Favorite Parts of Being a Landscape Designer III at OLIN
Derek, a Landscape Designer III at OLIN, most enjoys the "tangibility" of transforming conceptual designs into built realities, navigating the complexities of permitting, financing, and construction to create meaningful spaces. The work involves collaborating with teams and clients to design places that foster community and enhance the human experience, fulfilling a personal passion for spatial design and impacting "what the built environment could look like."
Project Management, Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving, Real-World Examples
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. The tangible aspect of seeing projects come to fruition, from initial concept to actual construction and public use.
2. The collaborative nature of the work, involving teamwork with colleagues, clients, and consultants to achieve a shared vision.
3. The focus on creating spaces that enrich people's lives and experiences, moving beyond mere aesthetics to consider functionality and community impact.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
I have to say, at this point, it's about understanding how to get things done in the real world. It's about building things and being at the intersection of working with people who really want to get things done.
This involves understanding all the processes, including permitting, and being in conversations about financing. It's about making decisions based on cost. So, there's a real tangibility to it now.
It's not just conceptual or a pretty picture. It's about thinking about what will go on the ground, what people can visit, and making that a reality. Being in a position that understands all the necessary steps is a really fun place to be.
I have my own values for what the built environment could look like. It's fun to work with a team, clients, and consultant partners. We have discussions about more than just building a development with ground-floor retail and streetscapes.
We want to create a place where people want to come, hang out, bring their kids, see a concert, and grab dinner. It could be a place for a first date, really thinking about people and their experience in the space. Then, we work together to create a vision and cohesive design for that.
Executing that is really important. I've always been spatially oriented and constantly think about space. It's just fun to consider those possibilities and actually make things happen.