Phillip (Phil) Fernberg, Ph.D. ABD, is a researcher, educator, and technology strategist helping to lead the transformation of OJB’s digital environment. His core mission is to develop a more advanced, creative, and immersive experience for our designers, clients, and communities by weaving deep technology into the fabric of our design workflows and business operations. Before joining OJB, Phil was a researcher in the Visualization, Instrumentation and Virtual Interaction Design (VIVID) Laboratory at Utah State University where he utilized cutting-edge tools and methods to work on a variety of research questions. He also led past professional lives as a theme park and cruise ship performer, librarian, and designer at several landscape architecture and planning firms.

As an academic, his contributions have helped teams win Top Paper in Scientific Excellence awards from international journals as well as grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute of Land, Water, and Air (ILWA). Phil has also been awarded the 2022-2023 LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership during which he explored the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for landscape architecture practice and began work to organize an international AI-Landscape working group.

Apart from his role at OJB, Phil is a contributing writer to Landscape Architecture Magazine, Chair of the Board of Directors for Latter-Day Saint Earth Stewardship, and adjunct instructor at Utah State University in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning department. He is an avid surfer, musician, outdoor enthusiast, travel junkie, philomath, and most importantly, proud husband and father.