Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Angi.
Hi Adrian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I took a “what will you be when you grow up?” test in high school that highlighted landscape architecture as a possible career. Without any real knowledge of the vocation, the idea of blending the outdoors and design felt like a dream. After earning a bachelor’s in landscape architecture at Cal Poly and working for high-end firms for 10 years, my day-to-day wasn’t fulfilling the dream I envisioned for myself, so I decided to create it on my own.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! The mantra I always tell myself (and my kids) is, “when something is new, it often feels uncomfortable – that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad.” And I have to repeat it to myself often. I’ve always been a perfectionist and you can’t be perfect at something new so that’s a very uncomfortable place to be. I’ve never owned a business or been on my own before and there are aspects of both that I find challenging. I never want to let my clients down. Learning as I go and allowing myself the grace to do so is tough.
We’ve been impressed with Uproot Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I chose the name “Uproot” because it seemed so fitting with what I was doing and what I wanted to accomplish; I uprooted my career to go in a different direction and I want to uproot the perception of landscape design. We’ve been stuck in an exterior design rut since the 1950s when the desire was for land, not environment. Large, unused front lawns no longer serve us. I want to put value back into your home that supports your lifestyle and gets you outside. Most homeowners I meet have tried over the years to create a space that looks nice, but either it has become patchy or they have completely given up. Landscape design is a combination of aesthetic and use in a living environment – It’s tricky! That’s why a landscape designer is a valuable investment: your outdoor space is usually 20% of your property or more. San Diego is one of the most expensive areas to live in – why would you pay that much if you’re not taking advantage of your entire property? With my professional landscape architecture experience in residential, hospitality, retail, and commercial, I’m able to approach projects with extensive formal training and experience as a homeowner in San Diego area myself.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
You have to just put yourself out there and be optimistic and open about every interaction you have. I have found a great network of people through APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers), Instagram, and through people I’ve been lucky enough to meet throughout my career. I’m especially grateful to Landtrends, Marcie Harris, Andrea Doonan, and Wave Landscape Design. Brookside Landscape Design, a successful and popular landscape designer in north county, just created a lovely gathering called Studio Outside which brings together contractors, designers, and design/builds in the area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uproot-design.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uprootdesign_sd
