Jim, Author at Water Shapes

A Launch Interrupted

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought suffering and loss to many. It has certainly challenged everyone's patience and forced us to find creative ways to move forward on the work front from the confines of home. For some, that's proven impossible and they are truly stuck at home with little or nothing to do. Others are luckier and can earn the daily bread in isolation, or quarantine. Many bravely soldier on in medical facilities, grocery stores, delivery services and other essential businesses.

Selling dreams and making memories are at the heart of the watershaping process, says Scott Payne. Taking design from the outdoor-lifestyle perspective, he notes, is the best way to create spaces that connect with clients' lives while also generating new revenue streams.

Outdoor Connections

I love the outdoor living part of the conversation, and our clients do too. It's so important because two of the big keys to success in business are paying attention to the client, and you have to be able to adapt. The outdoor living piece lead to both. We always start by looking at what people are seeking. What do they really want? Almost always that boils down to some kind of at-home, outdoor experience or set of experiences. That can mean a lot of different things to different people, so you have to

Whether ponds are built for it or not, many will encourage a swim, inspire a dive or invite a cooling dip. That's why Larry Carnes guides his clients who want to get wet toward naturalistic pond designs that are also deliberately made for easy access, bather comfort and everyone's safety.

Dawn of the Swimming Pond

Ponds built for swimming are becoming more and more popular - at least they have been in our business. For the past 3-4 years, we've actively promoted recreation-style or swimming-style ponds and have experienced some strong success. Now more than half of our projects are designed and built with swimming in mind, and many of those installations stand among our finest efforts. It's similar in some respects to what we see in the swimming pool market where people are investing in their backyards so they can enjoy the

Upon Higher Minds

The cliché is true; to know where you're going you've got to know where you've been. Like all professions, watershaping has a rich history of innovation and groundbreaking achievements. Unlike other more heralded fields, however, there is no watershaping hall of fame - but if there were, you'd find many an inductee covered in these pages. Most every field of human endeavor has its