Most Important Skills for a Landscape Designer III at OLIN
Derek, a Landscape Designer III at OLIN, emphasizes both "hard skills," such as mastery of software like Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, Revit, and Rhino, and "soft skills," including adaptability and "a thicker skin" to handle design feedback. The ability to "manage up" by proactively identifying project needs and taking initiative is also crucial for career advancement, demonstrating a growth mindset essential in the field.
Computer Skills, Design Software, Adaptability, Proactive Learning, Professionalism
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. Mastery of design software is crucial: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and CAD software (AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino) is essential for landscape design. The interviewee emphasizes that while some programs may teach these, others require self-learning through project experience.
2. Developing soft skills is vital: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances, receive feedback without taking it personally, and proactively manage one's contributions to a project are all crucial soft skills. The interviewee highlights the importance of separating one's identity from the design work and maintaining a positive attitude towards constructive criticism.
3. Proactive learning and responsibility are key: The interviewee stresses the importance of developing the skill of 'managing up'—anticipating project needs, proactively seeking opportunities for involvement, and taking responsibility for one's work. This proactive approach facilitates faster professional growth and shows initiative to employers
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
That's a great question. I'd say there are two main categories of skills: hard skills and soft skills.
Under hard skills, which are more technical, many programs teach the fundamentals. Mastery of the Adobe suite, like Photoshop and Illustrator, and general design principles are essential for creating and presenting your work.
We also use drafting programs like CAD, so AutoCAD is a baseline. The built environment industry, including architects, construction managers, and civil engineers, uses Revit. It's an Autodesk product, similar to AutoCAD, but it's a very large program that often needs to be learned through repetition and project work rather than just in school. Rhino is another program for 3D modeling. These are the main hard skills, and most students will be exposed to them.
If computer work seems intimidating, it's worth noting that while some might think landscape architecture is just about planting gardens, a lot of time is spent on the computer. You need to be comfortable and proficient with computers, spending significant time working on screen.
In terms of soft skills, design itself can be vulnerable. You create something and present an idea, and it might not be chosen, which is common even in graduate school. This process builds resilience.
Being adaptable is crucial, as is developing a thicker skin. It's important to separate your work from your identity. I've seen peers in grad school become very invested in their projects, and when they receive critical feedback, it can deeply affect them, making them feel their work is bad. Being able to distance yourself from your creations is important.
Another skill, depending on management philosophies, is "managing up." When you're new, you expect direction, which you should receive to learn. However, it's also important to think ahead and anticipate project needs.
It takes time to develop the ability to track all the moving pieces of a project. As a junior designer, learning to stay ahead or at least look forward to upcoming stages and understanding the entire process is a really important skill. The more junior designers can engage from this perspective while learning, the faster they will develop.
Waiting for someone to guide your development can slow you down. While a good environment will provide management support, it's also important to develop the internal skill of taking on more responsibility over time, which includes proactively raising your hand for new tasks.
These qualities are valuable in any field, but especially in design. People notice and respond well to individuals who are engaged with their work, eager to learn, and willing to take on more responsibility.