what to render beyond edge of site?

You could try to obtain an a aerial image(google earth ect…) and use this as a base image by masking out the areas you don’t need and de-saturating the image in photoshop

Katherine……Of course, I’m accounting for the fact that  your are a “University LA Student”.  Everything now for you is trial and error. 

Personally, I’ve never been big on “photoshop” or “autoCAD”….unless they are extremely well done.

And remember….great graphics should ALWAYS accompany a great design…the two go hand in hand.

As far as the Forest Edge on your plan…I’d go with a variety of tree sizes (not just one size)…no 2 trees in a true forest are the SAME size.  You could also add some pastel colors to those forest trees…3 or 4 shades of green.

The plan could use a little LIFE…..some dimension.  Some shading and shadowing where you can would be a big improvement. 

Tree groupings work best when graphically, you show the trees touching and overlapping….many of your trees are sort of grouped, but don’t touch.  Grouping trees in ODD numbers is also something that many LAs have found work well.  Trees in a straight line work well in a streetscape situation, but not so well in a more informal design situation.

With all due respect…and I understand you are a student.  Your overall design is “weak”.  It’s going to be “extremely important” that your University Portfolio is nothing less than “outstanding” when you graduate.  There is a TON of competition out there, even for “entry level jobs”…..so, my suggestion to you is to ensure ALL of your designs are well thought out….with very strong graphic appeal.   I feel sure you have really talented LA professors to accomplish that.

GOOD LUCK…..and please let me know if I can be of ANY help to you, OK.

Kind Regards,

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner

Katherine to add to what Rob stated, I strongly recommend that you focus on the design as opposed to the best way to render the surrounding context. I understand that you’re a student and you aren’t able to formally present your design, but I’m really trying hard to see your design intent. Who are the people that live here and how would they use what you designed?  The foundation plantings seem pretty straight forward (and not necessarily in a good way), and then it all seems to fall apart from there. The one thing I do find quite pleasant is the circulation (minus the dead ends on the curly-Q thingys) and it appears to be the only thing tying everything together. But, in the same breath I have to say that one of the biggest problems with the design it gives a feeling that it’s all circulation, kind of like circulation for circulation sake. I don’t think you need to trash the design, but I do think that you need to show less of something – what that is I don’t know. I feel the best way for you to pull this one off is to reinforce your idea using less stuff. Think about the quality of the space(s) that you’re designing for humans and less about decorating two dimensionally on your computer screen.

[Cue Old Dude Rant]

This is the kind stuff that chaps my fanny. Students and young designers understand the CAD language and how to operate all of the latest CAD programs before they understand basic design. Time spent mastering Rhino, Photoshop, AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D Viz, etc. is time students should be learning how to design. LA Students should demand more emphasis on design and pro practice. Becoming a master CAD operator is not going to help you make principal as much as knowing how to design and sell will. It seems like a lot of university programs are producing career CAD Jockeys.

Sometimes I wish I heard more LAs talk about form, space, and order, and less about JPEGS and pixels. 

I totally AGREE with what BOTH Craig & Andrew have stated here.  Andrew, the drawing you added is a 100% improvement.  What you did is something University LA Professors SHOULD be teaching their students.  Helping them to get their University Design Portfolios to be the very best they can be – so, they will be prepared to interview for that first LA job.  Even “entry level” jobs for LA’s are extremely difficult to find these days…LA students need to be fully prepared for serious competition.

Craig, what you wrote is very well stated.  I admit, I’m NOT an autoCAD person (I’m old school)…but, I feel I understand good design and good graphics….and how to make those both happen together.  As I mentioned before….every project must have BOTH great design & great graphics – they go hand in hand.

You’re exactly right, Craig….way too many University LA students are all wrapped up with the various computer software programs.  They need to focus on design & graphics and also hand sketching skills……Doesn’t matter if you use computer software OR hand drawn methods…..the “design & graphics” HAVE to be there….it’s what we do in the “real world”.  College is NOT the “real world”….it’s fantasy land. With all due respect to every LA Professor…part of their job is to prepare their students for what they are about to face as “Professional LA’s”…and I’m just not convinced all of them are doing this.

Funny Bob, we’ve discussed this before. I guess I’d rather an LA spend just enough time to do ok to good graphics so that he/she can spend the most time striving for a perfect built design. Even though I say this I still struggle with when to stop “prettying up” a drawing. My problem is I just love to draw whether it’s on a computer or with a pen and paper. Sometimes I have to remind myself that all the hand lettering, stippling and color blending is for me. Most of my clients could care less. Since I went out on my own my standard is to lay a base of color on an AutoCAD drawing in Photoshop, quickly add some colored pencil strokes and finish off with black lines and shadows by hand.

I agree with you about the universities failing the students. I think they are producing CAD wizards with poor design skills. Some will eventually learn how to design on the job, but those are the fortunate ones. Many will never design or will just go out and do poor designs that get built. 

Mr. Anthony:

The old fart music is playing in the background as I write this. Sage advice from an able and proven practicioner. I could not have stated it any better myself.

I have been away from this site for quite sometime, but may be making some impromptu, drive-by postings from time-to-time in the not so near future.

For now, praiseworthy words. Amen, brother and pass the ammunition and Glenlevit while your at it.

Yes…..good IDEA, Henry!  Agree with you also “Landplanner”.

Over the years, I have learned that most of the elite LA firms around the Country…..EDSA, Belt Collins, EDAW (their old name)……the projects they design are extremely complex and normally very large in scope. But, I know those firms…they all spend time using “hand drawn sketches”…developing the DESIGNS.

I have also had dealings with LA firms that use a “combination” of color markers along with autoCAD on the same drawing….I was very impressed with that technique.  Because, a lot of photoshop type drawings I have seen (even in professional LA firms) look too much to me like “paint by number”…the color presentation drawings have little depth or life to them.  I know, I sort of keep pushing the “graphic” end of things…but, the DESIGN should be the major focus….However, great graphics really do help “sell” your design ideas to your clients.

The Color Preliminary Residential (pool area) that I recently posted….it’s a new project on my drawing board.  After using a LOT of tracing paper….many overlays to work out the DESIGN…..I went with black pentel pens to hardline the DESIGN…on white tracing paper. Then, I used colored markers on the BACK side of the tracing paper to add sort of a light background color – to the pool, pool deck, lawn areas and some of the plants.  Then, I went onto the FRONT of the tracing and used “colored pencils” to get the punch I wanted…adding BLACK shadows to add a more 3D look….just a side note here about SHADOWS…for “graphic purposes”…regardless of which direction the SUN is actually coming from…running your shadows to the LOWER RIGHT seems to work best – it’s sort of a “visual” thing.  For Preliminary Drawings like this, I prefer to use “calligraphy” type lettering…gives a drawing a more personal touch.  I realize to most of you….this may seem “old fashion”…but, it works and when you get the process down, it’s really not that time consuming.

I think sometimes, when an LA presents a Photoshop type Color Presentation Drawing to a client….it looks to FINAL.  So, some clients feel that maybe they really don’t have opportunities to make changes to the DESIGN.  With my Residential Client…I left them a set of color Xerox copies of all areas I designed – basically, the entire property.  I wanted to give them a week or so to review the DESIGN and the Preliminary Cost Estimates.  This process has worked well for me for MANY years…and when you completed these drawings…the Color Xeroxes come out looking BETTER than the “originals.  The color drawing I posted is a digital photo…so, the quality of that photo is not really very good.

I guess my point is…..though lengthy…..is, don’t be afraid to use some “hand drawing” skills when you are a LA student or an LA Professional.  Try not to get buried in all of the computer software programs…..remember, that your objective is to produce GREAT DESIGNS…regardless of HOW you arrive.