You're passionate about environmental design. How can you stay ahead of the curve?

1 Follow the leaders

One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is to follow the leaders in environmental design. These are the people and organizations that are setting the standards, creating the innovations, and influencing the policies and practices of the field. You can learn from their projects, publications, podcasts, blogs, and social media accounts. You can also network with them, attend their events, and join their communities. By following the leaders, you can get inspired, informed, and involved in environmental design.

2 Learn new tools

Another way to stay ahead of the curve is to learn new tools that can enhance your environmental design skills. These are the software, hardware, and methods that can help you design, analyze, visualize, and communicate your ideas and solutions. You can learn new tools by taking online courses, watching tutorials, reading manuals, or experimenting on your own. You can also compare and contrast different tools and find the ones that suit your needs and preferences. By learning new tools, you can improve your efficiency, quality, and creativity in environmental design.

3 Explore new topics

A third way to stay ahead of the curve is to explore new topics that are relevant to environmental design. These are the issues, concepts, and perspectives that can broaden your understanding and awareness of the field. You can explore new topics by reading books, articles, reports, and magazines. You can also listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, and attend webinars and workshops. You can also engage in discussions, debates, and collaborations with other environmental designers and stakeholders. By exploring new topics, you can expand your knowledge, curiosity, and critical thinking in environmental design.

4 Apply your skills

A fourth way to stay ahead of the curve is to apply your skills to real-world problems and opportunities in environmental design. These are the projects, challenges, and competitions that can test your abilities and showcase your talents. You can apply your skills by working on your own or with a team, on a small or large scale, for a client or for fun. You can also seek feedback, evaluation, and recognition from peers, mentors, and experts. By applying your skills, you can gain experience, confidence, and portfolio in environmental design.

5 Keep an open mind

A fifth way to stay ahead of the curve is to keep an open mind to new ideas, possibilities, and changes in environmental design. This means being curious, flexible, and adaptable to the emerging trends, technologies, and challenges of the field. It also means being willing to learn from your mistakes, failures, and feedback. It also means being respectful, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse views, cultures, and backgrounds in environmental design. By keeping an open mind, you can foster a growth mindset, a positive attitude, and a passion for environmental design.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?