Andre Carvalho
Horticultural Designer
About Graham
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Albert Einstein
Qualifications
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering
Adv Diploma in Film & Television
Certificate IV in Horticulture
Certificate IV in Conservation & Land Management
My Professional Background
My passion for nature and a deep yearning to be involved in authentic and purposeful projects has shaped my professional journey.
After completing my Degree in Production Engineering in 2004, I came to Western Australia, drawn by its natural wonders and quality surfing, to broaden my communication skills in English and study Film & Television. I have worked in a range of industries, including film production, construction, engineering plus horticulture and landscape design.
From 2010 to 2013, I completed a range of Vocational Courses (Landscape Design, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management) plus a 2-year traineeship at the Botanical Gardens and Park Authority.
A testament to my passion and commitment to the natural environment, during my studies I was awarded the CEO’s scholarship to undertake work experience at Plantbank in NSW in 2013.
As a member of the Nature Play Solutions design team, I contribute analytical and construction skills, creativity, plant knowledge and a wholistic design approach.
My Philosophy
I am very fortunate to have travelled and explored new places, both in Brazil and abroad while growing up. Travelling allowed me to experience a lot of free play in the outdoors.
My fondest memories growing up were at my family’s beach house, where I had the ability to roam free on my bicycle. I spent entire summer holidays there and enjoyed exploring the surroundings with my friends, totally unsupervised with a great degree of freedom, which unfortunately has become very scarce nowadays. Our only rule was to come back for dinner when the street lights came on!!
Since becoming a father, my journey as a designer has changed considerably and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to contribute to the way we design our play spaces.
I feel deeply saddened that our modern way of living, coupled with a risk-averse way of thinking, is changing the way children play. Over stimulation and electronic distraction is affecting the way young children experience play and interact with nature. This can be counter-balanced with well-designed and immersive natural settings.
As a designer, I feel responsible for advocating and offering children the best opportunities to recalibrate and ground themselves; to help them developing reverence for nature and to find beauty, magic and wonder around. My design focus aims at creating a seamless integration between play, plants and natural elements.
​