The Complete Garden Design Course - 1. Design Principles from Udemy

This course will teach you eight design principles which are the foundations for creating original garden designs. These principles are a set of guidelines to creating visually attractive gardens and mastering these principles is one of the essential skills of a becoming garden designer.

At the start this course I set out four aims.

First of all, I’ll clarify the meaning of each garden design principle and draw parallels with their use in other areas of art and design. These principles are part of the language that garden designers and landscape architects use, and each has a specific meaning which is important to understand for anyone who has an interest in garden design.

Secondly, I’ll explain why these principles are important in creating inspiring and beautiful gardens and this will be illustrated by examples of how the principles have been used by famous garden designers.

Thirdly, I’ll demonstrate how to use these principles in your own garden designs and how I have used them in my own designs.

And the final aim is to show how design principles can be used to assess the design quality of gardens of any size or style. This will be illustrated by showing how the eight principles contribute to the visual attractiveness of nine separate gardens.

So by the end of this course you will have learnt the meaning of each design principles and their importance in the design of gardens, know how to apply them in your own designs, and understand how they can be used to assess the design quality of other gardens.

The presentation of this course includes more than 100 slides comprising photos, sketches, illustrations, plans and diagrams, together with notes and bullet points summarising the main points of the commentary. And throughout the course are a number of tasks and exercises to help you understand and apply the principles of design, together with quizzes at regular intervals to test your knowledge of what has already taught.

Please have a look at the contents of this course and check that it covers the subjects you are interested in. For example, this course does not cover subjects such as planting design, gardening techniques, construction detailing, building and client contracts or starting your own design practice.

You can take this course either on its own or as part of ‘The Complete Garden Design Course’ series of courses which will give you a thorough grounding in the art of garden design. After completing this series of courses, you will have learnt all the skills you will need to confidently undertake your own garden design projects.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn the meaning of the eight principles of garden design that are part of the language that garden designers and landscape architects use
Understand why these principles of design are the foundation for designing beautiful and original gardens
Follow demonstrations of how to use these principles in your own garden designs and how i have used them in my own designs

Learn how these design principles have been used to by renowned garden designers
Gain the skills of how to use the principles to assess the design quality of gardens of any size or style

Learn the meaning of the eight principles of garden design that are part of the language that garden designers and landscape architects use
Understand why these principles of design are the foundation for designing beautiful and original gardens
Follow demonstrations of how to use these principles in your own garden designs and how i have used them in my own designs
Learn how these design principles have been used to by renowned garden designers
Gain the skills of how to use the principles to assess the design quality of gardens of any size or style

Syllabus

Setting The Scene

Hello

Introduction

Setting the Scene, Exercise 1

Setting the Scene, Exercise 2

Setting the Scene, Exercise 3

'Design'

Garden Design and Planting Design

What Are Design Principles?

Design Principles in Garden Design

The Importance of Design Principles

Quiz About The Course So Far, Exercise 4

Appraising the Design of a Garden, Exercise 5

Review of List of Improvements

The Completed Design

Principles About The Garden As A Whole

Finding Order

Recognising Order

An Illustration of Harmony

Creating Harmony in Garden Design

Other Ways of Creating Harmony

Unity: Introduction

Unity from a Design Style

An Example of Unity from a Design Style 1

An Example of Unity from a Design Style 2

Unity from a Design Theme

Unity from a Design Layout

Quiz About Order, Harmony and Unity, Exercise 6

Order, Harmony And Unity Combined

An Example of Order, Harmony and Unity Combined

How Order, Harmony and Unity are Combined

Principles About Elements Within A Garden

Balance: Introduction

Symmetrical Balance

Examples of Symmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical Balance: Introduction

Examples of Asymmetrical Balance

Factors that Affect Visual Balance

What is Proportion?

Using Proportion in Design

How Rhythm is Expressed

Using Rhythm in Garden Design

Quiz about Balance, Proportion and Rhythm, Exercise 7

Principles Specific To Garden Design

What is Flow in Garden Design?

Two Gardens Demonstrating the Principle of Flow

Context: Introduction

House-Garden Connections

Garden-Surroundings Connections

Expressing Context in Garden Design

Quiz about Flow and Context, Exercise 8

Design Assessment Using Design Principles

Garden 1

Garden 2

Garden 3

Garden 4

Garden 5

Garden 6

Garden 7

Garden 8

Garden 9

Conclusions and Exercise 9

A Final Word

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores design principles, which are foundational for creating visually appealing gardens, making it highly relevant for aspiring garden designers

Includes tasks and exercises to help learners understand and apply the principles of design, which is useful for hands-on learners

Demonstrates how to assess the design quality of gardens using design principles, which is a core skill for professional practice

Examines how design principles have been used by famous garden designers, which provides valuable insights and inspiration

Does not cover planting design, gardening techniques, or construction detailing, which may require learners to seek additional resources

Belongs to 'The Complete Garden Design Course' series, suggesting a comprehensive and detailed approach to garden design

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 - 1. Design Principles with these activities:

Review 'Garden Design: A Book of Ideas'

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Familiarize yourself with diverse garden designs to build a visual understanding of design principles.

View Garden Style: A Book of Ideas on Amazon

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Browse the book, noting different garden styles.
Identify examples of balance, rhythm, and unity.
Sketch ideas inspired by the designs.

Review Basic Art Principles

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Strengthen your understanding of fundamental art principles to better grasp their application in garden design.

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Read articles or watch videos on art principles.
Identify examples of these principles in paintings.
Relate these principles to garden elements.

Create a Mood Board for a Garden Style

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Explore different garden styles and visually represent their key elements to understand unity and harmony.

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Choose a garden style (e.g., Japanese, Cottage).
Gather images representing the style's elements.
Arrange the images on a board to create a cohesive mood.

Four other activities

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Analyze Garden Photos for Design Principles

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Sharpen your ability to identify and apply design principles by analyzing existing garden designs.

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Find photos of various gardens online.
Identify the design principles used in each garden.
Note how the principles contribute to the garden's overall aesthetic.

Design a Small Garden Based on a Single Principle

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Apply your knowledge by designing a garden that emphasizes a specific design principle, such as rhythm or balance.

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Choose a design principle to focus on.
Sketch a garden design that highlights this principle.
Select plants and features that support the design.

Review 'The Principles of Gardening'

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Deepen your understanding of the practical aspects of gardening and how they relate to design principles.

View Hugh Johnson In The Garden: The Best Garden... on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on chapters related to design.
Note how practical considerations influence design choices.
Reflect on how this knowledge can improve your designs.

Create a Presentation Analyzing a Famous Garden

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Consolidate your learning by analyzing a well-known garden and presenting your findings on its design principles.

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Choose a famous garden to analyze.
Research the garden's history and design.
Identify the design principles used in the garden.
Create a presentation summarizing your analysis.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Garden Design Course - 1. Design Principles will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Garden Designer

A garden designer creates plans for gardens, helping clients realize their vision for an outdoor space. This course directly addresses the core skills needed for a career as a garden designer. The design principles covered in the course such as balance and unity form a cornerstone of this work. By learning from established designers' techniques and applying them in design exercises, one who wishes to become a garden designer will gain a practical understanding of how to create visually pleasing spaces. The course may be particularly useful for those looking to learn how to assess design quality, a skill essential for a garden designer who must improve and iterate on design plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Garden Designer

Landscape Architect

A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces, focusing on both aesthetics and functionality. This course helps build a foundation in design principles, which are essential for creating visually appealing and practical landscapes. Understanding concepts like balance, harmony, and rhythm, taught in this course, may be crucial for a landscape architect to create designs that are both beautiful and functional. The course's exploration of context and flow further enhances a landscape architect's ability to integrate designs with their surroundings and ensure seamless transitions within the space. By analyzing various garden examples, one may learn to apply these principles to a wide range of projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect

Horticultural Consultant

Horticultural consultants advise clients on the best practices for growing plants and maintaining gardens. While this course does not cover plant selection or maintenance, the design principles it teaches can help a horticultural consultant make more informed recommendations. Understanding balance, rhythm and flow allows one to consider not just the health of the plants, but also how they look in relation to each other and the larger space, thereby improving the aesthetic quality of gardens that a consultant develops. This course may be useful for a horticultural consultant that needs to broaden their understanding of garden design principles to provide more comprehensive advice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Horticultural Consultant

Design Consultant

A design consultant advises clients on design-related matters, providing expertise on conceptualization, planning and implementation of design projects. This course may be helpful for a design consultant by offering the opportunity to refine their grasp of design principles. Understanding the language of design, discussed in this course, allows a consultant to better communicate ideas and concepts to their clients, whether in garden design or any other field. This course can be useful in helping a design consultant broaden their knowledge of design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Consultant

Urban Planner

An urban planner designs and develops city spaces, considering both human and environmental factors. The design principles discussed in this course, may offer a valuable perspective for urban planning, especially when it involves green spaces or parks. This course covers topics such as balance, harmony, and context, which can be applied on a macro scale to the integration of green spaces within a city. By understanding how these principles can improve the aesthetic and functionality of smaller garden spaces, an urban planner may be better equipped to implement effective urban design projects. The course's emphasis on design assessment may also be helpful for understanding how well designs relate to the context of their surroundings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Set Designer

A set designer creates the environments in which theatrical or film productions take place. This course may help a set designer understand how design principles such as balance, proportion, and flow can be effectively used to create environments for a production. By understanding concepts from the context of garden design, a set designer may find new approaches to their own design challenges. This course may be useful for set designers interested in learning more about fundamental design principles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Set Designer

Visual Merchandiser

A visual merchandiser creates visually appealing displays in retail stores to attract customers. The principles of balance, rhythm, and unity, discussed in this course, are directly relevant to creating effective and attractive visual merchandising displays. Understanding the importance of flow and context, as taught in this course, may be useful for a visual merchandiser to design displays that pull the customer through the store. The course's emphasis on analyzing existing designs may help develop the critical eye required to improve and refine visual merchandising strategy. This course may be helpful for a visual merchandiser.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Merchandiser

Architect

An architect plans and designs buildings and other structures. While this course focuses on garden design, the design principles explored here may be beneficial to an architect looking to broaden their understanding of spatial relationships. Understanding concepts like balance, proportion, and flow can help an architect create structures that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This course may be valuable for architects who want to further develop their skills in aligning designs with their context and surroundings. This course helps to build a skill set to produce more well balanced designs.

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Real Estate Developer

A real estate developer manages projects from developing land to building new structures, and may be interested in the design principles covered in this course. The course may help a real estate developer understand the ways in which the design of a property can improve its market appeal. The sections about balance, harmony, and context can help a developer create more desirable and better planned properties. This course may be useful for a real estate developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Developer

Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer plans and creates spaces for exhibits, such as those in museums or trade shows. This course may be useful for learning about the principles of design, specifically regarding flow and context, which are highly relevant in designing exhibition layouts. The course covers the use of harmony, unity and balance to promote a cohesive and engaging experience. This course can assist an exhibition designer in learning to apply basic design principles to produce more visually appealing exhibition experiences.

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Interior designer

An interior designer creates functional and beautiful interior spaces for clients. This course may be useful by providing a unique perspective on design principles that one may apply to interior spaces. Understanding the concepts of balance, proportion, and rhythm, taught in this course, are applicable not just in garden design but in interior design as well. By analyzing how these principles function in outdoor spaces, an interior designer may develop new insights and ideas for their projects. The study of how design elements create harmony and unity, as discussed in this course, can be beneficial.

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Art Director

An art director oversees the visual style and images for a brand, publication, or production. While this course does not focus on graphic design or art direction, the principles of design covered in this course (such as balance, unity, and rhythm) are generally applicable. An art director may find value in understanding how these principles function in a different context, such as garden design. The course may be helpful to an art director looking to sharpen their understanding of fundamental design concepts, and develop an eye for balance and harmony in a new field.

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Event Planner

An event planner organizes and coordinates events, paying attention to all aspects of the planning process. This course may be useful for event planners who may improve their work by understanding the basic design principles taught here. The concept of flow, for example, is similar to how an event planner must think about the flow of guests through a designed space. An understanding of balance, harmony, and rhythm can enrich the design of events. This course may be helpful for an event planner looking to fine tune their conceptual and design skills, allowing them to generate elegant, well-balanced event experiences.

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Creative Director

A creative director guides the overall direction of a creative project, overseeing all aspects of the visual style and message. This course may offer a unique perspective on design principles that can be applied to a wide range of creative projects. The concepts of balance, proportion, and flow, as learned in this course, may enable a creative direction to create more compelling and engaging designs. The course's focus on assessing design quality may be helpful for a creative director who must evaluate and refine creative strategies. While this course is certainly geared toward garden design, it may be useful for creative directors.

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Product Designer

A product designer creates new products or improves existing ones, taking both form and functionality into account. This course may provide a unique perspective on design principles that are applicable to product design. Understanding balance, proportion, and rhythm, which are covered in the course, can help product designers create well-designed products. By analyzing how these principles function in garden design, the student may gain new insights for product design. This course may help a product designer learn about designing with context in mind.

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The Complete Garden Design Course - 1. Design Principles

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