While I think that the "FAQ" as outlined by swanoir was presented tongue in cheek ('the humus'), many of the subsequent comments and/or links to threads that could/should be included in a FAQ were presented in a more serious tone. And maybe they do make sense as a foundation to a real LD forum FAQ. But I've also sensed something else in these comments that may contribute to the apparent lack of communication between new posters seeking advice and those that regularly frequent this forum and offer it. And that is that the long checklist provided by Miss R must be (or should be) answered in detail before posting. Well, of course not! But it is definitely something worth reviewing and giving some thought to. This checklist, or something very similar, is what most designers utilize when first meeting with a prospective client. It gives them a feeling for what the client wants to do with the property, how they intend to use it, what they hope to get out of it and how much effort (time/$$) are they are intending to put into it. Hopefully, reviewing an outline or checklist such as this could help to refine and focus some of those blank slate questions and even educate those new posters totally unfamiliar with the process the degree of complexity, the number of variables and exactly what is involved in the formulation of a landscape design. Even DIY landscape texts intended for the homeowner with no previous design or landscaping experience offer similar checklists to get one started thinking about the process. Obviously, this is overkill for those questions that are more issue-specific, but I think very appropriate for those that are much broader and far less focused.

Thank you, this discussion has definitely clarified my thought process even though urban designers have not jumped in (don't be shy you guys - there's still time!). I don't know if any other people who are thinking of going into design or who are stagnating in a design career are looking at this thread but if there are I do want to add some things that I think are not just specific to my situation. I agree, any business is tough and being found by a client is the toughest threshold to cross to find to suceess. In my career, working both for myself and others I've found the key to that door can be not only to have the clients come looking for you but more importantly to help people who never dreamed of being a client realize that they not only NEED the service you provide, they WANT the service you provide. And consequently, they want YOU. Please don't think I am ignoring your bus metaphor, I find it apt. But this particular sub-set of American society I want to work with prefers to take a limo. I won't get much business waiting at the bus stop any more than I would walking. I think if you want to run your own business it pays to focus more attention to your potential clients and their habits than to what an employer is necessarily looking for. If you need experience as a worker first you can always market the skills you have (unless you are say, a poet and want to work for a nuclear physicist or something) and lower your price if necessary to get that experience. If I want to work for myself (and I do ultimately) I don't know if it makes sense for me to get an education in something that won't be useful to me (nursery designer, event planner) only in order to work for someone else who has decided to use that particular skill set as their marketing niche. So far my career plan involves creating contacts in the building and constrction industry in the city and creating my own niche market and marketing plan - green roofs, xeriscaping - whatever is new or can be made fresh, and working my butt off from there. And in this case status (education, money, power) is a very important thing for people I want to work for. I do think what are seen as impressive credentials could help open the door, but given the newness of the Columbia program I just wonder if I will actually be getting the skills I need which was why I asked about the program. I don't mean to be argumentative, I just think there are more ways to get the things you want than to try to be a good employee, particularly if you really want to be the boss.

I originally posted my "move in diary" over on the building forum. The thread's long since fallen off but here's a link to the log of my trials and travails in moving into a brand-new semi-custom house. I just re-read it for the first time in months and it's still pretty hilarious in a Wile E. Coyote way. For those who've never built a new house, builders charge outrageous prices for upgrades, so I took standard carpet everywhere but the kitchen and master bath, then immediately tore it all out and upgraded. Here's the diary. Amazingly enough, I had yet another water leak a few months after the last entry. I should go back and make a few more entries. The TKO will catch a few references to kitchen stuff, like missing holes in the granite, un-level fridge doors, crooked backsplash tiles, etc. Here is a link that might be useful: The chief's moving in diary

SJHockey, your tale had me LOL. The main thing that is driving me nuts is wall to wall carpet in our bedroom areas. We replaced carpet with new 7 years ago and shortly thereafter it started to pull away from the tack strips leaving us with crumpled carpet. When I was renovating the kitchen I had the LR carpet ripped out to continue the hardwood in the kitchen/breakfast area into the living room but we were leaving the carpet in the bedrooms. I asked our flooring man to have a crew come out to re-stretch the carpet. DH insisted that they didn't have to send a special crew out so the stretching didn't get done. Now all it would have taken was another phone call but did I? No..... it's been almost 2 years and we still have the crumpled carpet. I'm so disgusted with the carpet that I decided we are having it ripped out and installing hardwood instead. Our downstairs bathroom that DH uses is a nightmare. When we had it completed our handy man used the cheapest fixtures he could find. I promised myself that I would promptly have everything replaced but it's 19 years later and the only change is my DSIL put a Pergo floor in for DH. If we ever sell I will have to have the whole thing ripped out and redone because it's an embarrassment. =-qwa