TECHNOLOGY: Digital Designs

When Mariani Landscape invested in design software 10 years ago, they were basically trying to stay ahead of the times. While popular in the architectural and engineering fields, design software was just emerging in the landscape industry, placing the Lake Bluff, Ill.,-based company at the forefront. “We weren’t trying to solve a problem as much as trying to not be left behind,” says Dan Miller, studio coordinator. “We were looking to create the most productive and efficient design staff and make sure they had the best tools to fit their needs.”
 
While design software isn’t exactly new to the landscape market, more contractors are investing in it every year. In fact, 25 percent of contractors plan to invest in a design software program this year, compared to 17 percent of contractors who invested last year, according to Lawn & Landscape research. With 57 percent of contractors now doing all design work in-house, it’s no wonder these programs are gaining popularity.
 
Like with any business tool, design software has its benefits along with its challenges, and with contractors spending an average of $1,836 on design software programs every year, it’s important to know what challenges to expect. “Most landscape contractors recognize the need for technology in their businesses,” says Dave Malda, marketing manager for landscape design software company DynaScape, Burlington, Ontario. “From a design perspective, hand drafting is a thing of the past. Design software can speed up the design process and get information back to the client much quicker.”

STAYING CURRENT. One of Miller’s biggest challenges is keeping the company’s design software system current. Most software production companies offer tweaks and updates at least every year and entirely new versions every two to three years. “Being in the electronic, digital field, there is always something new and improved,” Miller says. “It’s a challenge to stay current and not become dated in your way of doing things.”
 
Not only is it a challenge just to keep up, but it can require a significant financial investment. Anne Behner, sales manager for landscape design software company Visual Impact Imaging, Akron, Ohio, estimates system upgrades cost about one-third of the software’s original purchase price. With most professional systems costing between $1,000 and $2,000, contractors can expect to spend $300 to $600 a year to keep their design software systems up to date.
 
While Miller usually updates the company’s system annually, he doesn’t opt for every new version that comes his way. Like most technology, it can be risky to invest in a brand new product when most of the time a more solid version is right around the corner. “There are some tweaks every year which are fairly minor,” Miller says. “But when a new version comes out, we usually wait two or three years to invest in it because, by then, all the kinks are worked out.”
 
Older systems can create compatibility issues, particularly for contractors working with other trade professionals, like engineers, masons and plumbers, on large-scale projects. Part of the reason the Laurel Rock Co., in Wilton, Conn., invested in design software was to better communicate with the architects and engineers they collaborated with regularly. But when software systems aren’t compatible, they can create more problems than they solve, says Allan Broadbent, landscape designer. “It can be expensive to keep a system up to date, but it’s hard to communicate with companies that operate with different versions.”
 
Miller agrees compatible software becomes more important as the job becomes more complex. “When you have a lot of different factors like hardscaping, lighting and carpentry you don’t want to have to worry about something like planting a tree over a water line,” he says. “The more trades that are involved the more important it is to have everyone talking together and on the same page.”

SETTING STANDARDS. While creativity is a welcome addition to any landscape design team, it’s important for designers to follow standards when it comes to formulating and organizing their designs. “Everyone has their own way of doing things, and most people believe their way is the best way,” Miller says. “Setting the standards each designer needs to follow during the design process is a challenge, but it’s important so we can take a look at any design and know exactly what it means.”
 
Establishing design standards can be especially tricky when adapting to a new system, Miller says, and the best way to do it is through old-fashioned trial and error. Designers work together and create test copies until they achieve the desired artistic look. Mariani Landscape’s information technology department helps with some of the technological aspects, such as printer calibration and installation. The company also hires outside consultants who conduct training sessions highlighting updates and new features. “When a company invests in new software, there should be people on hand who are able to make the necessary adjustments,” Miller says.

TOO MUCH? Another challenge landscape designers face is having a software program with too many functions. Designers at Laurel Rock Co. recently discussed going with a different software program that is more tailored to their needs. “We only use 10 to 15 percent of our current program’s functionality,” Broadbent says. “It’s 10 times more advanced than we need it to be.”
 
To avoid purchasing a program with too many functions, Broadbent suggests contractors really evaluate their needs before investing in a design software program. Different systems can have too many or too few capabilities depending on the scope of a company’s projects. “Purchasing design software should make things easier and more streamlined,” he says. “Each program is very different so you should know what you need it to do and the look you want your designs to have.”

Having a design software system tailored to the landscape industry not only eliminates unnecessary functions, but also provides functions only landscape designers appreciate. For example, instead of drawing a circle to represent a tree or shrub, landscape design programs will draw an actual tree or shrub from the program’s online plant encyclopedia. This precision serves as a great selling tool because it helps clients easily visualize what their finished landscape will look like. “When designers can show their clients exactly what a flowering dogwood would look like in front of their home, it really personalizes the project,” Behner says. “It’s a great selling tool out on the job.” LL