The Enduring Legacy of Axel Bishop and Robby Layton

Design Concepts announces the transition of founding Principals, Axel Bishop and Robby Layton, Ph.D., to their new roles as Principals Emeriti. Robby and Axel are both ASLA Fellows with significant life-long contributions to landscape architecture. From the day they founded Design Concepts in 1981, Axel Bishop and Robby Layton have been changing the world for the better, one space at a time.

Robby Layton has had a career highlighted by his commitment to education. After receiving a Bachelor's and Master's of Landscape Architecture, Robby earned his Ph.D. in Design in 2016. He has taught at the University of Colorado-Denver, North Carolina State University, and Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is also a leader of GP RED, a non-profit organization expanding research and education in public health, recreation, and built environments. Robby has been a thought-leader in improving the quality of park systems by systematically measuring characteristics and levels of service, and was instrumental in the creation of GRASP (Geo-Referenced Amenity Standards Process).

Axel Bishop has a decades-long reputation for innovative and creative designs. From championing water-conserving design years ahead of the industry to anchoring communities around schools, trails, and parks to enhance public health, Axel has long been setting standards that others have followed. His community planning designs have seamlessly interwoven parks, schools, trail systems, homes, commercial areas, and the natural environment. His stormwater and drainage system designs turned concrete-lined channels into naturalized landscape and recreational amenities. He and Robby also introduced innovative, effective methods that have made the public facilitation process what we know today.

Carol Henry is now the sole owner of Design Concepts. 

Design Concepts stands on the foundation Axel and Robby have laid for us--a foundation of innovative design, collaborative customer service, and creative teamwork on every level.

Carol has been a Principal of our firm for 20 years and President for 9 years. She is a leader in campus and Learning Landscape designs. She is sought-after for her expertise in designing inclusive destination play spaces, such as Inspiration Playground in Bellevue, Washington. In 2018 Inspiration Playground won the CASLA Honor Award for Design.