Who I am:

My name is Ximena Diaz Velasco and I am a freelance landscape designer, model maker, and artist based in New York City. I recently graduated from the Master of Landscape Architecture program at the City College of New York. I am now working as a community designer at Creative Urban Alchemy and as a landscape model maker at Miniature World.

Before entering the design world, I studied international development at The George Washington University, which shaped my interest in socio-cultural systemic change, indigenous land movements, and environmental studies. For several years after, I worked with NGOs and government agencies on projects focused on expanding disinvested communities’ access to public spaces like libraries and national parks through strategic partnerships and grassroots innovation.

Currently, I am focused on designing, engaging + informing, modeling, and painting. I always seek out projects that center community stewarded public space, establish regenerative, localized water systems, and bring people closer to the natural world and water.

Skills

Language

  • Spanish (Mother tongue)

  • English (Fluent)

  • French (Advanced)

Software

  • Rhino 3D

  • ArcGIS

  • Adobe Suite

  • AutoCAD

Craft

  • Painting

  • Model Making

Recognitions

WRIGHT-INGRAHAM INSTITUTE FIELD WORKSHOP

2026 Fellow

MLA PROGRAM AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE

2025 Recipient

ASLA-NY EQUITABLE PUBLIC SPACE SCHOLARSHIP

2024 Recipient

DESIGN EXPERIENCE

/

DESIGN EXPERIENCE /

  • Creative Urban Alchemy LLC (CUA) is an award-winning design studio working at the intersection of art, architecture, urban design and planning centering cultural heritage and equity in praxis.

    As a community designer, I assist in the coordination, management, and design of about five small scale urban design, garden design, and public art projects. I conduct outreach activities to develop spatial and programatic designs based on community wants, needs, and dreams.

  • Miniature World is an interactive, and immersive world of miniatures, showcasing 40 countries on 5 continents.

    As a landscape model maker, I create museum grade models of landmarks around the world, both digitally and analogue.

  • The J. Max Bond Center is a City College of New York Applied Research Center located within the Spitzer School of Architecture that aspires to create equitable and just urban futures that foster individual and communal success.

    As a research assistant, I worked on site analysis and grant proposal focusing on green space maintenance in Harlem, NYC. I also worked to create maps for the second annual Harlem Sculpture Garden.

  • Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates is a large landscape architecture firm that works at all scales, from small gardens to public parks and regional master plans.

    As a summer intern, I worked to produce four large scale models for client fundraising and create a set of renderings for a project handbook.

  • Marvel is a large interdisciplinary design firm that works on public projects around the world.

    As a landscape architecture intern, I conducted research, created concepts, and drew schematic plans for two different projects.

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

/

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE /

  • The Natural Areas Conservancy is an environmental nonprofit connecting people to New York City nature and parks by increasing access, education, and jobs.

    As a community trails intern, I worked both in the field to remove invasive species and maintain trails, while developing an updated trail maintainer’s volunteer engagement strategy.

  • Happy Hour Fund was a community fund that redistributed over $65,000 and other necessities to over 300 excluded workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

    As a founder, I worked to develop our fundraising/distribution process, build partnerships, and host events, both virtually and in person. Happy Hour Fund tabled at our local farmers market every weekend, selling merchandise created and donated by local artists.

  • The National Park Service is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that manages all national parks; most national monuments; and other natural, historical, and recreational properties.

    As a fellow in the National Office of Outdoor Recreation, I managed communications and website content, represented the NPS in multi-sector coalitions, and planned a webinar showcasing public library-public land partnerships to increase outdoor access to disinvested communities.

  • The Urban Libraries Council is an innovation and action tank of North America’s leading public library systems that drive research and strategic partnerships to elevate the power of libraries as essential, transformative institutions for the 21st century.

    As an intern, fellow, and project manager, I managed 5-6 projects at a time with public library systems around North America and wrote a guide to provide a national framework for public libraries to build trust with immigrant communities.

Some Places that Inspire me

Ciudad de Mexico

One of my original homes. This is the city of my ancestors. I know this place from my many visits and my family’s stories.

Washington DC

Malcolm X Park and the Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market were my safe spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. They taught me so much about community healing and shared space.

Grand Canyon

A stop on a bicoastal road trip. The Grand Canyon left me in awe and inspired me to pursue landscape architecture.

New York City

My current home. I love learning about this city through the communities that I work with. This city never ceases to show me how dynamic a place can be.