GardenGPT — AI-Powered Landscape Design Platform

Overview

Challenge
Urban landscape designers face time-intensive plant configuration processes requiring expertise in ecology, aesthetics, and spatial planning. Traditional workflows involve manual plant selection, repetitive adjustments, and limited data-driven validation, leading to 40-60 hour delays per project.

Solution
GardenGPT: An AI-powered SaaS platform enabling designers to generate scientifically validated, visually balanced planting schemes in 15 minutes. Combines parametric modeling, biodiversity scoring, and real-time 3D previews to streamline green space design.

Role: Lead UX Designer (End-to-end process: User Research → IA → Prototyping → UI/Visual Design → Usability Testing)
Tools: Figma, Miro, ProtoPie, Maze

1. Problem Definition

The Bottleneck in Traditional Workflows

Landscape designers spent 40-60 hours per project manually cross-referencing:

  • Ecological requirements (soil pH, drainage)

  • Aesthetic guidelines (color palettes, seasonal variations)

  • Municipal regulations (plant height limits, safety codes)

Key Pain Points:

  • 68% of designers lacked real-time access to plant databases

  • 92% struggled with client communication due to static 2D presentations

  • 57% of projects exceeded budgets due to post-construction plant replacements

2. Design Strategy Framework

Core Objectives:

  1. Automate technical validation without limiting creativity

  2. Bridge communication between designers/clients/ecologists

  3. Enable rapid scenario testing across environmental conditions

UX Pillars:

  • Precision: Real-time biodiversity scoring

  • Flexibility: Hybrid AI/human editing modes

  • Clarity: 3D/AR visualization of 10-year growth projections

3. Solution Breakdown

A. Intelligent Project Setup

  • Auto-Parameter Detection: Extracts constraints from CAD files (slope angles, shadow areas)

  • Climate Adaptability Filter: Flags incompatible plants using local meteorological data

B. AI Collaboration Workflow

Three-Tier Interaction Model:

  1. AI Suggestions: Generates 3 base layouts (conservative/balanced/innovative)

  2. Human Refinement: Layer-by-layer customization with constraint warnings

  3. Stakeholder Review: Shared 360° walkthroughs with comment pins

C. Decision Support System

  • Microclimate Simulator: Tests designs against heatwaves/floods

  • Maintenance Calculator: Predicts 5-year care costs

  • Regulation Checklist: Auto-generates compliance reports