THE IMPACT OF CUSTOMIZATION
Just shy of two years of experience in landscape architecture and at the onset of another recession, I took a detour from landscape to join a custom fabrication shop that made physical models and props for magazine ads, television commercials, and feature films. I had no experience in that field nor any familiarity with its exacting standards yet I was asked to manage a roster of immensely talented artists who had far more experience in the craft I was supervising. I was humbled with the level to which I was entrusted to do this work. I walked into the shop not knowing at all what I was doing yet managed to walk out with a little bit of swagger, tempered by the frustrations, mistakes, and triumphs. In the end, I believe my time in this exciting industry contributed as much to my growth as a landscape architect as my tenure in landscape architecture itself. Looking back, I fully understand the rewards of venturing into unchartered territory.