Meet Giancarlo Gierse Del Grande, Design Install Leader

I was born in Brazil and have been a designer since 2001 when I graduated from the Sao Paulo School of Fine Arts. I have had the opportunity to work on many projects in a variety of fields, including shoe design, furniture and interior design, fashion accessories, and product creation.

From 2006 to 2010 I lived in Jerusalem, Israel, where I studied jewelry design, which is another one of my passions. During my 20 years working as designer, I became enchanted with landscape design and since 2021, I have been working in this field. I have always been passionate about nature and plants; I have a beautiful collection of indoor plants at home, and I spend hours taking care of them. My work in landscaping and gardening inspires me and teaches me as well. I learn about the multiple species of plants and their individual properties. I have found that the creative process is ongoing in this field, from the conception of the landscape design to the final installation of plants and other finishes. As the Design Install Leader I get to execute the project which energizes me creatively and then I get to see the finished result which is always so satisfying.

I’ve always been inspired by the tropical nature of Brazil and the deserts of Israel. Each is special and unique; however, since I moved to Ann Arbor in 2013, I've experienced for the first time how nature and landscape change throughout the year, according to well-defined seasons. For me, this is a priceless experience and a privilege to observe. It's also a unique learning experience, allowing me to learn about new plants and environments. Each and every day I get to advance my knowledge.

One of my hobbies is visiting nurseries and greenhouses in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. My goal in landscaping is to bring a design as close to nature as possible. I'm passionate about integrating the elements of light and shadow, color, dimension and texture into each design. This, I believe, is the beauty and creativity of my profession. Regarding style, I appreciate the elegance of the modern landscape as well as the tranquility of Japanese inspired gardens, but at the end of the day, it is the wild tropical gardens that are my favorite, with their exciting climbing plants and the many wildly colorful species.