How To Choose A Garden Design Course
The ranks of garden designers are filled with individuals from a range of backgrounds,
ages and with different life experiences. Some choose to design because
they love plants, others because they have a desire to create a unique space. However
a love of plants does not make a great designer, nor does the ability to sketch
a flower in all its intricate detail help with producing a raised bed construction
drawing. It may be a designer’s dream to build gardens of a certain style or with
a particular ethos however without the understanding of the underlying rules and
principles these aspirations may never be fully achieved.
As garden design has become ever more popular so the range of courses on offer has
also increased. Today courses can be found at universities, colleges and other horticultural
establishments. As there are no set requirements for garden design courses when
deciding on which course is right for you there are probably four major considerations:
location, time, cost and course content.
Those going in to the profession straight from school as students are probably not
too bothered about being near home, as part of the excitement of further education
is leaving home and experiencing the joys of student life! However, a large number
entering the profession are doing so as a second-career and may already have a house,
partner and children and so need to find something within easy travelling distance
of home. To find courses in a particular area of the country go to our
Courses
section to see if any institutions have registered in your locality.
Whether you wish to do a full- or part-time course will also be a consideration
and there are also some very good home study courses on the market for anyone who
cannot commit to regular days of the week. What should be researched before signing
up to any course is the amount of work that will need to be done outside of the
regular hours. For example, although a course may require attendance for only two
days per week it may need many extra hours at home to complete the necessary coursework.
Home study courses can be great for those who are disciplined enough to keep going.
Unfortunately the immediate pressures of day-to-day life can sometimes get in the
way so it’s vital to set time limits and try to stick to them. Contact with the
tutor is essential and they should provide encouragement along the way. Even if
you have to take a break from the work for a while set a target time for starting
up again; having spent money on the course it should not be wasted. However it is
the perfect way for those who perhaps have young children or live in more remote
areas to work towards their goal.
Naturally, cost also has to be taken into consideration especially for the more
mature student who may have many financial commitments. Courses range from less
than £1000 for home study to many thousands for full-time. Some designers enter
the profession to make it a full-time career and hope to earn a salary to support
themselves and their families, while others may be looking to re-enter the world
of work and do not need to be the main wage-earner within their family. If this
is the case then it is worth considering how much design work will need to be done
in order to simply cover the cost of training.
Having decided on location, time and cost, course content then becomes the priority.
There is no point in going to the most convenient location if the course content
is poor. A common comment from newly qualified designers is that before starting
their course they had no idea how much they would need to know! All courses should
be able to provide a detailed prospectus and be willing to discuss this with prospective
students. As well as the obvious such as good drawing techniques, how to survey
a garden and planting plans there are features of a good course that can often be
overlooked. These include:
- how to communicate with clients: initially to sell your services and later to convince
them your ideas for their garden are the best thing since sliced bread!
- how to produce an accurate and clear specification: vital for obtaining accurate
quotations from contractors.
- knowledge of hard landscaping materials and basic construction: will give you confidence
when dealing with contractors.
- ‘boring’ things such as drainage and legal requirements: get them wrong and it could
spell disaster.
- both hand drawing and CAD: drawing is essential to the design process and most designers
agree that learning to hand draw plans first gives a real sense of the finished
product.
- how to run a business: knowing how to maximise your profits.
The Society of Garden Designers has produced its own
Student Checklist which makes an excellent starting point for any prospective
student.
You should take a look at who the main lecturers will be and any guest speakers
they may bring in during the course. Details of these can often be found on the
college websites (especially those specialising in garden design). Lecturers are
often practising designers who have their own businesses and you can take a look
at their individual websites to get a feel for their background, knowledge and design
style. It’s a definite bonus if the lecturers include specialists such as a landscape
contractor who can pass on their knowledge and experience.
Once the training is complete there are many opportunities to take part in one or
two-day courses to further your knowledge and again see if any are listed on this
site in your area. Many relevant businesses will offer courses in their specialism
such as rose growing or lighting techniques and the Society of Garden Designers
runs events all around the country that bring in specialists in areas such as surveying,
drainage and sustainable design that expand on what has already been learnt.
With garden design growing in popularity all the time, more and more colleges are
offering relevant courses around the country and new garden design schools continue
to open. Hopefully with a little bit of time spent on research anyone should be
able to find one that suits their requirements.
© Sharon
Brown 22nd February 2009