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Design Process

WED-B04: Resisting Conformity Through Craftsmanship

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM PT
1.50 PDH, LA CES/non-HSW

What if our definition of projects’ cultural performance and social equity included not only benefits to end users, but the craftspeople and contractors who bring the landscape to life? How do we advocate for craftsmanship as a way to resist the homogenizing impacts of mass-production that are increasingly pervasive?

Learning Outcomes:

  • Examine the collaborative dynamics between craftsperson, general contractor, and landscape architect, and how their distinct design philosophies and processes shape the built product.
  • Articulate why preserving craft, craftsmanship, and skilled labor is important, and how to advocate for it on projects.
  • Examine the social inequities embedded in the accessibility and distribution of crafted works, who is included and who is left out from its benefits.
  • Discuss how elevating craftsmanship challenges the increasing standardization of design and a built environment shaped by automation and AI.