About Collin
As a designer, I approach every project as a story waiting to be told. For me, design is deeply personal—an exploration of emotion, dimension, and material that brings spaces to life. I believe in crafting environments that resonate on a human level, where every detail adds depth and meaning to the narrative. My goal is to create designs that not only look beautiful but also feel like a true reflection of the people who inhabit them.

Education
California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. B.L.A.

Professional Experience
Miller Company Landscape Architects, 2021 – 2022
EPT Design, 2018 – 2019
RIOS, 2017

Favorite Shade of Green
Moss

Akiko has over twenty years of professional experience as a practicing landscape architect, designing and building numerous award-winning projects throughout the U.S. as well as in Asia. These projects included public parks, college and corporate campuses and urban plazas. At SOG, she has led some notable public projects including Hamlin School, St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, Logan Apartments in Berkeley and DJ Sangh Temple, as well as residential gardens throughout the SF Bay area. Originally hailing from Japan with degrees in Comparative Cultures and Architectural History, Akiko pursues landscape architecture as a medium for working “in-between” – between theory and practice, nature and culture, Japanese and non-Japanese cultures, and between detailed and conceptual scales. Akiko’s goal is to approach landscape as a realm where the circle of life including biological, social and cultural cycles are embraced, from birth, to growth and even into decay.

Professional Registration
Landscape Architect, California (CA#7025)

Education
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania
Master of Art and Architectural History, SUNY Binghamton
Master of Arts in Comparative Cultures, I.C.U. Tokyo
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, I.C.U. Tokyo

Teaching Experience
Lecturer at U.C. Berkeley & UC Davis Landscape Architecture programs

Lectures and Publication
“Women and Leadership in Design”, Panel discussion at Design Salon hosted by CMG, 2019
“Design with Nurture” panel presented at ASLA conference, 2018
“Women and Landscape” lecture at UC Davis 2016
“Sculpting in Time: Transient Landscapes and Time focused Urban Design” published in CELA Landscape Research Record. 2014
“Fabrication: The Seeing and Making of Landscape”, Public lecture at Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL 2007
“A Conversation with Beate Gutschow; Natasha Egan, Lesley Martin and Akiko Ono” published in Beate Gutschow LS/S Aperture Foundation 2007

Favorite Shade of Green
Sea Foam

Emma comes to the field of landscape architecture with a unique perspective, having grown up in Germany before moving to California when she was young. Emma sees landscape architecture as a tool that utilizes design to improve both environmental and human wellbeing. Her final thesis at the University of California, Davis, which focused on inclusive playground design, was awarded the Student Honor Award from the Sierra Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Education
University of California, Davis, BSLA Summa Cum Laude 2023

Professional Affiliations
American Society of Landscape Architects

Favorite Shade of Green
Olive

About Holly
Holly has over 20 years of experience designing public parks, playgrounds and residential gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is trained as an ecologist and landscape architect. In all projects, she strives to creatively combine the pragmatic with the sublime to make beautiful, usable places. She is also an adept facilitator, whether that means balancing the needs of divergent stakeholders or balancing the aesthetics, maintenance, budget and constructability considerations of a site.

Professional Registration
Landscape Architect, California (CA#5912)

Education
Master of Landscape Architecture, UC Berkeley
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in Environmental Studies, University of South Carolina

Professional Experience
Commissioner, San Anselmo Parks and Recreation Commission
Advisory Council Member, San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
Chairperson, San Francisco Garden Club UC Berkeley Excellence in Landscape Design Scholarship Competition
Garden Design Judge, San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
Public Relations Director, ASLA Northern California Chapter

Favorite Shade of Green
Pistachio

Nan is an environmental activist with much experience marketing and running non-profits. Nan sees a powerful brand with Shades of Green and is glad to work with the friendly team!

Education
MBA/ MPA, Presidio Graduate School, Current
University of California, Berkeley, College of Letters & Science, Interdisciplinary Degree in Psychology, Sociology & Business

Professional Experience
Revive & Restore
350 Bay Area & 350 Bay Area Action
Bay Area Clinical Associates
Self-Employed Seamstress & Plant Propagator

Accomplishments
TedX Talk: From Guilt to Connection – A New Roadmap for Climate Action
Poster Presentation at American Psychiatric Association NYC 2018

Favorite Shade of Green
Forest

Education
UC Berkeley, B.A. Landscape Architecture

Professional Experience
Freelance Designer 2021-present
Cliff Lowe Associates 2018-2020
KSA Design Studio

Accomplishments
Poster Presentation at Children Nature Network
Workshop Given in Shenzhen China with the Society of Ecology and Entrepreneur (SEE)

Favorite Shade of Green
Chetwode

Ive is a licensed Landscape Architect and the Principal at Shades of Green.

She began her career in Norway, her country of origin. After earning her Master’s of Landscape Architecture from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ive worked for the Public Roads Administration to design environmentally sensitive infrastructure in the vulnerable fjord and coastal landscapes of western Norway. She then joined Kalve & Smedsvig Landscape Architects, an award-winning firm in Bergen. There she worked as a project manager and lead designer on a variety of public and commercial projects.

Ive moved to California in 2000. She spent four years working at APDW, where she designed and managed large-scale projects including hospitality, master planning, and mixed-use projects. She also worked closely with SWA Group as a consultant on international projects, competitions, and multi-family housing projects. She received her professional license in 2003.

Ive founded Shades of Green in 2004. As Principal, Ive applies her passion for beautiful design and sustainable landscape practices. She draws inspiration from nature, contemporary fashion, and her Scandinavian background. Ive brings modern simplicity and creative flair to each and every Shades of Green design.

Professional Registration
Landscape Architect, California (CA #4784)

Education
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Master of Landscape Architecture, 1995

Certified Professional
Bay Friendly Landscape 2008
Rainwater Certified Professional (ARCSA)

Professional Affiliations
ASLA Northern California
President, 2008
Board Member & Director Lecture Series, 2005 – 2009

Favorite Shade of Green
Lime

Professional Registration
Landscape Architect, California (CA #6328)

Education
University of California, Berkeley, LA Highest Honors 2000
University of Massachusetts, MA 1995-1997, AS Plant and Soil Sciences
Massachusetts College of Art, MA 1993-1995, Graphic Design

Professional Experience
SWA Group, Associate Designer /Project Manager, 2013-2016
Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture, Designer /Project Manager, 2011-2013
PWP Landscape Architecture, Associate Designer /Project Manager, 2002-2013

Awards
ASLA Certificate of Honor, 2000
Departmental Citation, University of California at Berkeley, 2000
CED Alumni Association Achievement Award, University of California at Berkeley, 2000
Second Prize, San Francisco Garden Club Design Competition, 2000
Beatrix Ferrand Scholarship, University of California at Berkeley, 1999
Phoebe Hearst Scholarship, University of California at Berkeley, 1999

Favorite Shade of Green
Seafoam

Education
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. B.L.A. with Honors
Minor in Sustainable Environments

Professional Experience
Callander Associates, Assistant Designer

Tyler was the most amazing business partner and friend. She was fearless and determined while being fun, loyal, down to earth, and the life of the party. She was a whirlwind of fun, charm, and energy, but also smart, hardworking, intelligent, compassionate, and sturdy as a rock.

Tyler was passionate about sustainability. We went to classes and courses to learn about water harvesting, bay friendly landscaping practices, storm water methods, and more. She made sure we implemented sustainable materials, methods, and practices into our projects. She loved her Bay Area community and found ways to be of service, such as taking on a leadership role in Spur’s Green Roof task force and volunteering as a Planning Commissioner in Mill Valley.

For the years that we ran Shades of Green together, we had so much fun. We created the work environment that we wanted. That meant we had our dogs in the office, we took breaks to go hiking or to go to yoga, we discussed ideas, helped push each other along, chatted about everything, laughed a lot, and worked hard creating a culture of collaboration.

We had our ups and downs. Some of the ups were getting the Sunset Idea houses, being published in magazines, getting a celebrity client, and seeing gardens materialize beautifully through the building process. Some of the downs were not getting some projects we really wanted, seeing our office burn down, and then Tyler’s cancer that came back again and again.

Tyler’s strength and determination through her fight with cancer was incredible. She didn’t give up. She did everything she could to get well. She kept her spirit and light until the end, and she could also joke about it and comfort others.

Even if Tyler’s life became way shorter that it should have been, she lived more than most people. She crammed so much life, joy, and friends into those 35 years. She is an inspiration to all of us how to live life to its fullest, and she will continue to live in our hearts.

Tyler was creating gardens, both literally and spiritually. It is nice to know that Tyler’s gardens will grow and thrive and live on. We will continue to create beautiful and thoughtful gardens in Tyler’s honor.

Education
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. B.L.A. 

Professional Experience
WATG and Wimberly Interiors, Intern. 2017, 2018

Awards
Southern California ASLA Student Honor Award 2020

Professional Affiliations
American Society of Landscape Architects

Ive is a licensed Landscape Architect and the Principal at Shades of Green.

She began her career in Norway, her country of origin. After earning her Master’s of Landscape Architecture from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ive worked for the Public Roads Administration to design environmentally sensitive infrastructure in the vulnerable fjord and coastal landscapes of western Norway. She then joined Kalve & Smedsvig Landscape Architects, an award-winning firm in Bergen. There she worked as a project manager and lead designer on a variety of public and commercial projects.

Ive moved to California in 2000. She spent four years working at APDW, where she designed and managed large-scale projects including hospitality, master planning, and mixed-use projects. She also worked closely with SWA Group as a consultant on international projects, competitions, and multi-family housing projects. She received her professional license in 2003.

Ive founded Shades of Green in 2004. As Principal, Ive applies her passion for beautiful design and sustainable landscape practices. She draws inspiration from nature, contemporary fashion, and her Scandinavian background. Ive brings modern simplicity and creative flair to each and every Shades of Green design.

Professional Registration
Landscape Architect, California (CA #4784)

Education
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Master of Landscape Architecture, 1995

Certified Professional
Bay Friendly Landscape 2008
Rainwater Certified Professional (ARCSA)

Professional Affiliations
ASLA Northern California
2008 President
2005 – 2009 Board Member & Director Lecture Series
2003 – Present Member of ASLA

Education
University of Washington, College of Built Environments, MLA 2013
University of California, Berkeley, BA with Honors, Legal Studies

Professional Experience
Harris Design Landscape Architecture, Landscape Designer, 2014-2015
IUCI – Informal Urban Communities Initiative, Participatory Design Facilitator, 2012-2013

Awards
ASLA Student Honor Award, Student Collaboration Category (IUCI) 2014
SEED Award for Excellence in Public Interest Design (IUCI) 2014
ASLA National Student Honor Award 2013

Professional Affiliations
American Society of Landscape Architects