Australians are renowned for their love of the great outdoors. We are a nation that adores the outdoors, and that often extends to landscaping; how we love to admire some quality “lawn porn”. As such, landscape architect demand in Australia has never been stronger.
However, when it comes to professional landscape architecture, it’s best to leave the job to the experts – i.e., qualified landscape architects who design environmental areas for aesthetic and rehabilitation purposes. They may also design residential gardens, inner-city parks, business landscapes, and institutional gardens.
With landscape architect demand in Australia going from strength to strength, now is a great time to consider becoming a qualified landscape architect. By reviewing the required landscape architect skills and employment requirements, aspiring landscape architects can determine the specific traits that they should focus on developing to enhance their landscape architect career.
So, if you have designs on becoming a landscape architect, read on for a comprehensive guide on how to become an architect designer.
What do landscape architects do?
Landscape architects design gardens and related spaces for a variety of clients. They may design residential gardens for private homeowners, environmental parks for local councils, and large gardens for institutes such as hospitals and universities.
A landscape architect typically possesses excellent creativity and innovation for designing aesthetic gardens to improve the value or enjoyment of a private or public space. They often have extensive knowledge of local flora and can identify the appropriate trees and plants that will thrive in a specific environment. A landscape architect may work as part of a design team or offer their services as a landscape architect consultant.
Become a landscape architect in seven steps
1. Gain foundational knowledge
Developing your design and landscaping knowledge is not a prerequisite for attending university, but it can help you achieve excellent grades during your studies.
It can also help you develop your skills efficiently because you have existing knowledge of landscape principles. You typically develop advanced knowledge during your studies at university, so you rarely require extensive knowledge before commencing your studies.
2. Complete a bachelor degree
A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement for becoming a landscape architect. You can enrol in a relevant bachelor’s degree, such as a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, at a nationally recognised university. A Bachelor of Landscape Architecture is one of the most popular and relevant degrees you can complete, but courses like a Bachelor of Design can also teach you similar principles.
Once you complete your formal landscape design qualifications (typically a three-year degree relating to landscape architecture), you may be able to fast-track your landscape architect career. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree can also open the door to postgraduate studies. A bachelor’s degree typically takes three years to complete.
3. Complete a masters degree
The postgraduate component usually takes two years to complete, meaning there’s a total of five years of study including a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree is considered the highest form of formal education for a landscape architect. After completing your master’s degree, you will be equipped with extensive landscape architecture knowledge and the skills to become an expert landscape architect.
4. Gain experience as a landscape designer
Once you complete your bachelor or master’s degree, you technically have the qualifications and expertise to perform professional landscape designer work. You are now ready to apply for landscape architect roles, but there are still some advanced qualifications you can obtain beyond a university degree.
Once you have at least two years of industry experience as a landscape architect, you can apply for registration with the Australian Institute Of Landscape Architects (AILA), the peak national body for landscape architecture in Australia.
Registering with AILA can enhance your professional credentials and highlight your professionalism, expertise, and experience to potential employers and clients. It can also provide access to a professional network of like-minded individuals.
5. Develop a design portfolio
Like other design careers, a portfolio can help you display your previous work. It can serve as evidence of your expertise while also highlighting your creative potential to clients and employers. Some clients may search for a landscape architect with a specific design style or specialty.
For example, some clients may have plans to create a fully sustainable and healthy residential garden. If you have experience creating sustainable gardens, you can include them in your portfolio to highlight your competency and innovation.
6. Apply for a landscape architect position
Once you gain the necessary landscape requirements and training, such as a landscaping certificate, you can apply for a position as a landscape architect. It can be important to remember that you don’t necessarily require a master’s degree or registration with AILA.
Those advanced credentials serve to improve your employment attributes rather than meet the minimum employment requirements. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can start applying for a landscape architect role. You can expect to gain employment with design firms and landscaping companies, or you may offer your services privately.
How business insurance* can support your landscape architect career
As with any profession, a career in landscape architecture comes with its fair share of risk. Given that landscape architect projects can often have significant and costly ramifications, it’s essential that landscape architects put safeguards in place to protect their landscape architect business and their industry reputation.
One way to do this is through business insurance, such as Professional Indemnity, and Public Liability. Public Liability can provide protection for you and your business if a customer, supplier, or a member of the public brings a claim against you due to them being injured or sustaining property damage because of your negligent business activities.
And Professional Indemnity protects you against claims of negligence or breach of duty made by a client as a result of receiving professional advice or services from your business. Together, these business insurance products can prove critical for landscape architects and can form a key part of your risk management strategy.
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