We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Todd Briggs. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Todd below.

Hi Todd, thanks for joining us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.

The spark that led to the formation of TRUEFORM was rooted originally in the end of an era for a local and nationally recognized firm that I had been a part of for over twelve years. That practice, Ten Eyck landscape architects, had for 15 years been a leading landscape architecture practice in Arizona and across the southwest. In 2012, Ten Eyck shifted their practice to Texas, ultimately leading me to a decision point that included options of relocating to Texas, working in another practice, or establishing my own.

As a single parent at the time of two daughters, it was a scary concept of stepping out on my own. Doubt is a powerful force and I often asked if I was good enough in all the ways a firm leader needs to be. Was I talented enough? Do I have the drive? Do I have the patience it takes to grow a practice? Do I have the personality to cultivate relationships? All these questions remained under the surface as the time approached to launch TRUEFORM and those doubts and fears never really go away regardless of how long I remain as a leader in our studio. They keep me grounded and humble, something I definitely learned from my time with Ten Eyck landscape architects.

Eleven years later, TRUEFORM has become a fixture in the Arizona design community which can be chalked up to luck, perseverance, positive outlook, and gratitude among others. There is no true recipe that I can articulate for someone seeking to chart their own path in leading a practice but remaining humble and authentic to yourself is a great foundation. Others before me that I always admired always sought to uplift the next generation and I believe this mentorship and support elevates the design community. I’m excited to see who the next leaders in landscape architecture will be and encourage anyone interested to lean on current leaders for mentorship and advice.

Todd, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Born and raised in Arizona, my interest in activities that put me into natural landscapes at an early age definitely led to an interest finding a career that integrated my affinity for outdoor environments. I stumbled into the field of landscape architecture, learning that it beautifully combined the aspects of ecology, biology, design, and art, all of which I gravitated to from an early age. As a landscape architect, I find myself in a fortunate position with a unique skill set to connect urban dwellers with a natural environment. My adventurous side includes rock climbing, backpacking, and fly fishing, which all inspire my work even today.

At TRUEFORM, I find that each project presents opportunities to make connections between humans while also providing opportunities to connect to nature. This is a human necessity and incredibly rewarding for landscape architects to achieve. I feel so deeply connected to the uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert and strive to give others deeper connections to place. I find landscape architects in our special region have a responsibility to tell stories of the desert to the people that ultimately use the outdoor environments we inhabit. These stories can evoke a sense of environmental stewardship, including water, habitat, and protecting our indigenous landscapes.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I find that newer clients most often develop relationships with our studio from word of mouth within the overall design and construction community. Relationship building can be achieved in various ways including excellence in performance, leading to repeat work. The work however is just one aspect, and I find it vital to make connections that go beyond simple colleagues and clients. While we inhabit a professional community, longer term working relationships may organically develop into deeper connections. Sharing personal stories of children, hobbies, vacations, etc… breaks down barriers and makes the work far more fruitful and personal which I believe urges existing clients to nudge new clients to contact our studio.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Strike a balance! The physical nature of an open studio fosters open dialogue, fluid exchanges of ideas, and story telling. Keep it fun AND professional, as too much of either may erode the work in the long run. For professional growth, our studio encourages involvement in professional organizations including ASLA, field trips, industry happy hours, and participation in conferences.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trueformlas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueform_las/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-briggs-47519a5b/

Image Credits
Bill Timmerman Caitlin Atkinson An Pham Matt Winquist