ABSTRACT
When landscape architects commence a new design project they usually start by seeking relevant and up to date knowledge in order to meet the brief, because relying solely on their experience is rarely sufficient, especially when projects are complex. For example, if the project involves designing a new urban riverfront, designers might search for technical information such as the robustness of certain materials to withstand hydrological processes, for the best and most appropriate plants for the local ecological conditions, or for good examples of spatial design to achieve contact by people with the water. Designers will probably also be looking for similar completed projects as precedents and inspiration. However, due to the limited resources available to a typical office in terms of time to carry out a comprehensive search for applicable data, the results of search processes necessarily remain somewhat arbitrary - sometimes the results are good and appropriate knowledge can be assembled, sometimes the results are inadequate and affect the quality of the final design. Since the aim of design is to produce high quality projects (functionally, spatially, aesthetically and ecologically etc.) this search process should be made more efficient and effective. One way of achieving this is by the use of design guidelines.
