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Kody, really like your style, how do you create the illustrated look, i have been using PS for a few years and have created photomantage style perspectives but am never really satisfied with the end result.
 

Do you know why most of those epic, huge on special effects type of movies turn out to be a bust for viewers? Because it lacks a foundation or story! A great screenplay is a prelude to a memorable film. Learn the basics of great design. Find out what your client wants and give or show them alternatives. Learn to communicate through sketches and…[Read more]

Heres a fun experiemnt we can all try–
 
go to one ofthe architecture forums liek archinect.com and ask something like’how do you make your renderings?’
 
You’ll almost certainly get 25 responses about processors, resolution, and ray tracing.
 
Do it by hand. Has anyone given you any instruction on perspective?

I agree with Jon here (though it pains me to do so). Stick with what you know and can produce with now; learn and expand your toolset along the way. Deadline time is no time to still be learning software.
 
Having said that, if you’d like to get into the 3D modeling side of things, I can’t recommend http://www.cgarchitect.com enough. Between the…[Read more]

+1 for drawing it… colored pencil on butcher shop paper can create some really nice results…

If you have no idea where to start, then don’t sweat trying to utilize digital graphics for this assignment, you’ll spend more time on learning the software than you likely spend on the project and layout… I recommend going analog on this one.  Do you get to sit down with them before you are expected to produce anything to get a feel of what…[Read more]

I recall Topos 2010 ‘Sustainability’ had a piece about a waterfront project that used solar panels as a sort of paver (the units were customized to be walked on, etc). I wish I could remember the project and where, but anyhow the general point being using photovoltaics as a hardscape. 
 

I really love Land F/X. It really is professional ‘Landscape Architectural’ software. The planting symbols and database are excellent. It runs great with SketchUp, although I may need a software upgrade, because it locks up often. I see alot of designers using either Dynascape or Vectorworks, I guess because it automatically renders, but it looks…[Read more]

Also look for cross over skill set opportunities. In a time of reduced staff, diversity of skill sets can trump a specialist when it comes to who gets laid off and who stays full time. My job has been secure thus far because of that. I went from full time site designer to full time person who does several different different jobs rolled into one…[Read more]

oh – forget Revit.  BIM software for landscape architecture is not there yet.

draw draw draw!  I won’t hire anyone who can’t draw with a pencil and pen.  Know any CAD software – the concepts are interchangeable.  Sketchup is a bonus

I live in RI and can attest to the wonderful lifestyle here…the city is small, but funky. Access to NY and Boston is easy. Arts are huge here. RISD is situated in one of the most beautiful urban residential areas — very historic. Can’t really comment on the MLA program, but I don’t see alot of RISD grads working here in RI…

Aloha Lola,
You should’ve been asking this question 2 years ago! By now, you would be an expert in SketchUp and ArcView. Anyway, start with Autocad. The changes from 2008 to 2009+ are quite a huge leap forward. I’m sure Consumes River or Sac City College offer the latest version of autocad classes. Then, photoshop, sketchup, illustrator and…[Read more]

you are very insightful. Thank you!

Thank you. This does help to understand the predicament.

Why should any well trained landscape architect feel intimidated by any profession?  Is it really intimidation that you sense or is it something else altogether?  What I mean is given the breadth of  our profession, there is very little that we specialize in, yet we are proficient in so much.  We literally are swimming in information on so man…[Read more]

I could not agree more. I think the line is not real and yet tangable.

Apparently I’ve derailed the thread… suffice it to say that all lines are fabrications of the mind. They don’t exist outside of our collective heads. Remove humans and the lines disappear. Some lines are agreed upon in a group consensus while other lines are imposed upon others in the best interest of the imposers but the success of the…[Read more]

Please continue to offer me your views and insights.

thank you.

LandPlanner