STUDIO
.jpg)
Roland Crighton
Principal
From an early age, Roland had a love for sketching and drawing — a creative instinct that would one day evolve into a career shaping some of the world’s most exclusive landscapes. What began as an artistic curiosity became a lifelong pursuit of blending art, architecture, and nature — a passion ignited the day he discovered the field of landscape architecture at university.
For over two decades, Roland has been entrusted with designing warm-weather resort destinations, private estate gardens, and luxury hospitality environments across Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Asia. His portfolio includes private resort communities, beach clubs, and five-star hotels where the outdoor spaces become the defining feature of the guest experience.
Known for his mastery of tropical planting design and deep understanding of local construction practices, Roland’s work is rooted in honoring site and context — ensuring each landscape feels authentic, timeless, and inseparable from its surroundings. His collaborations with leading architects, developers, and hospitality brands have produced landscapes that are as strategically valuable as they are visually stunning.
Roland is licensed in California, Colorado, and Hawaii, and continues to set the standard for luxury resort and estate landscapes that balance artistry, cultural narrative, and environmental integrity.
.jpg)
Joeseph Newton
Senior Landscape Architect
Joseph grew up in the Bay Area, California, pursuing art and professional golf. Playing golf gave him the courage and knowledge to design crazy golf course plans. When Joseph started studying landscape design, he was awestruck that there was a wide range of design possibilities in the landscape department which led him pursuing urban design and art.​ Joseph is a skilled and creative landscape architect with over 20 years of professional experience.
He fuses his passion for art with design to create unique spaces that are both beautiful and functional. His project experience includes international projects, luxury resorts, urban mixed use, corporate campuses, public spaces, and senior housing developments. He enjoys the challenge of multi-scale/discipline design issues of the landscape profession. After working on the four of the top seven tallest buildings in the world, his work focuses on new ideas and visionaries, the quality of construction in all aspects of the design, including details and green materials. ​
.jpg)
Daniel Grattan
Associate Landscape Designer
Daniel grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where he knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career working with impactful landscapes. After completing his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at St. Olaf College, Daniel moved back to the foothills, where he worked for two years as an environmental scientist. Soon, he realized that he wanted to combine his knowledge of the environment with his passion for design, which led him to move to Denver, CO, to study Landscape Architecture. After graduating with a Master's in Landscape Architecture, Daniel joined Forma Design Partners in 2023.
​
Throughout his graduate studies, Daniel focused on creating landscape designs that pushed the boundaries of the field. His work included unique designs such as solar eclipse land art in the Utah Salt Flats, foodscapes on Mars, vertical gardens, and defensible spaces.
​
As a new designer, Daniel's dedication and fresh ideas strengthen the mission of Forma Design Partners.
​
APPROACH
At Forma Design Partners, we create outdoor spaces that go beyond the expected. While we offer sustainable, thoughtful design, we seek out solutions that surprise and engage the senses. Our work harmonizes with the natural environment and architecture, creating immersive experiences at every turn.
We don’t adhere to a signature style. Instead, we honor the unique character of each project, respecting the culture, climate, and resources of the site. Our commitment is to create artistic, memorable spaces that leave a lasting impression.
SERVICES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
We offer a wide range of design services for a variety of project types, from small-scale intimate gardens to major site development projects. Our services include concept and schematic design through construction documents and construction observation.​​
RESORT MASTER PLANNING
Our master planning services will examine multiple land use opportunities for resort properties in a variety of destinations to best understand the site’s full potential.
HOSPITALITY DESIGN
Our team specializes in designing a variety of hospitality environments, from boutique hotels to large scale destination properties. We place a strong emphasis on the communication of ideas in order to establish a collaborative design process and build a productive relationship with the project team.
SITE PLANNING
We engage with the design team at the start of a project to assist in siting the buildings and amenities. We provide a wide variety of environmental assessments to understand how to best utilize the site and minimize the impact of the development on its natural features and systems.
RENOVATION AND RESTORATION
Our team is experienced in the renovation and restoration of resort and hotel properties that often coincides with new ownership or the repositioning of an existing property. We can provide landscape assessments and phasing plans to assist the client in understanding the level of investment that will work within their capital budget.
DESIGN CHARRETTE
The design charrette is a high-intensity collaborative process set within the context of the site where conceptual ideas are rapidly exchanged by the project team with the goal of establishing a shared vision for the project
PROJECT VISIONING
Our team will assist the client in creating visual material that captures the essence of the project for the purpose of presenting their vision to stake holders, potential investors, or prospective buyers.