Landscape Architecture Through a New Lens

A Year at Influence (as an Architecture Graduate)

Last October I knocked on Influence’s door, CV in plastic; it wasn’t long before I’d had an interview and Ruth called me up to offer me the job.

RIBA defines landscape architecture as a relevant industry and as I would not get the chance to have a placement at a firm that wasn’t architecture after masters I decided to challenge myself.

I quickly realised that I had only learned half of what I needed at university. Office dynamic, project management, working to rapid deadlines and balancing several jobs were all skills that my one-project-every-4-months-student-brain had to pick up fast.

I also had to learn how to make a cake pretty fast

So I hit the deck running, producing illustrations, marketing materials, palettes, concept diagrams and figures all within two weeks of starting. The experience has been fantastic, with projects up and down the country, every project was a new challenge and valuable experience.

Turning designs into graphics

All in all, I feel I have seen a third-person view of architecture when working with architects, planners and property developers. I feel I have seen more that I might have at a conglomerate company, I’ve been a graphic designer one week and a draught-man the next, sometimes in the space of a few hours. I was given the opportunity to share my skills and talents with my colleague’s and fellow graduates and even talk to industry leaders about the future of technology.

I’m heading back to university with a new perspective. With a new respect for landscape design, trees, layouts and the surrounding environment of the buildings I hope to one day design. I hope to add this experience as a string to my bow. However, I’m probably going to forget all of that latin in 6 months (sorry Lindsey)

All the best,

Will Barnes