Frequently Asked Questions for Becoming a Client

1. What kind of assistance does COGdesign provide for groups and organizations? For selected projects, COGdesign provides professional landscape design by landscape design practitioners and advanced students which usually includes a site analysis, site plan, plant list, maintenance recommendations, and cost estimate. COGdesign does not install the design; rather, it provides concept plans for fundraising and, in some cases, plans from which landscapers (paid and/or volunteer) can work.
   
   
2. Which organizations qualify for COGdesign assistance? Any community-based group or organization that owns, or is responsible for, an outdoor space in need of design services (community gardens, schools, churches, affordable-housing complexes, museums, parklands) and lacks the resources to acquire more traditional landscape design services, is eligible to be a COGdesign client. For private residential projects or organizations with secured funds, COGdesign can make appropriate referrals. 
   
   
3. How can my organization obtain services from COGdesign? Contact COGdesign's director via email at info@cogdesign.org or by calling 781-642-6662 and explain your group's need for assistance. If your project sounds like one which COGdesign can help, you'll be asked to complete an application form. COGdesign responds to applications as promptly as possible but cannot guarantee a timeframe. 
   
   
4. What do COGdesign's clients have to pay? Clients pay a one-time, non-refundable $150 application fee. In addition, COGdesign clients reimburse the designer's out-of-pocket expenses such as printing, film, and photocopying. The designer's time and expertise, however, are free of charge. 
   
   
5. Are there any hidden costs to COGdesign’s services? COGdesign requests in-kind support from the community client like publicity through newsletters and local newspapers or the use of meeting space. If fund-raising is underway, COGdesign encourages the client to include a fee-for-services in the budget, payable to COGdesign.
   
   
6. What else does the client group have to do? COGdesign clients are expected to fulfill certain responsibilities to produce a successful landscape design development process. These are likely to include:

• providing the designer as much information as possible about the site, its history and surroundings, and helping the designer make contact with local officials and decision makers; 
• negotiating a Letter of Agreement with the designer;
• establishing a meeting schedule with the designer and keeping to it;
• identifying a person or small committee within your group who will work regularly with the designer throughout the process;
• setting up a mechanism within the group for making decisions, especially for giving preliminary and final approval of the design;
• completing a brief evaluation for COGdesign once the design project is completed;
• fulfilling your in-kind commitment to COGdesign.

7. How long does the design process take? The time can range from 6 weeks to 6 months or longer. How long it takes depends partly on how big or complex the design problem is and partly on how well the client group assists the designer by carrying out its responsibilities, as described above.
   
   
8. What happens after the design is done? Can COGdesign help us get the landscape built? We encourage community groups, before starting a design project, to put in place a fundraising mechanism like grant applications or members’ appeals. The designer can help by providing a cost estimate for installing the design and making suggestions for sources of materials and funds but rarely takes part in actual fund-raising. The designer may be willing to contract with the client to help oversee the installation and make sure all goes smoothly and according to plan. 

Lucia Droby, Executive Director
14 Buxton Lane
Waltham, MA 02451

Phone: 781-642-6662
EMail: info@cogdesign.org