Andrew Garulay, RLA

I just broke out regional, one of several, lifestyle type magazine for my area – Cape Cod. I see architects, interior designes, and even a civil/survey ad in it. It was a winter edition with no landscape related articles ( just a really nice shot of a fine rock garden of mine unrelated to the article),so no LA adds in this issue.
Sure does not l…[Read more]

I don’t see it being at all the same for LAs. It really is not any different than a landscape contractor to advertise. It is not like you are going to blackmail someone into hiring you because their circulation doesn’t flow.
I see LAs advertise in high end home magazines all of the time. My belief is that you don’t hear radio or see tv ads simply…[Read more]

My understanding from the civil/survey end of things is that it is unethical for them because many of the services are required under certain circumstances and aggressive marketing could easy blur that fine line between letting people know you’re there if you need them and implying that they have a situation that requires the need for such…[Read more]

Nick,
It is not a matter of anyone’s opinion. The use of the term “landscape architect” is regulated by law – rightly, or wrongly.
 
Alan’s opinion, no disrespect for Alan intended, is of no consequence. Read the link that you posted! It clearly states who may and may not use the title in your state. It does better than most by mentioning how…[Read more]

I’d add that untill you have enough work that you don’t have enough time to get things done in addition to your day job, you might as well keep that small money coming in as well. You also will be talking to people during the commute if you are using public transportation (wear or carry things that identify that you are connected to the green…[Read more]

Something will come along. It always does when you work hard at keepin’ on. I wish you the best.

I’m all hooked up because I’m helping out a Nigerian Prince. I can’t share the details, or I might lose the whole deal. I’ll be buyin’ out Maui Bob’s condo complex and making it into a resort. 

Bob, why do you work?
 

The problem is biggest with those who freelance not those talking to the lamp in their mom’s basement.. Do a web search in your area using “landscape architect” and I think you’ll see it very clearly.
 
1. When regular people do this, many are getting their first impression of what landscape architecture is …. it is mowing lawns and spreading…[Read more]

… and don’t be afraid to be better than the guy who has a license, either.

Most of the many people with LA degrees that I know who are not licensed either were already in business prior to getting their degrees, or went into business before doing an internship. None seem to be very concerned about it. Some are freelance landscape designers, some are environmental landscape designers, but most are design/build…[Read more]

The really funny thing is that the use of the title is so coveted by some of those entering the profession that they go ahead and use it illegally while they go off chastising those who have earned it for making a big deal out of  having a license.
 
If it is not a big deal why use the title? If it is a big deal, why would you have no sh…[Read more]

I did not make this thread to call out Lombardi.I want to be clear on that. I brought it up because it emphasized what many people trying to enter the profession were frustrated with. Lombardi’s work is outstanding and that firm has earned the ability to pick and choose its employees. I did not have a problem with the ad specifically, but it…[Read more]

There seems to be a consensus that few outside of the design professions know what a landscape architect is. If that is the case, then the bulk of the people that the false claim is going to be targeted to is design professionals. Why would anyone not see this as a direct devaluation of the license, if that is the case?
 
There is so much gr…[Read more]

That is a fact. I’ve been on a couple of sites and helped price one out with a contractor once as well. We’ve got one in the CE office currently, as a matter of fact. No knock on him, just the state of the profession when such experience is required for an internship.

What I am saying is that when an individual or entity hires someone to design their landscape for the reason of having a nice landscape (as opposed to being required to do so), they will absolutely always go with whomever removes the most doubt from the outcome of the project. When that is the case,again, WHEN THAT IS THE CASE, they will choose…[Read more]

It has been a long time, but the key to it back then was to think practical and ignore the temptation to be an artist. I remember thinking that they seemed to be set up so as to temp the artist in you to to over power the practical – particularly with vehicular and pedestrian conflicts.

This one does pay, but with four or five years of experience and the type of experience required, one would think that it is similar to calling a fourth year football player who has made the Pro Bowl a rookie.

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Requirements to hire a landscape architect is a double edged sword. The initial reaction is that it gets us work because we are in an allegedly exclusive club. The follow up is that the public sees the hundreds of commercial minimal standard and poorly executed designs “by landscape architects”. Granted, this work is not done by the best…[Read more]

It does not pay well as a job. It can pay well as a business, but the mechanism for making that money is business ability rather than ability to design.
People don’t stay long as employees with a particular company because because they always feel like they maxed out their position and they want to continue to grow, even if it means a re-start.