how to choose the right garden designer for your project
most people begin by looking at style when choosing a garden designer. they scroll through portfolios, save images they love, and imagine something similar in their own space.
while style matters, it is only the visible layer of a much deeper process.
a garden isn’t static; it’s shaped through conversations, decisions, revisions, budgets, contractors, weather, planting seasons, and timing. so choosing a garden designer is choosing the way those decisions will be made.
so, how do you know who is right for you? whether you are planning a garden in the UAE or further afield, the process of choosing the right designer follows similar principles.
start with how they approach the brief
a strong design process begins with listening.
pay attention to the kinds of questions they ask:
do they explore how you want to live in the space, how you want to maintain it?
do they consider how it connects to the architecture and the wider environment?
do they challenge your ideas and provide insight, or just repeat what you say?
do they reflect your priorities back to you in a way that feels considered and structured?
the early conversations will tell you a lot. a thoughtful designer expands your thinking while grounding the design in your reality.
understand how they make design decisions
every path, tree, and material has a reason for being there.
ask how decisions are made. is it driven by climate performance, long-term maintenance, ecological value, budget efficiency, aesthetics, or a combination of all of these?
can they clearly explain the thinking behind their choices?
clarity builds confidence. when you understand the reasoning, you’ll feel part of the process rather than outside it.
consider how they communicate
understanding how a designer communicates will shape your experience of the project. remember, even small projects will take a few months, and larger gardens can be 6 to 12 months. so the relationship is everything.
how often will you meet? how are updates shared? who is your main point of contact? how are decisions documented?
good communication brings clarity to a complex process.
if you’re interested in how collaboration influences the outcome of your project, you might also find helpful our guide on the art of giving feedback, where we explore how strong client–designer communication supports better gardens.
look at how they work with contractors
the relationship between design and construction determines the final outcome.
does the designer remain involved during the build? do they review site progress? do they collaborate closely with contractors to protect the integrity of the design while responding to site realities?
understanding this relationship early helps you feel confident about what happens after the drawings are complete.
we’ve written more about how ongoing oversight supports quality and consistency on site in our blog, reflections from the build: why design guardianship really matters.
a well-managed collaboration between design and build supports quality, efficiency and trust on site. think of this as your insurance policy and warranty - the durability of the garden is built on the strength of the design and build team that deliver it.
ask what success means to them
this question reveals alignment more clearly than any portfolio image.
what does a successful garden look like in their view? is it something visually striking? highly functional? ecologically resilient? low maintenance? deeply personal?
their answer will tell you what they prioritise and whether that matches what matters to you.
there is no single correct approach. different designers work in different ways, so what matters is finding someone whose thinking feels clear, whose process feels structured, and whose values align with yours.
a garden unfolds slowly. it benefits from patience, collaboration and shared vision. choose a designer whose way of working gives you confidence in the journey as much as the end result.
if you’re starting to explore working with a garden designer in the UAE and would like to understand how we approach the process, you’re always welcome to get in touch for a chat. we work very differently from other studios and that may or may not work for you. whether we are the right fit or not, clarity at the beginning makes everything more enjoyable later.