INASLA Member Highlight: Kathy Unland's Stories by Design

We’re excited to highlight INASLA member Kathy Unland, Assistant Teaching Professor at Ball State University - Department of Landscape Architecture, who is featured on ASLA’s website for her Spring 2026 elective course Stories by Design!

From the National ASLA article: “Students in an innovative Ball State University landscape architecture elective course transformed STEM and design concepts into original children’s books inspired by ASLA’s STEM Literacy by Design initiative. Through a partnership with Acton Academy at Fall Creek, students developed, tested, illustrated, and professionally published stories that introduce young readers to landscape architecture in creative and engaging ways.

Inspired by ASLA’s STEM Literacy by Design initiative, Kathleen Unland, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture designed a Spring 2026 elective course that challenged students to turn complex design concepts into engaging children’s books. The idea combined two personal passions: encouraging literacy through landscape architecture and creating meaningful, creative learning opportunities for students.

By blending storytelling, STEM education, community engagement, and landscape architecture, Stories by Design demonstrated the power of creative learning, and opened new possibilities for how future designers can communicate ideas to the next generation.”

To learn more about Kathy’s Stories by Design course, read the article here or follow the links below to order professionally printed copies of each of these books!

• Ants in the Oak, by Chloe Roberts

• Chester the Cat Explores Central Park, by Austen Hord

• A Dinosaur Dilemma, by Clay Kessen

• Fire to Forest, by Erin Haycox

• George and Sal's NYC Adventure, by Nadia Blecic

• The Race to Save the Park, by Mikayla Wetmore

• The Secret Lives of Urban Trees, by Hunter Stoller

• The Secrets of Sandhill Swamp, by Owl Mayhall

• Two Leaves of the Same Stem, by Ahmaud Carroll-Tubbs