Portfolio Guidelines - Registered Membership

Applications for Registered Landscape Designer (RLD) membership can be submitted by LDI members with 7 or more years of landscape design experience. Applications are accepted in March and September each year.

RLD membership enables a member to provide evidence to an interested third party that their skills in landscape design have been assessed by LDI and have been found to meet the criteria detailed on the LDI website. The member is Registered with LDI in accordance with this.
It is not a registration pertaining to any other legal entity or Government agency.

Portfolio Content:

Applicants are to submit documentation relating to a minimum of 3 projects which demonstrate the typical range of professional work undertaken by them. The landscape projects submitted, and any other documentation submitted, must have been substantively designed and drafted by the applicant. Further relevant documents can be provided to support the application. 

Portfolios of a high standard are expected. They will be reviewed for attention to detail, adherence to accepted drawing conventions, graphic presentation, appropriate use of plants, site grading and structures.

  A complete design package is to be submitted demonstrating competence in :

• Layout Configuration

• Planting Selection

• Materials Selection

• Consideration and Resolution of Levels

• Construction Detailing

• Understanding of Local Government codes, documentation requirements & submission processes

• High-level graphic documentation

Documentation
Documents submitted are to demonstrate the Design Intent and must include a range of the following:

• Planting Plan (including Planting Schedule and Planting Notes).

• Detailed Landscape Plans

• Specifications

• Construction Details

• Level/Grading Plan/Elevations/Sections/3D Model

• Council submission plan & methodology for understanding Council requirements

Landscape designs submitted will be assessed on the following criteria:

1. Presentation

• Is the documentation clear and legible showing a high level of graphic design representation?
• Is the overall documentation presentation (labelling, keys, legends) of a professional standard appropriate to industry level?
• Does the planting plan show all plants at an appropriate size (generally 90-100% of their mature size for the understorey and 75-100% for trees) with plants labelled and quantities shown?
• Is there a clear and logical symbology for displaying plant locations and quantities, and does the plant schedule also clearly reflect that symbology or plant code, plus mature size and pot sizes?
• Does each plan specify the scale and include a scale bar/scale and north point?
• Is there differentiation between existing and proposed trees?
• Do landscape plans specify all materials and surface treatments for contractors to quote accurately and specifically?

2. Design and Spatial Layout

• Does the design incorporate design elements such as enclosure, scale, mass and void, light and shade?
• Have plants been chosen, spaced and combined intelligently with reference to the location, design intent and mature size?
• Have site conditions been addressed (shade, existing trees, slope, soil type etc)?
• Do the plans specify levels and topography for a complete understanding of the proposed site alterations, including a contour plan, spot levels, sections/elevations, 3D models or construction details?
• Are spot levels or RLs clearly legible?
• Is there clear delineation between existing and proposed levels?

3. Technical Requirements

• Do graphics meet Australian standards (AS1100) and a high industry standard?

• Are correct botanical names and nomenclature used?

• Is there a title block and north point?

• Does the written specification refer to applicable relevant standards and codes?

• Do the documents (plans, details, schedules and specifications) provide clarity on what is being proposed so that contractor/s are able to provide unambiguous comparable quotations?

• Have standard details/documents been altered to be specific to this project?

• Do they comply with relevant standards and codes?

• Are the proposed constructed element details in accordance with best practice - are they buildable?

An application can only be submitted when logged in to the Members area of this website.