United Arab Emirates
*Responsible for setting up Desert Group's design consultancy company, desert INK as a profit centre *Charged with developing the business into a well-recognised landscape consultancy with a distinct identity *Led the development and execution of a marketing strategy for the company *Spearheaded the company website and social media campaigns
Awarded gold medal and best in show awards for 'Japanese Gift Garden' at the Al Ain Garden Festival 2003. Partnering with landscape contractors Proscape, I designed and supervised the installation of this highly innovative show garden under extreme time, staffing and budget pressures.
*Manage design team and coordinate with site-based staff *Control project budgets and programmes *Meet new clients and secure further commissions *Represent the company at exhibitions, trade fairs and forums. *Generated more than 20 million Dirhams worth of construction contracts in 6 months *Spearheaded design and build contract with developer Damac, leading to further commissions. Concept to completed construction of sales centre and approach road in 4 months.
*Working alongside renowned architects, Foster and Partners I led the landscape design for the prestigious Abu Dhabi Central Markets project. A huge 5 hectare, mixed-use development, this project provided not only design challenges, but critical experience in leading a team through a highly complex project bureaucracy. *Successfully orchestrated the creation and operation of web-based, searchable image, information and materials database, which has greatly improved the efficiency and sharing of information in geographically decentralised design teams in Oman, Qatar, UAE and the UK. *Leading the landscape, horticulture, irrigation, graphics and CAD teams in successfully developing the landscape design for Qatar's 200 Hectare Al Doha Park within the established budget and deadlines. *Involved in recruitment, supporting the expansion of the office from 25 to 180 staff over 3 years *Represented the company in Bahrain, India, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE and the UK, promoting the practice, meeting prospective Clients and successfully securing many large commissions for the company. *Spearheaded the design and construction supervision of the highly successful Mirdif City Centre mall landscape. The landscape for this 50 Hectare 'mega mall' was recently awarded best exterior design in the Middle East, 2010 by Commercial Interior Design magazine.
*Developed a strategic allegiance with Saudi Architects HAK, successfully executing a number of high profile commercial projects and winning subsequent commissions. *Lead designer for the Mall of the Emirates project, responsible for developing the landscape design through from concept design to delivery in 2006. Successful completion cemented Cracknell's existing relationship with major developer MAF, architects Holfords and project managers MACE, leading to further profitable commissions. *Worked with several high profile clients in developing a number of stunning private gardens, which have been widely published and photographed in the international press. Awarded SPARTA awards for several swimming pool designs. *Successfully operated as part of the landscape team responsible for the design of the world's tallest building, surrounding parks and streetscapes at the Burj Khalifa.
Documented the University of Illinois in Chicago campus as part of a landscape team. Designed and conducted several planting installations, including the historic prairie school landscapes of