The Ohio State Department of Landscape Architecture has full access to cutting edge computer design programs, but the department’s graduates may be behind the times when it comes to looking for a career in the field.
“There are those of us who get it and those that just don’t get it. They’re just not ready to accept it,” said Jamie Rindler, a second-year in the graduate landscape architecture program, speaking of the technology.
Form-Z, a 3-D modeling and design program, created by Christos Yessios an OSU landscape professor emeritus, is just one of the pieces of software that is not being fully taught, according to Rindler. All of the spacecraft in “Star Wars Episode One” were created using Yessios’ program.
“We were given a five minute preview of Form-Z, which is just one of the programs necessary for digital design, because some students were requesting it, wondering why they couldn’t use it,” Rindler said. According to Rindler, they were given the option of using it for only one project.
Norman Booth, head of the landscape architecture department, thinks that OSU offers enough courses to teach the material and is not falling behind.
“We have all the technology available for digital design, but this is something that is not yet in the mainstream and won’t be for a while. I think we’re right up there with other schools,” Booth said. Separate courses teaching the necessary software are offered through other departments, according to Booth.
Rindler agrees the technology is not yet in the mainstream and is nervous for the future of his profession, because he is certain technology advancements will take over the field.
“The majority of schools still teach hand graphics. It won’t be until my generation or a little bit older becomes the teachers, that’s when it’s really going to take affect. We’ll be about 40 in the middle of our careers and we’ll just be getting blown out of the water by these kids who come out of school. It’s gonna be nasty,” Rindler said.
Madis Pihlak, associate professor and director of the department of landscape architecture at Penn State, agrees with Rindler.
“It will really take the ‘Napster generation’ to fully take advantage of these great leaps forward in design technology,” Pihlak said.
Pihlak teaches Digital Office, an online course that incorporates programs like Form-Z, Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator into the landscape design process. Pihlak has received much opposition to his teaching practices and feels that professors are not embracing the technology because of “fear, stupidity, ego, pre-judgment of the technology and not wanting to give up on skills they have already learned.”
Not all students are ready for the change either. Rindler said he is one of only a few in his class that would like to see a makeover in the department.
“They both serve their purpose, but I think the hand graphics give the drawings a lot more character,” said John Rudy, a second-year in the gradurate landscape architecture program.
“There’s a huge advantage in efficiency (on the computer), but I also believe that you can use them in tandem. You can do a lot of base work on the computer and build your graphics by hand,” Rudy said.
Pihlak said we are only at the beginning of the “revolution” in fast hardware and facile software.
“OSU is no different than many universities, the faculty is the slowest and sometimes even (most) reactionary factor when it comes to teaching with the tools of the future. What is needed is engagement with the technology. Every university should have a software library, not just one of the legacy drafting packages. Design computing is like power tools – it is possible to use a hand-saw but a laser-guided cutter is far better,” Pihlak said.
