summer recap

Welcome back! Now that we are all back in the studio, let's take a minute to see what some of our PASLA members did over the summer! Whether it be travel or work these designers got out in the world and did some cool stuff worth talking about:

Jennifer Kerr

Sophomore studio

Study Abroad: In The English Landscape

Waking up and going to the most beautiful places almost everyday for three weeks was definitely unbelievable (it even made me cry at some points because of how pretty and fulfilling it felt to be there)! It also was a great opportunity to meet people throughout different grades as well as England locals I never would’ve otherwise interacted with. On our last free day in London, a friend and I took a high speed train to the White Cliffs of Dover, which was one of the most stunning places I have ever been.

I never thought before going on this trip about how the design of gardens and public spaces actually reflect the culture and politics of the time it's built.

I loved drawing and doing projects on paper with markers and colored pencils last year, but I’m excited to learn how to transfer those skills digitally this year.

Lucinda Beck

Junior studio

Worked at: Green Thumb Nursery

I worked at Green Thumb nursery at home in Orange county CA! One of my favorite things about my job was the old ladies who would come in and talk to me about plants, they were so eager to share their knowledge! I’m definitely going to be doing the same thing in 50 years.

I worked in citrus so it was really interesting learning more about fruiting trees and citrus specifically because it's so complicated. By far my favorite thing to learn about tho, was California natives! They’re perfectly adapted to our harsh climates and do so much for our ecosystem. I always tried to get customers to plant them. The plants are so smart and I love the relationship indigenous Californians have with them. Tending to the landscapes, caring for the plants and using them in their day to day life.

I'm excited to hear more about how plants play such a huge role in our designs and how I can positively give back to the environments I’m creating!

Julian Stanfield

Senior Co-op

Cooperative Education at: Sasaki

I am currently working for Sasaki Associates in the Denver office. It is more of a small firm with the prowess and expertise of a large firm. I have enjoyed my experience greatly being an intern on a lot of projects of a larger scale. My current favorite moment has been doing research for a city for the city plan of the parks system and explaining what we’re doing as I do more and more community engagement. I am the current point on that process and with that I love to hear what people of the city are wanting and experiencing based on current changes in society whether that be displacement from another place, immigration from different countries or they’ve been living there all their life and want something different for their parks. All of this is essential to making the most equitable system possible for the future of the city!

It’s hard to say, but a few [things I learned] off the top of my head were from the higher ups in our conversation. It’s to always be a student. Don’t ever lose the desire to learn and better the world from another source. Another fun one was from the chair, as a tidbit he told me that I don’t work for anyone, I work with the principals, the lead designers even as an intern it was helpful and healing to know that I am with people I work with, not their underlying or below them as I enter the field as a change in perspective because it gave me great confidence to give my unique opinion not only as an African American but a man with a various range of experience in life even at my age.

I am looking forward to hopping on design projects where I put pen to paper more frequently and learn the process from the lead designers who have done insane projects that have changed cities and regions across the world. I want to learn who I am as a designer to see if this style fits me more and more as I move into new facets of my life. I have a strong desire to learn the most efficient and successful ways to show my design to a client so they know what they need to know and what they should know; showing the deeper meaning of design, what we as humans experience in spaces, what birds experience, insects, animals, dogs, etc. If that helps suggest to them that we are not the only ones and intrinsically diminish anthropogenic mentality. Finding more ideas for my capstone is another goal. And finally, go to as many concerts and see as many things in this state as I can.