Activity

I’m often fascinated by the idea that sketching has to be done by hand. I understand where it comes from. It comes from the perceived disconnect between the human and the screen. I remember when I first started to draw in CAD and being very frustrated by the disconnect of scale and other perceptions as you zoom in and zoom out. You just don’t have…[Read more]

The opinion above is such arcane/elitist thinking.  Internships are “cheap” corporate slavery……..period.
After spending 4-6 years of time/$ at the University to qualify to take the licensing exam (California had a 9 to 11% pass rate in the early ’90’s) who has the “time/$” to diddle around and get a license.  There is a problem at the f…[Read more]

I think there is some disconnect between mental images of what people are discussing…John is thinking about “quick hand sketches” and not laborious hand renderings…and others have in mind efficient use of software vs. magazine level digital renderings like some of the webinar gurus produce. Either can be idea-capture efficient, and both can be…[Read more]

Drawing is definitely important in all design professions, but there are great landscape designers, gardeners, furniture makers, sculptors, etc. that don’t do a lot of super fancy drawings first. I simply stated that in my experience too much emphasis is placed on fancy drawings in the la educational system, then we get pigeon holed doing…[Read more]

Of course drawing is an important communication tool, but if you can’t build an idea or it doesn’t work, then all you will end up being is a graphic artist, which is fine in its own right, but that not what we want to be, is it?

I think Bob’s comment that you will learn nothing about landscape architecture in a civil or an architect’s office is half right. This is very key to understanding why the appropriate education requirement for an LA license is in place in so many states.
The reason, in my opinion, that Bob is only half right is based upon how a person processes w…[Read more]

Most any laptop with a good graphics card will suffice.  Nowadays, touch screen capabilities with a pen seems to be the trend.  Actually drawing and sketching on your laptop.
Unfortunately, the industry lacks a complete understanding of size requirements.  We are limited to 10-12″, then jumps to 23″ and higher.  Why not make a laptop with ske…[Read more]

I agree with Robert, a Mac will serve you well and has the support of techs at any apple store. You can run parallels to switch over to windows for those programs that are specifically made to run windows. That being said a Dell would be a good PC option. They also have good support, look for a machine with a decent graphic card, as much memory as…[Read more]

The education received in a typical college LA program is actually pretty good, it just took me a couple of decades to realize it. Good problem solving, communication and environmental skills are usually acquired. I think one problem is that too much emphasis is placed on drawing and graphic skills which the civil engineering community is more…[Read more]

The weak link is that part about people churning their earnings back into the community…. a dynamic dependent on having a foundation of adequate JOBS; yet nobody seemed to be nearly as concerned about how to grow that very essential condition alongside the big housing plan. And once people couldn’t support their payments…the tremors from…[Read more]

That’s awesome.  You win the forum today!  

Dave

I don’t think I’ll invite any of you to my Christmas party.

I think it wasn’t free market ideals alone as much as a blend with a social engineering agenda (let’s get everybody into a home whether traditionally qualified or not) that the market responded to, then followed up with some pretty creative ways of passing on the inevitable risk. Mortgage backers would have been far more careful lending if they…[Read more]

 He has stated that he plans to put forth a Trilion dollars on our infrastructure.  And, go after ALL forms of energy, including renewable energy. 

How will he pay for that? And how will he convince Congressional and GOP rank-and-file deficit hawks to agree to it? Promises are cheap. Infrastructure requires cash.

He’s a successful developer, un…

[Read more]

This is just study material I stumbled into, that may help with the CSE: http://www.cselandscapearchitect.com/2012/12/23/12-days-of-quizzes-day-6-native-plants-and-planting-design-quiz/

Congrats on hanging in there and getting revival at 66. My ’74 trauma was move to take a great job that lasted 3 months before layoff, followed by patched together work enough to sit for and pass exam in ’77, then loner business with its ups and downs until offered another “great” job in ’87 that gave me 3 years instead of 3 months before layoff…[Read more]

Another aspect of this profession that I think is overlooked is that there are not a lot of areas of this profession where we are not on a team whether working in a big firm, in a small office, or as a firm working with other professionals. There are very few times when you or I will be the person that is benefitting the most from our work. If yo…[Read more]

Jon, you started this last paragraph suggesting that everyone has talent and worked hard and then circled back to the expectation that advancement comes from talent.
You are making my point. If you approach this profession based on talent you are one of a big group of talented people. Someone like me stands no chance in that competition. Someone…[Read more]