Typical work activities
The typical work activities for a landscape designer are likely to include some or all of the following:
- overseeing the design of a variety of projects, including: urban regeneration schemes (public parks and squares, private gardens, playgrounds); pedestrian schemes; retail schemes (business parks); and roads/transport corridors (and occasionally the structures within/surrounding them);
- establishing general landscape requirements with clients;
- conducting preliminary studies of contours, soil conditions, vegetation, drainage, ecology, buildings, roads and paths;
- assessing a site's potential to meet the specifications of the client;
- seeking and taking into account the views of local residents and other potential users;
- preparing and accurately setting out detailed plans and working drawings, including applications, construction details and specifications for the project;
- dealing with enquiries from clients;
- presenting proposals to clients;
- negotiating any amendments to proposals, in order to proceed to the final design;
- satisfying both the client's wishes and your knowledge of what will work best;
- contacting and co-ordinating manufacturers and suppliers;
- putting work out to tender and selecting a contractor and manager (mainly for larger projects);
- making site visits;
- monitoring and checking work on-site (on large projects, landscape managers are brought in to do this supervisory work);
- liaising with other experts in the field, engineers, surveyors and town planners;
- ensuring deadlines are met;
- authorising payment once work has been satisfactorily completed.