Clay Gruber is a designer whose work is rooted in a lifelong relationship with land, making, and the built environment. Raised on a cattle ranch near Red Lodge, Montana, he grew up in a landscape shaped by agriculture, labor, and stewardship, experiences that continue to inform his approach to design.

Clay holds master's degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Before establishing Clay Gruber Design, he practiced in New York City with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and Harrison Green. His background also extends into carpentry, architectural design, and residential construction, informing an approach that considers landscape, architecture, materials, and making as parts of a larger whole.

Alongside his practice, Clay teaches, writes, and lectures on landscape, design, and the relationship between people and land. His work and research explore cultivation, stewardship, and the role design plays in shaping the value and character of land. He is the co-founder of Rural Futures Collaborative, a design initiative with the goal of bringing design thinking and research into pressing issues impacting rural landowners and communities.