Graduating from landscape architecture school is a huge accomplishment. But the real challenge begins once you leave the studio and step into your first job. Suddenly, success isn’t measured by grades or portfolios — it’s measured by deadlines, budgets, teamwork, and how much value you add to your employer.

That shift can be overwhelming. Many talented graduates struggle, not because they lack design skills, but because no one has taught them the realities of professional practice. This book bridges that gap.

Drawing from decades of experience in design/build firms, traditional practices, and multi-disciplinary offices, Eric shares the practical lessons every graduate needs.

Starting his career as a field laborer, Eric learned planting, hardscapes, irrigation, sales, business operations, and more by doing the work himself. Step by step, he built a career that grew into leadership, licensure and much more.

In Beyond the Studio, Eric distills those hard lessons into straightforward guidance:

• How to adapt from student to professional
• Why efficiency is your superpower
• How to balance creativity with problem-solving
• What pitfalls to avoid in your first years
• How to build value, trust, and leadership

Practical, encouraging, and grounded in real-world experience, this book is your roadmap for turning your first job into a thriving career.
School taught you design. This book teaches you success.