Activity

Craig,
I am a little surprised you consider my comments uniformed (referencing the watch the news remark). Did I not elude to the wide swath of pain across the economy? And, I have done the deliver the pizza thing. Even more demeaning jobs than that. Consider being a delivery guy taking a package from a former competitor’s office to a former…[Read more]

Ours can be a very tough profession, and somewhat unforgiveable depending upon the economic climate at the time that you enter the field and the career choices that you make (or are made for you) along the way. If you decide to enter the field, welcome, but do give a lot of consideration to the program that you select.. If your goal is to enter…[Read more]

Hi Chad,

thank you for accepting my friend request, I really liked your comments on “Lost Generation of LAs?”

I don’t think you should feel any shame regards the current situation if there where more people like you in charge in the last few decades it could be a much better situation right now. I’m not familar with the posts of younger people…[Read more]

Colm,
After accepting your friend request, I thought I’d just share with all what I said to you in my response.

You are right, more than you know. This is a way of life. Those that love it, live it. If you are lucky enough to stick with it, a reasonably comfortable life is possible, and without being a workaholic or being so stressed you seize up…[Read more]

Hi Kevin,

I have to say I whole heartedly agree with Jon Quackenbush’s reply, It is important to know that it is not a get rich quick profession and it requires alot of personal input and hard work with very little return sometimes, it could be equated to a vocation. Its an enjoyable field to work in but can be very harsh at times. I am 33 years…[Read more]

As a Mac user at home and a PC user at work for the past 16 years, I’ve finally started my own practice with what I feel is the best software out there for landscape architects – Vectorworks Landmark. One software for all phases of design with a little help from InDesign and Sketch up. Easy to learn, cheaper than AutoCAD, and is both Mac and PC compatible.

briscad has a very small footprint on your computer compared to autocad. i have looked into it and it looks very promising

i prefer a Dirr manual (not the big one, Dirrs Native Plants of the North East) because nothing beats having the book in my hands… I also really enjoy my dendrology workbook. both can fit in my briefcase with my sketchbook…

iOldschool.

Right on. I actually spent a few months in Pandora with the Nav’i teaching ESL, let me tell you it was fantastic. All was going well until my avatar bit the dust… woke up back here unemployed.

I like that attitude! You are absolutely right! The most valuable activity a designer can do is travel. And anything done to feed oneself outside the profession will pay off in spades when you find what you learned is aplicable to so many other problems.

Do well doing good.

I guess its just about different circumstances and a different attitud about life. First of all, I have no family to feed, no car payments, no mortgage, and yes i pay the bare minimum on thousands of dollars of student loans every month. However, I also spent the last 2 years saving my pennies to afford this trip. Like Jessi I had to make…[Read more]

I’m not sure many cities do give away GIS data, but it’s not uncommon in my experience to ask nicely an dget free data for nonprofit/academic purposes. GISdatadepot.com and the USGS Seamless map server sites have a plethora of free data including demographics and dems.

Like I said before, if I wasnt at working full time I’d pursue this a lot more…[Read more]

AutoCad with LandFX, Sketchup for 3D, Photoshop for Image Manipulation and color-up work.

it was interesting taking a look at the city in google earth, including the panaramio images. looks fine.
but a tour around in google streetview is eye opening.

the city masterplan is interesting, not especially earth…[Read more]

Nice Chad, I was wondering about open source alt’s.. I had switched to Ubuntu not long ago, but my archaic Dell couldn’t even handle all the GUI bells & whistles I preferred, so I (unfortunately & reluctantly) switched back to Windows XP. Do you find that those programs play nicely with .PSD’s, .DWG’s, etc? Just wondering HOW seamless it is..…[Read more]

For me, there was an arrangement with the welding company that taught me, so I received a little income that way. And, I’m an avid saver! Also, I’ve done some freelance work around my neighborhood. On top of that, I canceled my cable, downgraded my internet and cell phone packages, started biking instead of driving, and learned to be thrifty. I’m…[Read more]

If I were unemployed and could not get a job within the profession, I’d still need to feed my family. I’d be learning the phrase “would you like fries with that, sir?” long before I’d be travelling the world or volunteering for anything. How do you people pay your bills, never mind afford trips to exotic places?