[Jeff D]

A few years ago I would have said 3DS Max, since almost every office uses AutoCAD.  Now, though, I’d say Sketchup.  Its biggest drawback is that in Version 7, Google took out the “import DWG” function.  It’s still available as an add-on, though.

I haven’t download Version 8 yet – can anyone tell us if they put that function back in? Or if there’s an updated add-on?

[Jeff D]

Josh, that would be a great file to have.  Can you archive them into a zip or rar file and post it on a file-hosting site and provide a link?  With Daniel’s permission, of course. 

That must have been a great workshop – I loved his book.

[Jeff D]

Agreed – one of the keys to using Sketchup is to always freeze the layers you don’t need to see at the time.  And – just like AutoCAD – put everything on its correct and unique layer.  Otherwise, even a medium-sized Sketchup file can slow down even the fastest computers.  Also, there’s really no advantage to using 3D trees unless you’re going to use a rendering program.  Sometimes, the unrendered version actually looks better.  I mostly use rendering (Kerkythea) to show lighting.

[Jeff D]

Something I forgot – as far as GIS goes, you can order CDs or download a trial copy of ArcGIS for free.  I believe it’s good for 60 days.  Plenty of time to go through tutorials.  The manual can also be DL’ed as a PDF (or it might be included – it’s been so long, I forget).

[Jeff D]

From where I stand, Strike One (“I’m young”) is working in your favor.  I’ve found the opposite to be true, and on more than one occasion, I’ve been told, “Actually, we’re looking for someone with less experience.”  I mean – how thinly veiled is that?  Look through the ASLA Job Finder and count how few firms want anyone with more than 3 years of experience.

Just the fact that you’re working in this economy puts you light years ahead of the thousands of us “middle-aged men” who have been unemployed for years as LAs.  We won’t be hired back until the workload becomes sufficient that the principals finally feel the need to delegate responsibility.  Most small firms I know are comprised of nothing but the owner and a CAD Drafter.  In the office where I last worked, the workforce went from 32 in 2006 to 6 in 2010.

Regarding Strike Two (“I’m female”), I can only speak from my own experience – my co-workers over the years have been roughly 35% female; 55% male.  I would wager that ratio is higher than the ratio of all LAs by gender.  However, I’m not naive enough to think that the glass ceiling doesn’t still exist.

As for Strike Three (“I’m a LA”), I assume you work in a multidisciplinary firm.  In most of those cases, the Principal or Director of Operations is usually a PE, and that field is where the majority of contracts and profits are made.  Even in a professional setting, many people don’t distinguish between “landscape architect” and “landscaper.”  Perhaps we don’t get the respect we deserve among some of our  peers.  Or . . . it could just be that you’re at a firm where only Project Managers’ opinions count.  Or, it could be because of your inexperience (or their perception of it).

If you really believe it’s a problem, talk to your PM about it.  Otherwise, be thankful you’re employed in a profession with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.  And remember – regardless of age, gender, or profession – quality work will get recognized.

[Jeff D]

Right now I’d take any contract job for as few hours as the business owner wants.

Having been laid off since November of ’08, I know there is no full-time job in my short-term future, due to my age and experience.  I see my future – if I indeed have a future in LA, which I’m beginning to doubt – as a gradual climb back via contract work, which may lead to part-time employment, which may lead to full-time employment.  So far, though, I’ve had no luck securing even short contract work.  I’ve just relocated to another city where I hope conditions will improve faster for the growth industry.

[Jeff D]

I can’t add much, but I agree with what the others have said – AutoCAD, PhotoShop, Sketchup, and ArcGIS.  As far as a BIM software for landscape architecture, right now what’s recommended is Autodesk Civil 3D.  But the same terrain models can be created with regular AutoCAD, Autodesk Land Desktop, or Eagle Point software (Formerly known to us old-timers as LandCADD).

You said you know “a little” Sketchup – to get your skill level kick-started, I highly recommend Daniel Tal’s book Google Sketchup for Site Design.  Be sure to download the add-on to import files from AutoCAD – they took it out as a regular function as of version 7, IIRC.

ps – I’m in the same boat – laid off Nov ’08.  Good luck!

[Author]

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