WHY WORK WITH UNITED DESIGNERS INTERNATIONAL
The loss of fertile topsoil and biodiversity threatens not only the planet’s health but our own. Yet, solutions are within reach. What is needed is a commitment to sustainable practices and fostering respect for all living systems, where we can protect the rich web of life we depend on. Regenerating the land is not a quick fix, but a long-term commitment and a purposeful journey that requires patience, resilience, and a clear vision.
When we help you invest in the land’s ability to thrive and build systems that nurture biodiversity and resilience, we create lasting abundance —one that future generations will inherit and sustain.
At United Designers International, we help you invest in your land’s capacity to flourish, building systems that foster biodiversity and resilience. Together, we can create a lasting abundance—one that future generations will benefit from and sustain.
Assessment is a crucial part of United Designers’ process, tailored to the scale and needs of each project. It begins with gathering data on the land's climate, water, soil, and demographics, as well as documenting existing infrastructure, ecological habitats, and patterns of human activity. We conduct both field observations and lab tests, carefully analyzing everything from soil fertility to hydrological systems.
Using geospatial data from satellites and aircraft, we map and measure key landscape features. This allows us to understand watersheds, groundcover, and local land practices, all critical for regenerative agriculture and ecological restoration. Our balanced approach combines digital research with hands-on fieldwork. Whenever possible, we spend extended time on-site, living the project, and engaging in meaningful dialogue with landowners or caretakers to ensure a shared, evolving vision.
The deliverables from each assessment—whether detailed reports, maps, or design recommendations—are tailored to the specific requirements of the project, ensuring that every outcome is both relevant and actionable.
ASSESSMENT
Evaluates the sustainable level of activity an ecosystem can support without degrading its resources. Considering soil fertility, water availability, and biodiversity, guiding land management decisions for long-term ecological resilience.
Assesses soil health through mineral, chemical, and soil food web evaluations. This analysis is crucial for supporting organic production and sustainable farming practices.
Analyzes drainage systems and assesses landslide and erosion risks, ensuring land stability and enhancing climate resilience through effective management strategies.
Utilizes GIS modelling and drone mapping to capture site features and evaluate geology, environmental conditions, existing vegetation, and rainwater harvesting potential for informed decision-making.
Examines watershed health and streambed conditions, including erosion levels and water retention capacity, to inform effective water management strategies and enhance ecosystem restoration.
Evaluates the viability of ecosystem restoration projects by assessing current conditions, defining restoration goals, analyzing site factors, engaging stakeholders, and reviewing techniques and investments to balance ecological benefits with practical challenges.
DESIGN PROCESS
Our design process typically follows four key stages: assessment, conceptualization, final design, and when needed, extended planning, project management, or implementation support. Each phase is tailored to the specific needs of the project, ensuring that every step— from initial evaluation to actionable solutions— is thoughtfully executed. This approach allows us to guide clients through the process with clarity, ensuring sustainable and effective outcomes.
Whether you manage a small private site or a large community project, our services are tailored to meet your unique ecological goals and enhance your impact on environmental health and sustainability.
Contact us today to explore how our tailored solutions can help you achieve your ecological objectives and contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come. Let's work together to nurture landscapes that embody resilience, diversity, and vitality, ensuring a legacy of environmental stewardship for posterity.
Optimizes the processes for plant propagation and care, ensuring efficient production and native species selection for restoration projects, agroforestry systems, and habitat enhancement.
Facilitates a holistic approach to project coordination, supporting clients throughout implementation while empowering them to make informed decisions that align with the evolving landscape.
Develops comprehensive strategies that enhance food security, promote regenerative farming practices, and ensure sustainable land management.
Tailored strategies to address climate impacts, wildfires, and floods, sequester carbon and fix nitrogen, creating resilient landscapes and adaptive practices for farms and homesteads.
Crafts targeted approaches to rewild and restore habitats, attract and conserve biodiversity, and maintain essential ecosystem services for long-term ecological health.
Our planning services empower landowners, farmers, and organizations to create strategic frameworks that promote ecological health and resilience. We focus on developing comprehensive plans that align with sustainable land use, ensuring long-term viability for agricultural practices and environmental stewardship.
By crafting adaptive strategies, we help clients navigate the complexities of climate change, enhance habitat conservation, and optimize resource management. Our project management approach fosters collaboration and supports clients in making informed decisions, enabling them to thrive as they engage with their landscapes. When necessary, we also offer extended project management services beyond the design phase, staying involved throughout the implementation process. This ongoing support is tailored to each client's needs, ensuring long-term success and adaptation.
PLANNING
HOW WE WORK
United Designers International is a collaborative network of designers, consultants, and local experts who come together to create tailored solutions for each project. When a project begins, we assemble a team with the right expertise to ensure that the client’s vision is realized. Our project management maintains the design’s trajectory throughout the process, promoting clear communication and consistency.
Each team member has access to our extensive library of past projects and shared knowledge, enriching their skills and fostering professional growth. This collaborative approach not only delivers effective strategies for our clients but also empowers our designers and experts to learn from one another. With teams working across continents and time zones, United Designers is dedicated to providing resilient solutions while nurturing the talents behind them.
We design solutions that are sustainable, resilient, and functional. From small-scale homesteads to large-scale ecological restoration, our design work integrates nature-based solutions with regenerative strategies, creating lasting impacts.
We view design as a collaborative journey, inviting clients to engage with us in a shared exploration of possibilities. By harnessing the unique characteristics of the land and the aspirations of its stewards, we create designs that resonate with ecological integrity and community needs.
Our approach emphasizes creativity and practicality, ensuring each project addresses immediate challenges while fostering long-term resilience. Whether it involves developing regenerative agricultural systems, implementing water management strategies, or enhancing biodiversity, our designs aim to create harmony between human activity and the natural environment. By empowering clients to actively participate in the design process, we cultivate a sense of ownership and connection to the land, resulting in sustainable outcomes that benefit both people and ecosystems alike.
DESIGN
We create systems for regenerative farming, integrating techniques like intercropping, rotational grazing, and silvopasture to enhance soil health, increase water retention, and promote biodiversity.
A myriad of tree cropping systems, from Miyawaki tiny forests, extensive silvopasture, syntropic agroforestry, food forests, and alley cropping, all aimed at fostering ecological balance and productivity.
We design practical solutions for stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and pond and watershed management to promote water security and sustainability.
We develop farmstead layouts, self-sufficient homes, community gardens, and orchards to bolster food security, encourage education, and promote organic production while nurturing environmental stewardship.
Our designs focus on natural shoreline protections and the creation or enhancement of riparian zones, improving water quality and biodiversity while enhancing resilience against drought, storms, and flooding.
Our plans prioritize the restoration of ecosystems, increasing biodiversity, rewilding, and building climate-resilient landscapes that thrive in harmony with their environment.
WORKING WITH THE 4RETURNS
4 Returns is a science-based framework developed by Commonland in close collaboration with leading scientific institutes, business schools, farmers and experts. Aiming to transform degraded ecosystems by focusing on 4 key returns over the course of a single generation, or 20 years.
By embracing this Framework, on large-scale landscape designs, we align our efforts with a holistic approach to regeneration, ensuring that every project not only restores ecosystems but also nurtures community resilience, economic vitality, and cultural heritage. This framework empowers us to create lasting impacts that benefit both the environment and the people who rely on it.
RETURN OF INSPIRATION
Giving people hope
and a sense of purpose.
RETURN OF SOCIAL CAPITAL
Bringing back jobs, business activity, education and security.
RETURN OF NATURAL CAPITAL
Restoring biodiversity, soil fertility, air and water quality.
RETURN OF FINANCIAL CAPITAL
Realizing long-term profit built on sustainability.
Customized training programs and workshops designed to educate and empower individuals and communities in sustainable land management practices and project implementation.
We raise awareness and inspire action on pressing environmental issues and climate resilience, encouraging community involvement in sustainable land management, particularly focusing on soil health and soil food web principles.
Our tailored workshops on Permaculture and Regenerative Practices cover topics such as food forests, rotational grazing, intercropping, and water management, promoting long-term sustainability and climate resilience.
This comprehensive course equips designers with knowledge of Permaculture and Ecological design strategies and the holistic design process while building technical expertise in Adobe Illustrator for professional-level work.
We provide tailored educational services that empower clients, landowners, and stakeholders with the essential knowledge and skills for effective ecological stewardship. Education is embedded in our philosophy, whether delivered in classrooms, in the field, or through remote training. Our programs cover a wide array of topics, from permaculture principles to project-specific training, fostering sustainable practices that align with local ecosystems.
As environmentalist David Orr famously stated, “The most important thing we can do is to teach people how to care for the earth.” We don’t just design and leave; we engage and inspire the next generation of land stewards. Our certified Permaculture trainers, including co-founder Daniel Halsey, offer comprehensive Live and Digital Design Courses globally, both onsite and online. We emphasize a methodical approach, guiding learners from patterns to details, and equipping them with the technical tools necessary for effective design and collaboration. Our education services lay a solid foundation for a successful career in professional permaculture and ecological design, empowering individuals and communities to make informed decisions that promote long-term environmental health and resilience.
EDUCATION
THE UNITED ADVANTAGE
UNITED GOALS
Our goals are rooted in the collective vision of healing the planet and restoring ecosystems. We aim to regenerate landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and foster resilient communities by implementing regenerative practices and sustainable design principles. Every project we take on, whether a community garden, organic farm, or large-scale restoration, is a step toward creating a healthier, more equitable future for both people and the planet. Together, we’re working to build thriving ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods for generations to come.
UNITED LANGUAGES
Our team spans multiple cultures and speaks a wide range of languages, allowing us to adapt to diverse cultural contexts with ease. This global reach strengthens our ability to collaborate across borders, fostering strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and communities. Our multicultural perspective enriches our design processes, enabling us to respond sensitively to both local environmental conditions and cultural nuances while delivering sustainable solutions tailored to each unique landscape.
UNITED SKILLS
Our team’s diverse expertise and combined skills bring the best of regenerative design and innovative solutions to every project. From broad-scale site assessments and GIS modeling to sustainable agriculture and watershed restoration, we offer a comprehensive range of services, including agroforestry, biodiversity strategies, urban permaculture, and climate resilience planning. We are committed to designing landscapes that regenerate both nature and communities.
A UNITED FUTURE
Building for the future means creating solutions that last. Our design team is passionate about pioneering advanced technologies and strategies that ensure long-term sustainability. With our forward-thinking approach, we develop creative, resilient systems that can adapt to evolving challenges. Ready to design a better future? Connect with United Designers today.