Stephen Gibson

Elif,
Not all well healed clients speak the language of art or architecture.
If you use stories to relate your design charrettes then you have to speak to them in a language that they understand.
If your client is a doctor use medical metaphors. In essence you are meeting your client at a level that they feel comfortable and knowledgeable in.

In…[Read more]

Thank you very much Chris. I probably share a common problem with other Landscape Architects. Hopefully in time, it will change!
Greetings from Istanbul!

Thanks for the suggestion.
I also prepare images and perspectives. What I wanted to ask was: Generally the client doesn’t know what they want and when you come up with new ideas rather than the usual concepts, they don’t understand it. Therefore I develop a story for them. For example, I say ” It’s a Mondrian Garden and the design structure is ……[Read more]

Elif,
I hope I understand your question, here’s goes. When I present a project to a client I bring pictures of plants and I try and draw quick perspesctives or elevations of the job. A lot of people can not visualize a plan view into a real life project. They have not had the training we have and don’t look at plans as we do. When I go to their…[Read more]

I have a question!
Each time I prepare a project, I write a story for it. I try to present it telling this strory. I don’t simply say “Here a group of shrubs you like and some other here!”
My clients are quite high level people but I don’t know why they don’t understand much when I try to give an identity to the design I prepare for them.
I would…[Read more]

Hello Chris,
In regards to your question about marketing at a home or trade show, I have some experience in this realm.
20 years ago I designed and installed a small intimate garden exhibit at the San Francisco Garden Show. I had just recently moved to the Bay area and wanted to open my own design practice.
The show was a success for me.
After 5…[Read more]

I’m trying to develop a specific contract for my firm’s LA work and am trying to find a good sample contract to model ours after.

Thanks!

Hello, Hope to exchange knowledge and experience. Regards to All. Ahmad

Hi, Richard, of seven posts back. Thanks, I missed that post! Need to give credit where credit is due.

Yes it is ‘Long John’ Good call

Yes, I agree with Mike on the Grevillea sp. re Navid’s post. The flower gives it away. (I’m also from Australia, so I’m familliar with the genus, although I’m not sure on the species of this one. Perhaps Grevillea ‘Long John’.)

I just recently filled the only LA position in my firm in a region where there aren’t many LA’s practicing locally. I’ve been asked to develop some marketing strategies to increase what I can bring in to the firm. Any thoughts as to how to develop the marketing side of what I can provide clients?

Info about the LEED Credentialing Program:
http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=83

Info about the LEED 2009 Greenbuild Update & the LEED 2009 Exam:
http://www.intheleed.com/the-leed-2009-greenbuild-update-the-leed-2009-exam/

Fibonacci again? Does anyone know this plant? Found in San Diego at 5000 ft. elevation.

Name that plant.

Looks like a pine tree from a distance with a flower that is reminiscent of a succulent. I think it’s a desert plant.

A member in another forum in the lounge asked a question about resume’s and CV’s- where might she find a template to create these.
Here’s an online resource I found recently that might be of use to some of you-

http://www.visualcv.com

I haven’t used it myself., but it does seem to have potential.

Chris Heiler
Editor- http://www.landscapeleadership.com

No rush, best of luck on the exam.

Note: Buildings are “certified”, people are “accredited” – a possible question on the test according to a USGBC study group I went to. I am taking the test in December.

Here’s an example of the political aspect of planning and landscape architecture:

Nrschmid:
“However, some of them [landscape architects] struggle to find the underlying meaning in the ordinances and what has been established by plan commissions as precedent. For example, one community’s ordinance might allow Betula nigra (River birch) but the r…[Read more]