Urban Earth Design is a landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm, established in 1989 by Michael Dollin. urban (ûr’ben) adj. 1. of, relating to, or located in a city. earth (ûrth) n. 1. the land surface of the world. design (di-zin') v. 1. the artful arrangement of parts. urban earth design n. 1. the integration of living systems, art and land to improve the quality of the constructed world.