Deb Samyn
Associate Principal

Deb’s career began in the publishing, marketing, and corporate communications industry before she switched gears to pursue a role merging her interests in design and nature. After significant research and some soul-searching, she arrived at landscape architecture as her next career path and headed to UIUC to pursue her MLA. Over the past 20+ years, Deb has worked in many facets of the industry, including municipal and city work, park and plaza design, institutional and commercial projects, planning and community engagement, and high-end residential. Her path led her to a role with Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture, prior to Hoerr Schaudt’s merger, where she had the privilege of working with Peter on IIT campus projects, Pacific Garden Mission, and Lincoln Park Conservatory Master Planning.

Deb’s passion for the industry lies in making places that support people, plants, and environmental systems. She loves how it balances the right brain and left brain: design, creativity, and craftsmanship combined with technical skill and the practical parameters of making design interventions happen. All of this to say, Deb has truly found her calling in the profession.

As a former college concert- and swing-choir member, Deb is known to sing around the house as she takes up a new knitting project or works in the garden. To no surprise, she’s happiest outdoors and can often be found hiking, cycling, or running her dog around north shore dog parks and trails.