Encouraging Future Landscape Architects – Work Experience
We have worked with St Dunstan’s College on a number of projects in recent years and, as part of our ongoing relationship with the school, we were pleased to attend their careers evening. Whilst there we met several students who expressed an interest in landscape architecture as a future career.
We were delighted to offer one St Dunstan’s student a work experience placement in our office. We feel that it’s important to encourage and support the future of potential designers, even in a small way, especially as there is currently a shortage of landscape architects.
The student and aspiring designer joined us last week – during the five days of experience he was involved in many tasks, including working as part of our team, learning how to use AutoCad and Lumion, helping to produce a 3D design and planting plan, as well as assisting on drawing a tree survey. At the end of the week he had even designed and modelled a scheme for his school’s courtyard in 3D, which you can see in this post.
We hope he went away with a sense of how a busy design office works, and with some transferable skills to aid his continuing studies at school. Work experience, in whatever sector you’ve chosen to explore, is a great way to encourage independence and organisational skills, as well as a sense of responsibility and boosting confidence.
If you are considering landscape as a career, the Choose Landscape website is a great place to get started. If you would like to learn more about work experience in general, the National Careers Service is a good source to explore.