How do we attract more people to landscape architecture?

There is increasing demand for landscape architects as more clients (private & public) engage landscape architects to undertake masterplans, infill development, upgrade city centres, infrastructure, climate change adaptation and many other projects. At the same time, many leave the industry as they
reach retirement age or seek to change careers. Therefore, the profession needs to look to attract more people to the profession.

Early education
Landscape architects need to attract people to the profession at an early age. This requires landscape architects, associations and universities to attend schools and career days to provide lectures and information about the profession and its wide variety of streams and specialisations.

There is increasing demand for landscape architects as more clients (private & public) engage landscape architects to undertake masterplans, infill development, upgrade city centres, infrastructure, climate change adaptation and many other projects. At the same time, many leave the industry as they
reach retirement age or seek to change careers. Therefore, the profession needs to look to attract more people to the profession.

Template for queries 

Many design firms and landscape architects receive queries about how to become a landscape architect?or what is landscape architecture? and having a standard short email or attachment (from your local institute or association) ready to respond with takes out a lot of the time and work in responding to queries but also provides a quick response that maintains the person’s interest.

Alternative Pathways

Many landscape architects have reached the profession through alternate pathways either at university or whilst working with landscape architects as clients or allied professionals. Engineers, Architects, Ecologists, Graphic Designers and many other professions are drawn to landscape architecture as they see that our profession can influence communities and the environment through each one of our projects.

Embracing diverse skillsets

Many skills are required to plan, design, and build a landscape architecture project. As a profession, we need to embrace other disciplines and skillset levels. Many technicians, drafters, engineers, and designers could contribute to the landscape profession by working in landscape firms, government organisations, and many more. Landscape institutes and associations also play a role in attracting new people to the profession by creating different accreditations, such as the Technician Member of the Landscape Institute, which provides a pathway for experienced members of the industry.

Template for queries 

Many design firms and landscape architects receive queries about how to become a landscape architect?or what is landscape architecture? and having a standard short email or attachment (from your local institute or association) ready to respond with takes out a lot of the time and work in responding to queries but also provides a quick response that maintains the person’s interest.

Work Experience, Internships

Providing work experience (school placement), and internships (program or unskilled) allows for more people to see if they would like to join the landscape architecture profession. A few days or weeks of placement can provide greater insight for someone to see if they wish to take the next steps.

Media and Social Media

Landscape architecture is a highly visual profession where our work is in public for all to see. We need to promote and advocate for our projects through the media and use social media platforms to inform people about the profession. It needs to go beyond the finished project imagery, and provide more insight into the day-to-day of the profession, especially when the public often doesn’t know who designed their local spaces. By using social media, we can reach a greater audience beyond traditional printed and web media.

I encourage everyone to try and take on at least one of the above suggestions to promote landscape architecture to attract the next landscape architects as we see the demand increase whilst also seeing an increased shortage of landscape architects and technicians.

Author: Damian Holmes – Founder & Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA)

Cover Image Credit: Bryant Park – Adam Jones on Flickr

 

About Damian Holmes 3446 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/