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Henry Mead

This course will teach you the process of garden design which is a well-recognised, step-by-step procedure that will take you from surveying a garden plot right through to the completed design. This process is one of the essential techniques of garden design which can be applied to gardens of all sizes and styles, and is used by professional landscape architects and garden designers to create beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces

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This course will teach you the process of garden design which is a well-recognised, step-by-step procedure that will take you from surveying a garden plot right through to the completed design. This process is one of the essential techniques of garden design which can be applied to gardens of all sizes and styles, and is used by professional landscape architects and garden designers to create beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces

The course will start by teaching you how to survey a garden plot, create a survey plan and the techniques of recording the features and qualities of a garden. This is followed by a look at some techniques of capturing the needs and aspirations of the garden users to create a design brief.

In the next stage, the survey and brief are brought together in the form of an analysis plan which illustrates the design potential of the garden. During this stage you will be taught the techniques of illustrating an analysis plan in diagrammatic form.

The process continues with the concept stage which uses the results of the analysis plan to create a strategy for the layout of the garden, and this strategy becomes the starting point for the design stage

Using demonstrations filmed from above a drawing board, the final part of the course follows every stage in the evolution of the design of the garden where the skills learnt in the earlier three courses are brought together to create a presentation standard plan of the completed design. The design is then critically assessed using the design principles and design considerations taught earlier in this series of courses and you will then be able to create your own design for the garden.

Each stage of the process is illustrated by how it has been applied to a recently completed real-life garden design commission. The presentation comprises more than 60 slides showing examples of garden design projects, images, sketches, plans and diagrams together with notes and bullet points summarising the main points of the commentary. In addition, seven exercises have been designed so you can pause the presentation and work through each exercise in your own time supported by download resources. In this way you can experience the stages of the design process for yourself.

This course has been written for anyone who wants to learn the skills and techniques of how to design original and beautiful gardens. You may be someone who is simply interested in the art of garden design or who wants to know how to design their own garden, or someone who is interested in starting a career in garden design, or a student studying garden design. Or you may be working as a gardener, a garden contractor, a garden designer or a landscape architect.

This course is the fourth in this series of courses under the heading of ‘The Complete Garden Design Course’. Taken together these four courses will give you a thorough grounding in the art of garden design so that by the end you will have learnt all the skills you will need to undertake your own garden design projects. However, while this course on the Process of Garden Design often refers back the earlier three courses, it can also be studied as a stand-alone course.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • • learn one of the essential skills of a garden designer - the process of garden design - which can be applied to gardens of all sizes and styles
  • • this process is a step-by-step procedure that will take you from surveying a garden plot to the completed design
  • • discover how to survey a garden plot, create a survey plan and other methods of recording the features and qualities of a garden
  • • learn a systematic way of capturing the needs and aspirations of the garden users
  • • learn how to assess the design potential of a garden and how to create a strategy as a starting point for the design stage
  • • follow how the process is applied to a real garden design project from the first visit to the completed design, and then create your own design for the garden

Syllabus

Hello
What is the Process of Garden Design?
From Survey to Completed Design
Stages in the Process of Garden Design
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches a step-by-step process used by professional landscape architects, providing a solid foundation for those looking to enter the field
Provides techniques applicable to gardens of all sizes and styles, empowering individuals to design their own outdoor spaces with confidence
Offers a structured approach to garden design, complementing formal education and providing practical skills for design projects
Explores the process of garden design, which can enhance existing skills and provide a more structured approach to project management
Relies on skills learned in earlier courses, which may require additional study for learners without prior experience in garden design
Includes exercises and downloadable resources, allowing learners to actively engage with the design process and apply the techniques learned

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Complete Garden Design Course - 4. The Process of Design with these activities:
Practice Measured Survey Techniques
Reinforce your understanding of measured survey techniques before the course begins. This will allow you to better grasp the initial stages of the garden design process.
Browse courses on Surveying
Show steps
  • Review online resources on measured surveys.
  • Practice measuring distances and angles in a small outdoor space.
  • Create a rough sketch of the area with your measurements.
Review 'Drawing for Landscape Architecture'
Improve your drawing skills to better communicate your garden designs. This book will provide you with the necessary techniques and inspiration.
Show steps
  • Browse the book and identify key drawing techniques.
  • Practice sketching different garden elements (plants, structures, etc.).
  • Experiment with different rendering techniques.
Review 'Site Engineering for Landscape Architects'
Gain a deeper understanding of site engineering principles. This will help you create more realistic and buildable garden designs.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on surveying and site analysis.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
  • Relate the concepts to the course syllabus.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Visual Guide to Analysis Graphics
Deepen your understanding of analysis graphics by creating a visual guide. This will help you remember and apply these techniques in your own designs.
Show steps
  • Review the course materials on analysis graphics.
  • Gather examples of different types of analysis graphics.
  • Create a presentation or infographic explaining each type.
  • Share your guide with other students for feedback.
Design a Small Garden Based on a Hypothetical Brief
Apply the design process learned in the course to a practical project. This will solidify your understanding and allow you to experiment with different design solutions.
Show steps
  • Create a design brief based on a hypothetical client.
  • Survey a small outdoor space (real or imagined).
  • Develop a concept plan and a detailed design.
  • Present your design with sketches and a written description.
Develop a Presentation-Standard Garden Design Plan
Create a professional-quality garden design plan to showcase your skills. This will provide you with a tangible deliverable for your portfolio.
Show steps
  • Choose a garden design project (real or hypothetical).
  • Follow the design process outlined in the course.
  • Create a detailed plan with all necessary annotations and dimensions.
  • Present your plan in a clear and visually appealing format.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Garden Design Course - 4. The Process of Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Garden Designer
Garden designers create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces for residential or commercial properties. This course specifically teaches the process of garden design, from understanding the initial site survey to developing a final design. A garden designer will find the techniques taught here helpful, as the course includes methods for capturing client needs, creating design briefs, and illustrating analysis plans. The techniques to create a concept and overall design strategy, are essential for a garden designer.
Landscape Designer
Landscape designers plan and create outdoor spaces, focusing on the aesthetic and functional aspects of a property. The course gives a clear understanding of the garden design process, which is a core component of landscape design. The course's step-by-step approach in surveying a garden, developing a design brief, and creating a final design plan aligns directly with the typical work of a landscape designer. The course explores the design stage with demonstrations, which will be valuable to a landscape designer's process.
Landscape Architect
A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, and campuses, often requiring an advanced degree. This course is beneficial for aspiring landscape architects by teaching the essential process of garden design, which is a foundational skill in the field. The course covers the steps from surveying a garden plot, creating a design brief, to developing a complete design, all of which are vital for a landscape architect. Specifically, the course details how to analyze site conditions and develop a concept plan, skills crucial in a landscape architect's day to day tasks.
Horticultural Consultant
Horticultural consultants advise clients on plants, landscaping, and garden care, sometimes specializing in design. While not purely a design role, a horticultural consultant benefits from understanding the garden design process. The course provides the structure needed to survey a garden plot, create analysis plans, and understand the steps of garden design. Understanding these steps helps a consultant to better advise and collaborate with garden designers. This course may be useful for a role as a consultant.
Urban Planner
An urban planner works with the development of cities and towns, often considering green spaces, parks, and public gardens. While urban planning is much broader than garden design, a knowledge of the design process is useful for considering smaller public spaces. This course teaches a systematic process of going from a site survey to a final design, which may be helpful for an urban planner. The course may help an urban planner better appreciate the design process when working in a team with other designers.
Environmental Planner
An environmental planner considers the impact of land use on the environment, including the design of green spaces. Even though environmental planning is broad, it involves ecological and aesthetic considerations that include landscaping components. This course walks through the design process, including site analysis and concept development. An environmental planner may find this course helpful for better understanding the design process.
Gardener
While a gardener primarily works on the maintenance of gardens, learning the design process can help them understand the 'why' behind the garden's layout. A gardener could better appreciate the intention behind a garden's design. This course provides the steps and techniques used by garden designers, helping a gardener to see things from a different perspective. The course may be useful to a gardener.
Architect
Architects design buildings and structures, but they also consider the relationship between buildings and the surrounding landscape. Understanding the garden design process can help an architect better integrate their designs with outdoor spaces and provide a holistic vision. This course teaches how to survey a plot, develop a concept plan, and design a final layout. The practices of site analysis and planning are applicable to the work of an architect, and this course may be useful.
Interior designer
Interior designers focus on the design of indoor spaces, but the design principles taught in this course can translate to thinking about flow and space. Concepts related to scale, proportion, and creating plans may carry over into interior design. For an interior designer, understanding how a garden designer approaches the design process from start to finish may lend itself to understanding similar processes for interior design work. This course may be useful for an interior designer.
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability consultants advise organizations on how to improve their environmental impact, often including green spaces and landscaping. While not strictly a design role, the process of garden design is a great area to learn about sustainable practices regarding landscaping and development. This course steps through capturing client needs and creating a design brief, which are valuable skills for a sustainability consultant when helping clients. This course may be helpful for a sustainability consultant.
Project Manager
Project managers oversee projects from initiation to completion, and sometimes this can include landscaping or outdoor development. Understanding the process of garden design can help a project manager better plan and coordinate related projects. This course details the end-to-end process of garden design, and highlights the importance of design briefs and client needs. A project manager may find this course helpful.
Real Estate Developer
Real estate developers oversee the planning and construction of new properties, including the outdoor spaces. Understanding the process of garden design can help a real estate developer make informed decisions about landscaping and outdoor amenities. This course might provide insight into how to make the best use of land and how to create attractive outdoor spaces. A real estate developer may find the course helpful in understanding the design process.
Exhibit Designer
Exhibit designers plan museum or gallery exhibits, including the layout and flow of the space. While not directly related to garden design, the skills of understanding the design process translate to the creation of an exhibit design and layout. This course focuses on planning, designing and the design process itself, which helps an exhibit designer better understand the overall design process. The course may be helpful for an exhibit designer.
Construction Manager
Construction managers oversee building projects from start to finish, including landscaping components. Understanding the garden design process is helpful for managing outdoor construction projects, especially when working with landscape architects and designers. The course teaches the steps in garden design and helps with understanding the importance of analysis and planning. The course may be useful for a construction manager.
Set Designer
Set designers create the visual environment for theater, film, and television productions. Although set design is not exactly the same as garden design, it involves similar principles of space management, composition, and planning. This course breaks down the design process from start to finish which may translate to better understanding the planning of a set design. This course may be helpful to a set designer.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Complete Garden Design Course - 4. The Process of Design.
Focuses on the essential drawing skills needed for landscape architecture. It covers topics such as sketching, perspective drawing, and rendering techniques. It valuable resource for improving your ability to communicate your design ideas visually. This book is particularly useful for those who want to improve their hand-drawing skills.
Provides a comprehensive overview of site engineering principles relevant to landscape architecture. It covers topics such as surveying, grading, drainage, and construction materials. It useful reference for understanding the technical aspects of garden design and ensuring the feasibility of your designs. This book is particularly helpful for understanding the practical implications of your design choices.

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