Emily VanGuilder, Landscape
Where are you from?
I lived in Northampton, Massachusetts and San Rafael, California for equal amounts of time before coming to Boulder, so I usually say both.
What inspired your decision to come to Environmental Design at CU Boulder?
I’ve always loved nature and wanted to help protect it, but became increasingly interested in medicine and public health towards the end of high school. When researching majors, I found Environmental Design’s interdisciplinary approach to combine my academic and personal interests. Being able to try out the different disciplines was also appealing as somebody who wants breadth and flexibility from my education. The deal was sealed when I came to visit and became excited about all Boulder has to offer.
Did you know right away that you wanted to major in landscape architecture? How/when did you know?
I was inclined towards landscape architecture coming into ENVD but definitely wasn’t sure. I enjoyed planning and landscape the most out of my freshman year studios and chose them for my pick two. It wasn’t until after taking both at a slightly higher level in the first semester of this year that I became totally sure landscape is what I want to be doing. I’m glad I approached everything with an open mind, and am very happy with my decision.
Do you have a favorite project that you're currently working on/have worked on in the past?
Our project from my 8-week studio last semester was a redesign of Boxyard Park in the RiNo District of Denver. It was a smaller site but provided a lot of opportunities to learn about designing in urban settings i.e. access, circulation, stormwater, urban heat island, and much more. I had a lot of fun with analysis and challenging myself to explore solutions and forms. I’ve enjoyed applying this knowledge for my current project, park design at Larimer Square in Denver, which is a whole new challenge. I have a feeling that my current project will become my favorite.
What has the program taught you about yourself as you’ve taken on your educational career?
My top two are that there's always more to learn, and that I am capable of much more than I think I am. Studio classes can be a lot, especially with other classes and the extra research that goes into a thoughtful design. This is a challenge and an opportunity to push out of your comfort zone to invest in the work you do, which I’ve found to be very rewarding.
What would you like to do upon graduating from Environmental Design?
Honestly, this semester has piqued my interest in many kinds of landscape architecture, so I’m not sure where I want to end up. I hope to embrace more opportunities to experience and learn, in general and through the lens of landscape, across climates and cultures both inside and outside of my professional life. I want my work to restore ecosystems and help improve human health. I could see myself working at collaborative firms on the coasts designing for flood mitigation or doing urban health projects to create ecologically and community-oriented greenspaces in underserved urban areas.
What tips or advice would you give to future design students?
- Exploring is one of the great parts of design school. Design is complex and learning that complexity can be difficult or really fun. You’ll make mistakes and will have to learn to receive criticism but trust that it’s all to help you grow as a designer whether it’s constructive or something you decide isn’t for you.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions: design is a conversation that embraces creativity with functional guidelines. There is space to incorporate or find other passions.
- ENVD is a place that will challenge you in many ways, but can give you an opportunity to grow as a person and a designer. The community is a unique combination of camaraderie and competition, but we’re ultimately all here to support each other.
- Time management is your best friend.