Career Path of a Landscape Designer III at OLIN
Derek's career path began with an environmental studies degree, leading to an internship focused on sustainability initiatives like "switching from phosphate bulbs to LEDs." After gaining valuable PR experience, a desire for a more creative, environmentally-focused career led to a landscape architecture master's degree, several internships, and ultimately a successful five-year career culminating in a Landscape Designer III position at OLIN.
Career Exploration, Environmental Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Studies, Career Development, Communication Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Derek Lazo
Landscape Designer III
OLIN
University of Southern California
UC Berkeley, Masters of Landscape Architecture
Environmental & Related Sciences
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Derek's career path highlights a combination of environmental science and design, starting with an environmental studies undergraduate degree and incorporating internships in sustainability and public relations. This showcases the value of diverse experiences and skill-building.
2. His path demonstrates the possibility of transitioning between fields. After initially working in public relations, he returned to his environmental interests by pursuing a graduate degree in landscape architecture, indicating a flexible approach to career development.
3. Derek's experience emphasizes the importance of internships. He completed multiple internships throughout his graduate program, gaining practical experience and networking opportunities in the field, leading to his current role at a prominent landscape architecture firm.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
Yeah, definitely. So right now, I work in landscape architecture at a firm called Olin. I did my undergraduate studies at USC, where I majored in environmental studies. It's a pretty interdisciplinary science field with several tracks, including sustainability.
There were three tracks within the major: policy, conservation, and sustainability. I chose the sustainability track and then worked with a professor who was involved with a firm focused on public affairs. Public affairs involves communications for public agencies and public-private partnerships.
I worked with that professor and got an internship with him at a company that worked with recycling companies. At the time, the city of Los Angeles, for example, was switching from phosphate bulbs to LEDs, and there were announcements about that and various recycling programs.
I worked with that professor for a while until the company I was with dismantled its green division and switched directions. I then worked in public relations for a while. After a couple of years, I learned a lot about the business and communications side. I think understanding how to control a narrative and effectively get your message out is a powerful skill.
At some point, I realized I wanted to do something more environmentally oriented and creative. I spoke with a friend in landscape architecture, and it seemed like a good combination of my interests. I applied to Berkeley for grad school and got in.
It was a three-year program, and I worked in the Bay Area. During grad school, I had internships every summer and tried to work as much as possible, while also teaching. After grad school, I got a job in surface design in the Bay Area and was there for about two and a half years.
I've now been at my current firm, Olin, for three years, so I've been in the industry for over five years. And yeah, that's pretty much my journey into landscape architecture.