ASLA 2024 Conference Recap

Attending the 2024 ASLA Conference in Washington, DC this year was such a great learning experience. This was my first ASLA conference opportunity and I am so impressed with the products that were promoted and the people there who were just as eager to present as I was to learn.

There were a few things that speakers mentioned throughout the conference that stuck with me and I think would really resonate with all landscape architects.

1. “We have an obligation as landscape architects to keep up with trends in the world”

This one is great, as it is just a friendly reminder that it isn’t always about rainbows and butterflies, but that there is a heavy responsibility to ensure that what we are designing is of the highest standard while simultaneously keeping up with the most recent trends and functionality. The world is continuously changing, both environmentally and technologically. With us as the experts, it is an expectation to adapt to those changes and that is truly what makes this industry so exciting to work in long term. Seeing and adapting to different trends continuously brings a fresh new perspective to the landscape design world.

2. “Rainbows in the clouds”

I think this is a great perspective to have in general. During this specific presentation, this quote was incorporated in from a speech from a previous ASLA president 50+ years ago. In reference to the landscape industry, being a rainbow in the clouds means bringing light and positivity into the spaces that surround us every day. It is our job, as landscape architects, to be the rainbow in the clouds. Exterior spaces have such a large influence on our everyday lives that the way they are designed and executed could really have the potential to turn a space from feeling dull and gloomy to bright and inviting.

3. Metaphor of Bird Baths

The representation here is that a bird bath provides both service and beauty, benefitting two species. A bird bath provides beauty to humans and bathing services to birds and other animals. I think the translation here is to focus on maximizing the functionality of a space but doing what designers do best – making it look pretty! Providing functionality and representing beauty are two main focuses of design, but when they come together and can be incorporated into the same space and project is when I feel that peak success has been reached and the job as a landscape architect has been accurately done.

The ASLA Conference has deeply enriched my understanding of the influence that landscape architects have in shaping our environments. The emphasis on staying aligned with emerging trends is not just a guideline - it’s a call to action for all of us in the field. Embracing the idea of being "a rainbow in the clouds" serves as a reminder of our responsibility to create uplifting spaces that enhance our daily lives. The metaphor of bird baths encapsulates the importance of our craft—harmonizing beauty and functionality to serve both people and nature. As I continue to grow within my career, I will remember each of these points and consolidate it down to one major takeaway – landscape architecture is a practice that is, was, and should continue to be both innovative and impactful.