What's the Schooling Needed for Landscape Design?
The path to becoming a landscape designer is as varied as the landscapes that he brings to life. Each designer carves out his own path to gaining knowledge of his chosen field. This may include certification programs, singular courses, lectures, self-directed study, on-the-job training or any combination of these. Landscape design focuses on plants and foliage and their proper installation and maintenance. Landscape designers are not landscape architects.
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Designer versus Architect
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A landscape architect is different than a landscape designer. Landscape architects generally obtain a bachelor's degree (a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture or a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture) and many go on to obtain a master's degree. The U.S. Department of Labor states that 49 states as of 2008 required professionals to have a state license to practice as Landscape Architects. In California, landscape designers do not require a license nor are they required to have any particular schooling but are restricted to preparing plans, specifications and drawings pertaining to landscapes for single-family homes. Requirements vary from state to state.
Landscape Designer
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Landscape designers create gardens and landscapes that respond to a particular set of location parameters and aesthetic requirements. Landscape designers do not technically need a degree or certification to practice the art of landscape design. However, being a professional landscape designer does require some skills that may be obtained through a certificate program. Certificate programs like the one offered through the New York Botanical Garden located in Bronx, New York, create the perfect place to begin learning about landscape design.
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Courses to Take
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Learning the tools of landscape design allows the communication of ideas to clients, suppliers and employees. Landscape design uses basic drawing skills often referred to as graphics (using software and drawing by hand) to accomplish this. Knowledge about plants, design history, design theory, instruction on drainage, geological and climatological processes, budgeting and estimating projects and project management skills should be part of a well-rounded landscape design program.
Gaining Practical Experience
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Schooling for landscape designers should include hands-on opportunities for creating and implementing designs. Learning to work with and listen to clients and gaining insight into the practicalities of implementing a design should be offered in the form of internships or group projects. The Conway School of Landscape Design, located in Conway, Massachusetts, requires students to complete three major projects with outside clients from start to finish including an initial contract, all research, reports, technical data and final delivery of drawings.
How Landscape Design Functions
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Landscape designers play a role in a larger framework. Their designs are implemented by a crew of workers and sometimes this happens within the context of an even larger construction project. Learning how to manage, schedule, purchase, estimate and budget a landscape design should be part of the schooling of a landscape design professional. Certification for other skills such as irrigation, garden pest management, historic preservation or working as an arborist may require separate certifications. Check state and local regulations to find out more.
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