Landscape Designer
What the work is
Designs and creates detailed plans and drawings for residential landscapes and small public or commercial landscape projects, with an emphasis on speciality horticulture and the integration of hard landscape elements to improve the aesthetic and functionality of outdoor spaces.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Consults with clients to prepare outdoor design briefs suitable for the site and the client's lifestyle, budget and preferred aesthetic
- Assesses local site conditions to determine factors that may impact landscape designs
- Explores applications of materials, techniques and trends in landscape design
- Prepares design concepts and drawings for residential gardens including all elements of the hard landscaping design, lighting, soils, drainage and irrigation
- Specifies materials and products used in the construction of landscapes to achieve the desired result for clients
- Collaborates with other professionals, builders and associated trades to prepare landscape construction cost estimates for clients
- Provides advice on ornamental and amenity horticulture, soil improvement, and functional outdoor design in keeping with the surrounding architecture
- Provides recommendations for the ongoing maintenance of newly constructed landscapes or gardens
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small design and drafting office working with builders, home owners and the local council. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A client sees their drawings come to life and says the house feels like home before it is built
- A tricky site turns into an elegant design with the right trade-offs
- A builder tells you the plans were the clearest set they have worked from
Hard days
- A client wants a beautiful design and a budget that don't match
- The council asks for changes that mean redrawing a whole set of plans
- A neighbour objects, and you are the one who has to explain why
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 312134, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.