dobson portfolio

nathan dobson

PhilosophyThis portfolio and resume highlight several of my favorite projects and

accomplishments from my undergraduate design studios, extended internship, and professional experience.

My design philosophy is driven by creative concepts and ideas, while still implementing the elements and principles of design. I believe that responding to each project with a vision, passion, and an open mind

significantly impacts and shapes my ability to create innovative solutions. The most enjoyable aspect of design for me is the unique process that

evolves for each project.

I am inspired by landscape architecture because it connects people with the land in many different ways. I am particularly intrigued and interested in

sustainable design, planning, and park design.

objective An employment opportunity in landscape architecture, planning, and design

education Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. Iowa State University, Ames, IA. May 2008

responsibilities • Collaborate with architects, engineers, and consultants throughout all stages of the design process • Revise design plans based on client input and direction from project manager • Develop site analysis plans and documentation depicting design opportunities and constraints such as land uses, topography, and site context • Design various presentation materials (Master Plan Reports, Final Design Boards, Conceptual Books) including graphics, layout, imagery, color schemes, and fonts • Survey development sites and complete construction inspections for compliance to code

accomplishments • Involved in diverse projects: Planned communities, international resorts, theme parks, golf courses & commercial • Participated as member of design team receiving 2nd in City of Newport Beach Park Competition • Produced Final Concept Book for Heng Qin Island Resort & Spa in China • Coordinated 3-D SketchUp model with architectural character, building components, and topography in development of Final Illustrative for a planned community in Egypt

key skills • Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Arcview GIS Mapping, Microsoft Office Suite • Extensive knowledge and experience with Adobe Creative Suite for graphic presentation materials • Creative expression throughout all stages of the design process • Diligent and dedicated to meeting project deadlines • Team-oriented in approach to design

professional experience • Graphic Design and Private Residential Landscape Design. Self-employed. May 2009 - present • Various retail and sales positions. In California and Iowa. March 2009 - present • Landscape Architect. Rabben/Herman design office. Newport Beach, CA. July 2008 - November 2008 • Planner Intern. Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo. Irvine, CA. Extended Internship. January - August 2007 • Site Inspector and Land Surveyor. Snyder & Associates Engineering. Ankeny, IA. May - August 2004 • Landscape Installation and Sales. Earl May Nursery. Cedar Rapids, IA. November 2002 - July 2003

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I worked at Rabben/Herman design office for approximately four months in 2008. I worked on different teams within the firm on various projects. I

helped the teams wherever assistance was needed. It included work in Sketch-Up, AutoCAD, color rendering, and Adobe Suite.

The experience I obtained there included preparation of construction drawings, design details, master plan reports, concept design, and

presentation materials.

Major responsibilities included attending Monday morning staff meetings, working under a Project Manager, meeting deadlines, modifying adjustments

to the Principal’s comments, and contributing ideas to the team.

1Work Experience RHDO Newport Beach, CA

Six Flags Dubailand Theme Park build-out master plan.

Parking Structure South Elevation

ST. JUDE MEDICAL CENTER

Rabben/HermanLandscape Architecture Master Planning Urban Design

Scale : 1” = 8’-0”

November 3, 2008

design officeRabben/HermanLandscape Architecture Master Planning Urban Design

Parking Structure West Elevation

ST. JUDE MEDICAL CENTERScale : 1” = 8’-0”

design officeRabben/HermanLandscape Architecture Master Planning Urban Design

November 3, 2008

Work Experience - RHDO, Newport Beach, California

Internship Experience - WATG, Irvine, California

Hospitality InteriorDesign Competition

Assisted Living Therapeutic Spaces Design

ISU Campus CommunityDesign Ames, Iowa

Suburban Cornfield Design West Liberty, Iowa

Sustainable Agriculture Story City, Iowa

Various Studio Projects

Newport Beach Park Competition concept plan.

Fullerton Parking Structure final elevations.

My internship experience was in Irvine, California at WATG. I interned there for eight months in 2007. I worked in the Master Planning department and here I learned many important things about how a professional firm works.

My personal experience included graphic design and presentation work, marker rendering, Photoshop rendering, AutoCAD, and Sketch-up.

Major intern responsibilities included attending Monday morning staff meeting, attending Master Planning meetings, sitting in on client meetings, working in charrette-based atmosphere, meeting various deadlines, and

contributing to the Master Planning team.

CALIFORNIA

2Internship Experience WATG Irvine, CA

Conceptual plan showing land uses in Heng Qin Resort, China.

Sketch-up conceptual work showing land uses.

Final aerial perspective - Yacht resort in Egypt.

Sketch-up conceptual work showing land uses.









The main goal of this project was to create an experience and branding for a hotel site on the Mississippi River in Davenport, IA.

PROGRAM: Designing a hotel using the outdoor landscape as a themed design principle. Creating spaces to tie the indoor and outdoor spaces

together and form an overall setting with numerous experiences. While doing all this, meet all the requirements and necessities of a hotel

GOALS: Understanding the connection between the interior and exterior spaces. To obtain knowledge about interior design and the effects it has on

the overall architecture of resort design.

GROUP MEMBER: Sarah Mayer

HOSPITALITY

3Hospitality Interior Design Competition Dubuque, IA

Exterior Site perspective .

Interior Floor Plan - 1st Floor.

Exterior Site Plan.

Bar, lounge, and restaurant elevation.

Restaurant elevation looking over the river.

Lounge area and restaurant elevation.

Lounge area looking out over the river.









The main goal of this project was to create a useable space for elderly patients and obtain a visual experience for patients with dementia.

PROGRAM: Designing three separate spaces using the back yard approach. Giving the spaces a home-like feel to “de-institutionalize” them.

GOALS: Understanding how elderly people use spaces and the accommodations they need for everyday life. To design different spaces using

planting schemes, outdoor activity use, and conceptual themes.

GROUP MEMBERS: David Locke, Andy Uchytil

ACCESSIBILITY

4Assisted Living Therapeutic Design

Front entrance elevation.

Front Entrance garden final planting plan (back yard schematic design approach).

Dementia garden final planting plan.

Shade diagram process sketch which influenced design.

Conceptual design sketch which portrays the outward focus.

Assisted Living garden final planting plan.

Front entrance elevation.









PROGRAM: Designing a dominant pedestrian corridor that addresses existing site issues and incorporates unifying elements to create a variety of spaces

in a way that compliments and enhances surrounding areas on Iowa State University Campus.

GOALS: Designing an environment that optimizes functional use of space and creates an identity which improves aesthetics, historical integrity, safety, and security. Working in a team-oriented process to meet a defined deadline and

deliver a final product to the client (Iowa State University).

GROUP MEMBERS: LA 401 Fall Class - Section 2

PUBLIC

5ISU Campus Community Design Ames, IA

Conceptual Plan showing pedestrian corridor.

Perspective showing large pedestrian gathering space.

Perspective showing native prairie swale within walkways.

Linear design process diagram.

Perspective showing hardscape pedestrian space.

Elevation showing native prairie swale and pedestrian walkway.









Elevation showing views looking towards the Campanile and central lawn area.

Plan showing plaza space and pedestrian corridor between the Memorial Union and Lake Laverne.

Elevation showing pedestrian paths and accessibility.

Aerial perspective showing front green space of the Memorial Union entrance.









The main goal of this project was to create a environmentally friendly housing development using sustainable practices.

PROGRAM: Developing 80 acres of farmland into a housing development. Creating an active outdoor environment using a network of paths to connect

neighborhood green spaces.

GOALS: Creating a sense of place within the community. Improvements and issues dealing with on-site hydrology including storm water management, no

curb and gutters, and rain gardens.

GREEN

6Suburban Cornfield Design West Liberty, Iowa

Aerial perspective

Typical section between lots.

Typical section between lots.

Diagrammatic process sketch showing green space.

Site plan diagramming, showing use of space and conceptual work.









The main goal for this design is developing 4,000 acres using suitability analysis to find the highest suitable land for each use. Agriculture must

independently support the community development for 6 months of the year.

PROGRAM: Designing a sustainable community at regional scale. Incorporating urban components, crops, pastures, animals, and wetlands.

GOALS: Understanding sustainable agriculture approaches, food calculations, utilization of all types of land, and Low Impact Design (LID) elements and

standards. To use sustainable agriculture as a practice technique that enhances the design scheme.

SUSTAINABLE

7Sustainable Agriculture Story City, IA

Section showing root growth and trail system between woodlands and crops.

Regional Plan showing separation of agriculture uses, housing developments, and prairie wetlands.

Initial Conceptual bubble diagram showing land uses.

Site plan showing the two housing developments.









The various projects are a collection of different studios throughout my college career. I believe they all have shaped me in different, yet valuable

ways. Each project has its own significance. Some projects show my creative side and others reflect my knowledge of technical

and construction details.

The fundamentals of design are portrayed in every one.

FUNDAMENTALS

8Various Studio Projects and Documents

Charcoal self portrait (32x40”).

Built box representation of where I was born.Interpretative model.

Built box representation of Savannah Studio Travel experiences.

Charcoal self portrait (32x40”).

Built box representation of where I was born. Retaining Wall Construction detail (AutoCAD).

Comprehensive grading plan for Ames pool project (Pen & Ink).









references

Dan Herman Principal - Owner Rabben/Herman design office - RHDO 833 Dover Drive, Suite 9 Newport Beach, California, 92663 949.548.3459 / M: 714.366.5786 [email protected]

Matt Hazard Project Manager /Herman design office - RHDO 833 Dover Drive, Suite 9 Newport Beach, California, 92663 949.548.3459 / M: 949.274.5464 [email protected] Heidi Hohmann Associate Professor Department of Landscape Architecture Iowa State University 146 Design, Ames, IA 50011-3094 515.294.8938 [email protected]

Tom Dunbar Owner Dunbar/Jones 526 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 866.564-5240 / 715.630.9764 [email protected]

Matthew Beehler Associate Vice President - Master Planning Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo - WATG 8001 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 500 Irvine, CA 92618 949.574.8500 [email protected]

Chris Bradley Project Manager Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo - WATG 8001 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 500 Irvine, CA 92618 714.580.2228 [email protected]

Cigdem T. Akkurt Associate Professor Iowa State University 581 Design, Ames, IA 50011-3094 515.294.8978 [email protected]

Nathan Dobson 6080 NE 130th Avenue, Elkhart, Iowa 50073 515.778.7561 [email protected]