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Hi Jennifer, 
Thank you for reaching out.  
I purchased VWL a year ago last December.  From January to March, I worked through the training videos faithfully, until I got busy.  I am also a Design/Build company.  
This year, I have recommitted myself to learning VWL.  It takes time to make time.  Right?!. I have to find the time to get my traini…[Read more]

Andrew, you are right. It is important for many that the files you export or import are essentially the same on your machine as they are on your associates.
Surveyors, Architects, HVAC engineers Electrical engineers and Structural engineers etc all have the same issues as Landscape Architects, however it is a myth to think that because you use one…[Read more]

Hi Jeff,
Thank you for your reply! I am applying to a six week summer program through Harvard to make sure this is the career path for me. I love the creativity, the science and the sociology involved but I am hesitant about the more technical aspects- but hopefully I will find out!
Best,
Paige

Hi Kathy,
I purchased VWL about five years ago.  How are you doing with it now after over a year working with it?  It took me a while to get it figured out but that’s mostly because I am so busy running my own design/build and maintenance company and I’m a mom….just no time!  Lately I’ve been doing one on one go to meetings with Eric Gibley, th…[Read more]

Research on the architects side show that they pay at least $700 annually for their association dues at minimum and the AIA expo costs $775 for the member rate for this year. Non member rate is $1,100. 
Comic Con may get away with charging less than $60 for tickets but it’s for fun. 
It takes time and effort to solicit for speakers for the e…[Read more]

I find my local ASLA chapter active and engaging. There are monthly or bi-monthly meetups which are good for networking, the newsletters list out classes, tours, and other similar events that I would not know about otherwise, and it’s simply good to have another organization of like-minded professionals besides my university’s alumni net…[Read more]

Any drawing software or method of producing design deliverables is legitimate if some designers like to use it and it satisfies their clientele.
One thing that is becoming more and more important other than the graphic representation of a design is the different way landscape architects are now working with other design professionals rather than…[Read more]

Hi J. Robert, and thank you for your input.
It’s great that you took the time to check the software out and voiced your subjective views (albeit in an objective manner). Luckily for us our users have a differing opinion and luckily for everyone the software does not dictate the style of the end result as you have intimated.
LANDWorksCAD software,…[Read more]

I’m not a member of ASLA or CLARB.  While it certainly seems like a legit business expense, I’d ask your accountant to be sure.  If you’re an employee of a firm, they may also know the answer to that.

Dave

An interesting dialogue that has started based on a simple question about dues and if they are deductible.
I would have to say that I’m on the other end of the spectrum. I have worked for employers who supported ASLA and paid the dues and others who thought that it was worthless and didn’t support it at all. I have been a member for over 20 years…[Read more]

As goes the economy, so goes our profession. That is not a bad thing on its own. Chuck with a truck only takes business from you or me if we are not worth it to the person paying the bill. That is not ASLAs responsibility or the governments responsibility unless they are doing something that makes better projects unaffordable or making you and me…[Read more]

Hi Ben,
I think that’s very good advice. The two schools I’m considering have very different approaches to landscape architecture and I guess I’m still trying to find out what it is I want to do.
Thank you for reaching out.
Best,
Audrey

Hi Bob,
Thank you for replying! I had already done some research on landscape architecture, and am currently job shadowing/interning under a landscape architect. I’ve always enjoyed art and design, and that’s what had attracted me to the profession in the first place.
From my job shadowing experience, I guess I became unsure if the profession was…[Read more]

My two cents is to go somewhere that is going to prepare you to be the type of Landscape Architect you want to be.  I was naive to this when I went to school.  I went to Oregon and they were heavier in the research side of the profession.  I have colleagues that went to Georgia that was more focused construction and on passing the licensure ex…[Read more]

Thanks for the responses.  I can relate to the sentiment here.  I have been in the same mindset for some years now.  What does ASLA do for me?  Is it there for the 1%?  I look at it as I pay $370/year for a magazine that is 75% advertisement.  While at the same time I see dwindling respect in our governments local and national for the Lands…[Read more]

Good luck justifying the cost. They have us cornered. As far as I can tell, the ASLA and CLARB do very little to justify the enormous fees they charge.
To take the LARE today you are looking at $2,000 in fees alone (before state fees, study materials, travel). Frankly, it is disgusting, and a tremendous barrier to entry for young landscape…[Read more]

MLA degrees are usually intended to be research focused rather than preparing you for entry as a junior LA. If that is your intent then it is a good idea to augment your learning with some CAD, illustration and perhaps GIS learning so that you have the entry level skills that makes you a profitable employee. Generally MLA degrees don’t cover these areas.

It WAS a nice change of pace from recent threads.
I have no problem with people changing careers as they may. Olmsted started off as a journalist, if I’m not mistaken. This guy in the article is doing a similar thing in reverse. I think it was a good trade from this profession’s perspective.
I’ll share some of my philosophy on the subject of…[Read more]

Bob—I hope that you understand that I have never looked at you or people who believe as you do as the enemy. I believe you are a counter to the left-wing craziness (like murderers just need hugs, kind of stuff). My attacks are primarily at the POTUS and not the party or conservatism. After all of the dialog that you and I have had on this t…[Read more]

That’s funny, you said you were done sometime ago. Yet you came back to hurl personal insults when your political argument was extremely weak. I guess that’s what, cowardly, bullies like you and our president do. Seriously, you actually take time research people so that can attack them personally and you’re telling me how to manage my time. If you…[Read more]