Jared Barnes on Planting with Perception

In this dynamic presentation with Jared Barnes, Ph.D., you’ll be introduced to the Kaplan Preference Matrix, a powerful model for understanding how people perceive and connect with landscapes.

You will learn about the four key factors: coherence, complexity, legibility and mystery, and how they shape how we feel in outdoor spaces.

With practical strategies grounded in naturalistic planting, you’ll discover how to design landscapes that are ecologically rich, visually compelling, and deeply intuitive to explore.