Jayson likes to say that he began gardening as soon as he could hold a trowel. As a child, he helped his parents tend the family vegetable garden. In his teens, Jayson designed, installed, and maintained a series of perennial beds with regular guidance from his grandmother. While pursuing an undergraduate degree with a dual major in theatre arts and religious studies from Dominican University, he spent summers working for a local garden center. After a brief stint as an actor and a more successful career in marketing, Jayson returned to his first love by earning a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from Illinois Tech. Following his graduate studies, Jayson accepted a position on the planting design team at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects. There, he worked closely with the firm’s principals and partners to develop and implement site-specific planting designs for residential and commercial landscapes. The sum of these experiences resulted in the launch of his eponymous atelier in 2015. You don’t need to look hard to find traces of his background in his design approach. From his theatre and theology training, Jayson brings to his work a passion for character study and the pursuit of “sacred” space suited to the user’s needs. From Illinois Tech, he learned respect for the line, for intent, and for rigor. From his studio experience, he gained invaluable lessons in craft, scale, and the essential role of relationships. But first and foremost a fervent, experienced gardener: Jayson will always dive in to his work, trowel in-hand.