Most good landscape architects employ a series of analytical and creative thinking steps referred to as the “Design Process” to arrive at a built site design that correctly meets all the necessary requirements in the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing manner possible. The design process has a number of uses including the following: 大多数优秀的园林建筑师都要经历反复分析和创造性的思考过程，也就是设计过程，才能使完成的场地设计方案恰到好处地满足一切必需的要求，达到既经济有给人以美感的效果。设计过程的作用不少，其中包括：

1.     It provides a logical and organized framework for creating a design solution.为设计方案提供一个有逻辑有组织的框架。

2.     It helps to insure the solution that does evolve will be appropriately suited to the given circumstances of the design ( the site, the client’s needs, budget, etc) 有助于确保形成的方案能够适应给定的设计环境（场地、客户的要求、预算等）

3.     It aids in determining the best use of the land for the client by studying alternative solutions. 有利于客户通过研究各种可行方案来决定场地的最佳用途。

4.     It serves as a basis of explaining and defending the design solution to the client. 作为向客户阐明并维护其方案的依据。

The design process also sometimes termed as “ problem solvinig process”, includes a series of steps which usually ( though not necessarily) follow a sequential order. In general terms, these same steps are also used by architects, industrial designers, engineers, and scientists to solve problem. For site designers, the design process typically include these steps: 设计过程有时也可以称为解决问题的过程“，它包括若干步骤，这些步骤通常（并非必然）有先后顺序。一般来说，建筑师、工业设计师、工程师以及科学家们都采用同样的顺序来解决问题。对场地设计人员来说，其设计过程一般包括下列步骤：

1.    Client Contract 与客户签合同

2.    Research and Analysis ( including site visit)

研究与分析（包括勘察场地）

A.   Base Plan Preparation 基地平面图准备

B.   Site inventory ( Data Collection) and Analysis (Evaluation)

场地清理（数据收集）和分析（评价）

C.   Client Interview （会见客户）

D.   Program Development 制定计划

3.    Design 设计

A.   Ideal Functional Diagram 理想的功能分析图

B.   Site Related Functional Diagram 场地相关功能分析图

C.   Concept Plan 设计草图

D.   Form Composition Study 构图研究

E.   Preliminary Design 初步设计

F.    Total Design 总体设计

G.  Detailed Design 详细设计

4.    Implementation 实施

A.   Construction 施工

B.   Planting 绿化

5.    Maintenance 养护

6.    Post-construction Evaluation 完工后的评价

These steps of the design process represent the ideal sequence of events. In reality, many of the steps overlap one another and blend together so the neat ordering of the outline is less clear or apparent. Further, some of the steps may parallel one another and occur simultaneously. For example，Client interview and Program Development may occur at the same time. One is also visiting the site and conducting a Site Analysis. At other times, one may find it necessary to backtrack to a precious step. As an illustration, one may find it necessary to revisit the site or talk to the client again once the design phase itself has been started because some item of information was overlooked the first time or one’s memory and impression simply need refreshing.

以上这些步骤是设计工作的理想过程。实际上，许许多多这样的步骤都是相互重叠和兼容的，彼此的分界并不十分明显。况且，有些步骤彼此并列并同时进行。例如会见客户与制定计划可以同时进行，而场地勘察和场地分析也可以是同时进行的。另一些场合，可能有必要重复前一步。例如，因为某个数据最初被忽视，或某人对场地的印象需要加深，设计阶段开始后，也会有必要重新踏勘场地活再次与客户加弹。

It is important for a novice designer to understand the fact that beautiful and practical design solutions don’t appear out of thin air like magic. There are no esoteric formulas or secret states of mind that produce good designs effortlessly. And designs are not created by only moving a pencil around on a piece of paper. Designs that work well and affect our emotions require a great deal of sensitive observation, analysis, studying / thinking and restudying as well as some degree of inspiration and creativity. It should be noted here that producing a design does involve both rational aspects (inventory, analysis, program development, construction knowledge) and intuitive aspects (the feel of putting forms and shapes together, aesthetic appreciation, etc.). The design process, then, is a framework of steps, incorporating both rational and intuitive phases, that aid the designer to organize his/her work, thoughts, and feelings in an effort to produce the best design solution possible.

设计新手必须懂得，完美儿实用的设计方案不会像变魔术一样从天上掉下来。没有任何奥妙的公式或神秘的心境可以毫不费力的提出好的设计方案。而设计方案绝不是只用铅笔在纸上画画就可以提出来的。实用而给人以激情的设计要求大量敏锐的观察、分析、研究、推敲和再推敲，外加一定的灵感和独创性。应该注意，提出一个设计方案确实包括理性方面（调查、分析、计划编制和施工知识）和直觉方面（把样式和造。起来的感觉、美学欣赏能力等）。因此，设计过程就是一系列设计步骤的总框架，它把理性和直觉两个方面结合起来，有助于人员组织自己的工作、思维和情感，以做出最佳的设计。