The Mission

SED Design STUDIO is dedicated to the creation of distinctive and evocative spaces in the context of the expansive landscape.

Colorful site plan showing buildings, pathways, and landscaped areas near water.

The Company

Based in Blue Bell, PA, SED Design has been providing top-notch landscape planning and design services for more than 18 years. We were one of the first firms to take an ecological approach towards landscaping.

The study and evaluation of environmental conditions, cultural influences, historical impacts, and user needs are the stepping stones of our design strategy. We use research and analysis to reveal the inherent and unique qualities of sites so they may be utilized and enhanced. This approach establishes a scientific basis for the restoration of natural systems and is also a vital design component.

We believe that landscape design should integrate creative and scientific processes to produce exceptional work. This approach contributes to environmental health by restoring life and sustaining the balance of our planet’s fragile ecosystems.

SED Design brings innovative solutions to each project. Our firm’s public landscapes and private gardens integrate design with low-impact and green principles to meet the programmatic needs of each client.

Pioneering Ecological Landscaping

Man hiking at Grand Canyon with camera.

Edgar David

Landscape Architect/Founder
Edgar David, RLA, founder and principal landscape architect for SED Design, specializes in landscape architecture, ecological restoration, and planning. His primary goal is to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the individual and the landscape that surrounds them.

His background as a tenured professor at Temple University and a career rooted in field ecology and ecological landscape design fuels the firm’s commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.
Person walking in a patterned outdoor area.

Joy Compher

Landscape Architect
With 20+ years of experience, Joy is a landscape architect who brings a deep sensitivity for the natural, historical, and cultural character of each site. Her analysis informs designs that meet client needs, strengthen sense of place, and support natural systems.

An avid hiker who’s trekked in 49 U.S. states and landscapes across the globe, Joy draws inspiration from nature and music—fueling her commitment to ecologically responsible design and lasting beauty.
Man smiling outdoors in a wooded area.

Aaron Karnas

Associate/Directory of Technology
With extensive knowledge of construction materials and a long history of designing and building water features in Florida, Aaron joined the team in 2012. He comes to us from Temple University’s School of Environmental Design.

Originally from the Bedford Pennsylvania, Aaron served In the United States Marine Corps in Okinawa Japan for four years. His exposure to the world has had a profound influence on his designs, projects, and life.