The Complete Garden Design Course - 3. How To Design from Udemy

The primary aim of this course is to give you a thorough grounding in the techniques of how to approach the design of a garden, progressing through all the stages from the outline of an empty garden plot right up to a fully illustrated garden design.

I strongly believe that the most effective way of teaching garden design skills is to involve students in designing for themselves right from the start. So, with this in mind, I have designed 13 exercises where you can pause the presentation of the course and work through each exercise in your own time supported by download resources

In six of these exercises, gardens of varying size, shape, style and complexity are introduced. This is followed by demonstrations, filmed from above a drawing board, of all the stages in the design of each garden. You will then be able to create your own designs for these gardens using the supplied base plans.

The presentation of this course includes more than 70 slides to accompany a commentary on how to design, and these slides combine examples of garden design projects, images, sketches, photos, plans and diagrams. Each slide will also include bullet points summarising the main points of my commentary, and these bullet points can be a useful reminder if you need to look back over the main features of the course.

The final sections of the course summarise the important design considerations needed to create original and attractive gardens, and demonstrate how to find and record inspiration for your designs.

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 wants to know how to design your 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.

For all these people and anyone simply interested in garden design, this course progresses from the essential baseline skills, to more advanced techniques which will be demonstrated in the design of gardens of increasing complexity

This course is the third in this series of four 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 How to Design often refers back the earlier two courses, it can also be studied as a stand-alone course. A list of drawing equipment introduced in the earlier Drawing Techniques course and which will be needed to complete the design exercises is provided at start of Section 2 of the course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Master all the essential skills and techniques of designing gardens used by professional garden designers and landscape architects
Follow step by step design demonstrations from empty bare garden plots to finished illustrated designs filmed from above a drawing board
Undertake in your own time 13 design exercises supported by download resources

Create your own designs for six different gardens of varying size, shape and complexity in different design styles, using supplied base plans
Learn how to critically assess your own design work to achieve the best results
Learn all the important design considerations needed to create original and attractive gardens and how to find inspiration for your designs

Master all the essential skills and techniques of designing gardens used by professional garden designers and landscape architects
Follow step by step design demonstrations from empty bare garden plots to finished illustrated designs filmed from above a drawing board
Undertake in your own time 13 design exercises supported by download resources
Create your own designs for six different gardens of varying size, shape and complexity in different design styles, using supplied base plans
Learn how to critically assess your own design work to achieve the best results
Learn all the important design considerations needed to create original and attractive gardens and how to find inspiration for your designs

Syllabus

Garden Spaces and Features

Introduction

Exercise 1: Garden Spaces

Exercise 2: Garden Features

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Offers hands-on experience through 13 design exercises, allowing learners to apply techniques and develop practical skills in garden design

Progresses from essential baseline skills to more advanced techniques, which will be demonstrated in the design of gardens of increasing complexity

Requires drawing equipment introduced in earlier courses, which may necessitate additional purchases for learners without existing supplies

Includes step-by-step design demonstrations filmed from above a drawing board, providing a clear visual guide to the design process

Teaches how to critically assess design work, which is a crucial skill for continuous improvement and professional development

Refers back to earlier courses in the series, suggesting that learners may benefit from a broader understanding of the fundamentals

Reviews summary

Practical garden design via traditional drawing

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and largely positive experience for understanding the garden design process using traditional methods. Students particularly value the step-by-step drawing demonstrations, often described as invaluable and easy to follow, and the numerous practical exercises that allow for immediate application of learned concepts. While the course is lauded for its clear explanations and logical structure, prospective students should be aware that it has a strong focus on manual drawing board techniques and requires specific drawing equipment, which may not suit those preferring digital methods.

Specific equipment is needed.

"You will need the drawing equipment!"

"As noted, you do need the drawing supplies mentioned in Course 2."

"The course mentions needing specific equipment, which is true for the practical parts."

Heavily relies on traditional drawing methods.

"It's definitely geared towards learning the specific drawing board method..."

"However, it is very focused on manual drawing techniques. If you were hoping for any mention of digital design tools, this isn't it."

"The reliance on drawing board techniques feels a bit outdated for those looking to use modern software."

"If you are happy with manual drawing, this is an excellent choice."

Concepts explained well, logical flow.

"Clear explanations throughout."

"The structure is logical, moving from simple to complex gardens."

"Everything was clearly presented and easy to grasp."

"It breaks down the design process into manageable steps."

Hands-on application of design skills.

"The exercises allowed me to put the theory into practice right away."

"The exercises linked to the demonstrations are brilliant - you watch him design, then you try it yourself..."

"The exercises are great for practicing the techniques immediately."

"Applying the principles in the exercises solidified my learning."

"The exercises are useful but challenging, requiring effort."

Clear step-by-step visual guidance.

"The step-by-step drawing demonstrations were invaluable. Seeing how the designs evolved from scratch was incredibly clear..."

"The filmed drawing demonstrations were incredibly helpful in seeing how a design comes together."

"The demonstrations are filmed well from above, making it easy to follow the drawing."

"Watching the instructor draw step-by-step made the process so clear."

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 - 3. How To Design with these activities:

Review Basic Drafting Techniques

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Reviewing basic drafting techniques will help you create accurate and professional-looking garden designs.

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Gather your drafting tools: pencils, erasers, rulers, and compasses.
Practice drawing straight lines, circles, and arcs.
Review basic dimensioning and annotation techniques.

Read 'The Garden Book'

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Exploring different garden styles will broaden your design vocabulary and inspire new ideas.

View The Rose Book on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Garden Book'.
Browse through the book, paying attention to the different garden styles and design elements.
Make notes on the gardens that you find most inspiring.

Read 'Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space'

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Studying planting design principles will enhance your ability to create beautiful and sustainable gardens.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space'.
Read the book, paying attention to the principles of plant selection and composition.
Take notes on planting combinations and design ideas that inspire you.

Four other activities

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Follow Online Tutorials on Landscape Design Software

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Learning to use landscape design software will allow you to create professional-quality plans and visualizations.

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Research different landscape design software options.
Choose a software program that meets your needs and budget.
Find online tutorials and courses on how to use the software.
Practice creating garden designs using the software.

Design a Small Garden

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Designing a small garden from start to finish will allow you to apply the design principles learned in the course.

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Choose a small garden space to design.
Analyze the site conditions, including sun exposure, soil type, and existing features.
Develop a design concept and create a scaled plan.
Select plants and materials that are appropriate for the site and design style.
Present your design to a peer or mentor for feedback.

Create a Garden Design Portfolio

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Creating a portfolio will showcase your design skills and help you land future projects or jobs.

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Select your best garden design projects.
Photograph or scan your plans and sketches.
Write a brief description of each project, highlighting the design challenges and solutions.
Organize your projects into a visually appealing portfolio.

Volunteer at a Local Botanical Garden

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Volunteering at a botanical garden will provide hands-on experience with plants and garden maintenance.

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Contact a local botanical garden and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Sign up for a volunteer shift.
Participate in garden maintenance tasks, such as planting, weeding, and pruning.
Observe and learn from experienced gardeners.

Career center

Learners who complete The Complete Garden Design Course - 3. How To Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Garden Designer

A garden designer creates aesthetically pleasing and functional outdoor spaces. This career involves meeting with clients, assessing their needs and preferences, developing design concepts, and preparing detailed plans for landscape installation. This course provides a strong foundation in garden design techniques, progressing from basic garden plots to complex designs; the course's practical exercises, focusing on various garden sizes, shapes and styles, will enable students to create their own designs, a skill central to any garden designer’s job. The course also teaches important design considerations used to create original and attractive gardens, skills that will significantly help aspiring garden designers build a portfolio.

See salaries and explore the career path for Garden Designer

Landscape Architect

Landscape architects plan and design land areas for projects like parks, campuses, and residential developments. A landscape architect will consider environmental factors, engineering, and aesthetics. This course helps build a foundation in design methodology, from initial concepts to fully illustrated plans, which is relevant for any landscape architect. The course's focus on various garden sizes and styles and the different demonstration videos provides valuable hands-on experience in plan composition and development, including all stages from basic layouts to detailed presentation drawings. The ability to assess and refine designs, as taught by this course, is crucial for a landscape architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect

Horticultural Consultant

A horticultural consultant advises clients on plant selection, garden maintenance and design. This role requires a deep understanding of plants and site design. This course may be useful for a horticultural consultant as it gives learners the ability and techniques to approach any garden design project, as well as providing insight into creating aesthetically pleasing gardens and attractive spaces. The practical exercises within the course that explore a variety of garden shapes, sizes and styles will help a horticultural consultant broaden their understanding of design principles and techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Horticultural Consultant

Landscape Contractor

Landscape contractors oversee the installation of landscape designs. They work with clients to understand their vision and then execute it, managing crews and resources. This course may be useful to a landscape contractor by providing insights into the design process, which helps them understand the underlying goals of projects. The course's focus on design from empty plots to finished illustrations will help a landscape contractor visualize how construction transforms a space. This course will also give them the ability to read and interpret the plans of a garden designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Contractor

Urban Planner

Urban planners create plans for the development and growth of cities and towns, considering factors like land use, transportation, and community needs. This role often requires an advanced degree. While this course focuses on gardens, it still may be useful for an urban planner because the design principles and techniques can be applied within urban spaces. The design exercises in this course, where students create layouts for different areas, may be useful for an urban planner in developing similar spatial skills. The course's method of taking a design project from start to finish is a method that will be familiar to an urban planner.

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Interior designer

Interior designers plan and design interior spaces. This career focuses on aesthetics, functionality and safety of indoor environments. This course may be useful for an interior designer as it explores design principles and techniques, which may be applicable to their role. The design exercises focused on varying shapes and sizes will help any designer improve their ability to work effectively and creatively. An interior designer would benefit from the course modules involving sketching and composition.

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Real Estate Developer

Real estate developers purchase land, create development plans, and oversee construction projects. They work closely with architects and designers. This course may be useful to a real estate developer as it gives them a background in the design process, which can help with site planning decisions. The course's exploration of different types of gardens as well as exercises focused on composing different layouts will provide insights into what buyers are looking for in well designed outdoor spaces. The lessons in the course related to design considerations for attractive gardens are important for a real estate developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Developer

Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer's role is to create displays for museums and other venues. They plan and create immersive experiences for visitors. This course may be useful to an exhibition designer as it will help with their spatial planning and design skills. The course’s exercises, where students design spaces of varying sizes and shapes, will also be applicable to an exhibition designer's role. An exhibition designer may find the sections related to creating visual interest in a design particularly helpful.

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Arborist

An arborist is a professional trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining trees. They are experts in tree health, safety, and conservation. While this course does not explicitly focus on arborist work, it may be beneficial because understanding garden design principles helps an arborist to better understand the contexts in which trees are planted and cared for. The various design considerations taught in the course will help an arborist understand how tree placement can affect a garden’s overall appearance and health. The course covers design techniques from a basic empty plot to a completed garden design, which could inform an arborist in the context of wider garden layouts.

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Sustainability Consultant

A sustainability consultant works with organizations to develop sustainable practices, including land use and environmental conservation. This career often requires an advanced degree. While not directly related to sustainability, this course may be useful as it provides a background in design and land use that could be applicable to certain aspects of sustainability work. Understanding design considerations for appealing gardens may help a sustainability consultant better understand how to create more sustainable spaces. The course's design exercises may help develop spatial awareness that is important in this role.

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Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for overseeing projects from start to finish, managing budgets, timelines, and resources. While not directly related to design, this course may be useful for a project manager working on a landscape or construction project, as it provides insight into the design process. Understanding elements of landscape design may help a project manager coordinate with designers and contractors, helping them to understand the design process and its challenges. The course’s progression from bare plots to fully illustrated plans may give a project manager a sense of the process followed by designers.

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Architect

Architects design buildings and other structures, focusing on functionality, aesthetics, and safety. This career typically requires an advanced degree. This course may be useful to an architect in that it explores design approaches, principles and techniques, which may be applicable to exterior designs and landscaping. The course focuses on design from initial concept to a fully illustrated plan, which may be beneficial for architects working with a landscaping plan. This ability to assess and refine designs, a feature found in this course, is crucial for an architect's practice.

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Set Designer

A set designer creates the environments for theatre, film, and television. This course may be useful for a set designer because it works to develop practical design skills, which are an important aspect of set design. Exploring design elements within this course, as well as learning about visual composition, may help a set designer create more impactful and creative sets. The course contains visual demonstrations and exercises that would help a set designer understand how to approach layouts and spatial designs.

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Floral Designer

A floral designer arranges flowers and plants for events and displays. They create visually appealing arrangements. This course may be useful because the focus on design principles, composition and visual aesthetics could be applied to floral design. The exercises in creating layouts and exploring design styles may offer a floral designer a different appreciation of design principles. The attention to detail found in the course is vital for a floral designer.

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Fine Artist

Fine artists create paintings, sculptures, or other works. This course may be useful to a fine artist because it develops the spatial and visual skills necessary to practice design and composition. The course explores ideas about inspiration, design considerations and creating interesting and innovative works. The course's practical approach to design and composition, paired with exploring real life scenarios, is relevant to a fine artist.

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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 - 3. How To Design.

The Rose Book

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Comprehensive visual guide to garden design, showcasing a wide range of styles and approaches from around the world. It serves as a source of inspiration and provides a broad overview of garden design history and trends. It is more valuable as additional reading to broaden your understanding of garden design than as a current reference. This book is commonly used as a reference tool by garden designers.

The Rose Book

Hardcover

The Complete Garden Design Course - 3. How To Design

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical garden design via traditional drawing

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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