10-week garden design course - Inchbald School of Design

Back to Garden Design

Full time: On campus

Duration

10 weeks

Tuition

8:1 student to teacher ratio

Timetable

13 January - 28 March

January, April, September

Tuition Hours

10:00–15:00

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Overview

This Inchbald 10-week garden design programme has been developed as a comprehensive overview of the skills required to become a garden designer.

Whether you wish to pursue a career in the profession or simply bring a more structured approach to your own space, the course provides a comprehensive introduction to the skills & knowledge required.

This course lays the foundation for understanding the core principles of residential garden design, guiding you from the initial concept to the final delivery of a design scheme. You will learn how to interpret and respond to a client brief, organizing and designing a residential garden to meet specific requirements. The course covers essential aspects of garden design, including the design process, introductory design tools, drawing techniques, planting design, and the selection of hard landscaping materials. You will be introduced to key elements such as specifications, schedules, and project management skills necessary for successful design execution. The course includes instruction in hand drawing techniques, both in plan view and 3D. Learning is facilitated through a combination of lectures, workshops, site visits, group discussions, and a hands-on residential project, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. By the end of the course, you will have completed a comprehensive portfolio showcasing your design for a residential garden in London. This course is ideal for individuals considering a career in garden design who seek a short, intensive program to build foundational skills. Upon completion, you will have a solid grounding in garden design principles, providing a strong basis for further study, such as the Inchbald Diploma.

Course content

Hard landscaping

A garden must have structure. This is an essential, and the choice of hard materials will provide a clear design base from which the planting scheme develops.

You will learn to see your project in terms of the local vernacular, and in an ever-changing world you will learn to appreciate the nature of your choices and their sustainability.

A leading tutor with long experience in the garden construction profession will be your guide in this major subject.

Planting design

Plantsmanship is an individual skill, vital to the completion of the design structures. We approach plant selection with a view to design style so that the schemes re-affirm the continuity of visual pleasure.

Students will also investigate the multiplicity of horticultural necessities which influence and enhance good planting.

Design communication

Visual communication is a vital factor in the designer-client relationship so we introduce students to a wide range of graphic and rendering options. The aim is to develop your personal style, which will inspire you with confidence in your design presentation. During the course you will be introduced to Computer Aided Design (CAD), together with the basic elements of SketchUp in order to facilitate the illustration of plants and 3D drawings.

Garden history

Garden history is the study of outstanding garden design of the past, going back as far as Ancient Rome. The development of design over the centuries is the element that has shaped the knowledge and style of the present day. The history of the garden is the grammar of the garden design and the study of this subject is an adventure in itself. A series of ten lectures will bring garden history up to the present, demonstrating the strong links with architecture and social development.

Key info & fees

Full time: On campus

Course fees £10,200 (inc VAT)
Students must be aged 18 or over with ‘A’ levels or equivalent. A good command of written and spoken English and basic computer skills are required.
2025 dates: 13 January - 28 March; April - July; September - December