Ping Design

Nothing can beat the joy of watching spring blooms after a long winter. This year, the relatively lower temperature made the spring much longer than usual. The Little Garden has put on a beautiful display of daffodils, tulips and crabapples. Waking up seeing light dancing in the garden makes my day everyday. Now I am sharing the beauty and gratitude to nature with all of you. Happy Thursday! #backyardgarden #springblooms #tulip #crabappleblossoms🌸 #springcolor

We are honored to get a ASLA-MN award for the Brooklyn Center Elementary School Nature Exploration Area under the “small budget big impact” category! Brooklyn Center Elementary is one of the first Trust for Public Land Community Schoolyard pilot projects in Minnesota. Serving 848 PreK–5 students in a richly diverse community, the project transforms an exposed lawn into a nature-based outdoor exploration area integrated within newly sculpted berms and meadow established through a campus master plan (by others). Installed in just five days with a $90,000 budget, the design employs repurposed local wood to craft climbers, seating, habitat features, and gathering spaces. Through material ingenuity, focused community engagement, and strategic execution, the project demonstrates how limited resources can generate lasting ecological value and meaningful educational impact. Thank you for ASLA’s recognition on this work. Thank you Kayla and Anna at Trust for Public Land @trustforpublicland for the trust and leadership through the project. It was amazing to work closely with them and the school strategically to get feedback on programs and design. Thank you @holistictreeandforestry and @nelcolandscaping for making this project happen in a short time frame. Year 3 at Ping kicks off strong!💪 Photos by @round.three.photography and @pingdesignllc #naturelearning #natureplay #repurposedwood #asla #aslaawards

We are celebrating this Earth Day with a reflection on Ping’s past two years of work. At Ping, recycling and repurposing have been core values of our practice. Whether working with trees and lumber, stone, or historic elements, we are always looking for ways to give existing materials new life, carrying forward the history and story of each site. By positioning these elements clearly and intentionally, we aim to create a tangible connection between people and what came before. On this Earth Day, we are reminded that small, deliberate actions can accumulate into lasting impact. Thank you to the collaborators and clients who have trusted us to take risks and stay true to what we believe in. Image 1 - Hidden Falls, repurposed a historic stone as bench. Collaborator @arvoldlandscaping Image 2 - Brooklyn Center Elementary School Nature Learning Center, bench and play features made out of repurposed wood. Collaborators @trustforpublicland @nelcolandscaping @holistictreeandforestry Image 3 - Little Prairie, repurposed wood for play features. Collaborators @holistictreeandforestry @nelcolandscaping Image 4 - North Shore Serenity. Saving mature trees on site, using repurposed wood for decking and walkways. Collaborators @murphycodesign @mikancustomhomes @outdoorexcapes @holistictreeandforestry Image 5 - Dahliwood (in conceptual stage). Forest management and repurpose wood for site features. Collaborators @christopherstromarchitects @catesfinehomes_ @holistictreeandforestry #earhday #landscapedesi̇gn #repurposematerials #creativedesign #environmentconscious

The making of Hidden Falls. A front yard oasis and habitat for fish, birds and insects. Design: @pingdesignllc Installation: @arvoldlandscaping #landscapedesign #ponddesign #frontyardgarden #asianinspired #urbangarden

The Little Project makes great cover photos! Thank you @landarchmag and @asla_minnesota Scape magazine for featuring it! #pingdesignllc #stpaulmn #urbanyard #landscapedesi̇gn

What if a garden bed could shape a garden - not just hold plants? Introducing Ping Planters - now available as a standard product. Made with Corten steel and crafted locally in MN, each unit is designed to create approximately 100 sq ft of usable growing area. Offered in two options: Planter only or fully installed. DM for pricing details and lead times. #pingdesign #cortenplanters #raisedbed #architectualplanters #backyardgarden First two photos by @round.three.photography

Perfect weather for scouting wood for benches with @holistictreeandforestry Can you picture the final form emerging from these beautiful wood? We can’t wait to see it come to life in the zen garden at North Shore Serenity. Builder: @mikancustomhomes Architect: @murphycodesign Landscape contractor: @outdoorexcapes #liveedgebench #naturalmaterials #repurposedwood #gardendesign #pingdesign

This is a living record of design in motion - from the first intuitive sketch to a fully resolved landscape. At Ping Design, we approach each project as an open conversation, exploring multiple possibilities to reveal the site’s potential while holding our clients’ aspirations at the center. The process itself becomes a shared act of discovery, not just a path to an end result. On this urban lot in Rochester, the design began with three options, each testing a different way of living on the land. Through dialogue and iteration, these paths gradually converged into a single, coherent vision. Together with the clients, we imagined the future of the entire property and shaped a phased approach that responds to their priorities and budget. At the heart of the design is a central fire pit, surrounded by herb and vegetable gardens. A linear grove of trees creates a visual separation between the main house and a future ADU. A swing and vine structure further defines the transition from an active, social yard to a more contemplative zone featuring a sauna, yoga space, and hot tub. Collaborator: @salaarchitects #gardendesign #urbangarden #pingdesign #landscapedesign #rochestermn

Ping Design: Year 2 in Review As we close out Ping’s second year, I find myself feeling deeply grateful and proud. What began as a small, intentional practice has continued to grow through conversations, collaborations, and shared trust. This year, Ping had the privilege of working across scales and contexts, from intimate residential landscapes to community-centered nonprofit and public spaces. Throughout it all, we strive to stay humble, listen deeply, and co-create with our clients and collaborators. Careful attention to design and a commitment to creative problem-solving remain at the heart of everything we do, with a focus on elevating everyday experiences through thoughtful material choices and intentional planting design. Happy New Year to you all. We look forward to another year of shared journey together. #landscapedesign #pingdesign #residentialgarden #gardendesign

As the year wraps up, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of you: our collaborators, clients, and friends. Ping Design truly wouldn’t be what it is without your support. This year marks Ping’s second year in practice, and I feel incredibly lucky to work with such thoughtful architects, builders, and clients. Your trust, generosity, and shared love for good design mean more than I can say. As we look toward 2026, I’m excited to continue growing Ping Design with intention - exploring new collaborations, refining how we work at various scales and budgets, and staying grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and community. Thank you for being part of this journey. Wishing you a cozy, joyful holiday season and a bright start to the new year. Warmly,
Wanjing

The Little Farm after 6” of snow. This is the view from our bedroom window. I am so grateful to live with the seasons and experience this beauty year-round. The snow blankets the soil as we quietly hope for a productive year ahead! #wintergarden #pingdesign #snow #snowgarden❄️ #stpaulmn

@pingdesignllc brings extraordinary moments to the house next door. The “Little Project” at the Minnesota home of the firm’s founder creates experiences that exceed a small footprint. “I want to bring what I learned through high-end or high-budget projects to everyday spaces,” says landscape architect Wanjing Ji, ASLA, to “elevate people’s experience in those spaces and expose them to the possibilities.” Read more at LAM Online. Article by Lauren Mandel, ASLA Photos by Lauren Gryniewski / Round Three Photography