EMMA LESSER, Designer

Emma made the career pivot from graphic design to landscape architecture in search of a greater sense of purpose: bringing the restorative power of nature to those that need it most. Volunteering with Edible Schoolyard in her home state of New York led her to focus her pursuits on creating beautiful outdoor spaces for children to learn and thrive. This experience and her own childhood ties to the outdoors, were the impetus for her MLA thesis: “A Culture of Change: The Inherent Power of Restorative Justice to Transform Public Schoolyards,” a call for the creation of outdoor spaces for social programs in public schools; a supportive approach to greening public schoolyards. Emma brings a curious, rigorous spirit of research to everything she does. She is excited to continue to develop her real-world experience creating within and around the children’s realm at Bay Tree Design. Her substantial background in graphic design now serves her work in landscape architecture, supporting a mature design process, refined drafting, and clear presentations, communications, and site signage.

EDUCATION

Master of Landscape Architecture, University of California, Berkeley, 2023

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, 2015