Get to Know Deanna Lu, ISA

What do you do at ABB?

Landscape Designer and Arborist

What’s one project you’re working/worked on that you’re excited about?

Betsy Head – it's the first large-scale design I’ve participated in, and it's so satisfying to see it being built now.

What inspires your work?

As designers, we aim to create inclusive park designs that cross intergenerational and cultural boundaries, and to connect people with materials that engage the five senses. I'm really intrigued by how the landscape can be shaped for healing and can be designed to facilitate storytelling.

What helps you stay focused while you're designing?

1. Being excited about what you design + plants! I love planting design.

2. I also try to keep a list nearby with design goals to keep myself on track. (i.e., have a list of what the community wants, a list of what you’re trying to achieve in the end, etc.)

3. Get up and stretch/move/walk! When I’m working from home I try to set an alarm to get up and stretch once an hour.

4. Good music – ranges from jazzy piano to lo-fi beats to upbeat pop and rap, really depends on my mood.

What do you like to do when you aren't designing?

I love climbing, hiking, really anything outdoorsy. It's my goal to try to hit every national park in the US.

I also love cooking and baking!

What have you been watching lately?

Little Fires Everywhere and The Good Place