Group
The desire to create is an emotion that is deeply inherent in each of us. We’re all familiar with the rush of accomplishment that comes with taking an idea and turning it into something tangible; something that has never existed before, and that can be seen, heard, touched, smelled or tasted. Suddenly a small, intimate piece of your soul is now a part of the world.
The Tanghe River Park by Kongiian Yu
Park City Residence – by Northland Design Group
We often find design inspiration from nature, such as this Spiral Aloe (Aloe polyphylla)
Many designers have said that the desire to create stems from the feeling that it’s what they were born to do. We each want to have a place in the world and know that we are contributing to it in our own unique way; creation is a powerful way to achieve these desires.
‘Falling Water’ by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. One of the quintessential examples of fantastic design that blends architecture, landscape architecture and interior design.
Window display at Anthropologie. They are always wonderful examples of great design.
Another amazing Anthropologie window display.
‘Rest’ – A beautifully designed bench by LandscapeForms
There is no limit to what design or creation entails. It could be a simple meal, or an intricately designed skyscraper. It could be a thousand-year old sculpture or an impromptu melody. Design is everywhere and in everything. This blog is a way to share and discuss the many aspects of design and more specifically, the art of place making, which is what we as landscape architects create.
Peterson Residence – by Northland Design Group
Fowles Residence – by Northland Design Group
Fowles Residence – by Northland Design Group
Our mission at Northland Design Group is to create memorable environments that enrich lives. We strive to incorporate all aspects of design and the latest reserach into our creative process so that we can develop the best possible solutions for our clients. At the heart of each of our projects is that insatiable desire to create; to share in the collaborative process with our clients and build something that has never existed before, something that will be uniquely yours.
An inspiring print by artist Rex Ray
Fowles Residence – by Northland Design Group
The Copacabana in Brazil, designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx
A shadow from the oculus in the Pantheon in Rome, a masterfully designed work of architecture
Holly: “I must create…something, or be enslaved by another man’s…something. I will not reason or compare, my business is to create…something.”
Gerry: “Did you just make that up?”
Holly: “No, no, it’s William Blake, but I completely screwed it up… All I know is, if you don’t figure out this something, you’ll just stay ordinary, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a work of art or a taco or a pair of socks! Just create something… new, and there it is, and its you, out in the world, outside of you and you can look at it, or hear it, or read it, or feel it…and you know a little more about…you. A little bit more than anyone else does. Does that make any sense at all?”
Gerry: “Yeah…you’re saying you want to paint socks.”
Holly: “Maybe!”
P.S. I Love You (A Warner Brothers film)
“The Highline” in New York City. Designed by James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Piet Oudolf. Photograph by Iwan Baan
Why do YOU design? Please share your comments and inspirations with us by typing in the reply box below.
We’re excited to share our new blog where we plan to plaster it’s pages with our passion for amazing and memorable out door spaces. Our mission behind this blog is to inspire great design and share it with others. Thanks for sharing with us….and enjoy!
I, too, feel the need to create. The pleasure of creation is the collaboration. The joy is the wonder it creates in others.