Term One

Design Project 1: Chelsea Fringe Proposal
Design Project 2: Residential Garden

The year starts with exploratory design sessions; enabling students to get to know their tutors and classmates and immersing them in sketching and technical drawing workshops, as well as introducing design principles, planting and garden history.

The term continues with training in practical gardening skills such as pruning, training and propagation, as well as planting design and principles, including plans, schedules and using colour. Students are encouraged to develop their creative eye by keeping a plant sketchbook and learning to hand-render their plans and drawings. An overview of the design process is also given, with topics such as surveying a site, taking the client brief and project management all being introduced.

Term Two

Design Project 3: Hampton Court Garden Festival Conceptual Show Garden
Design Project 4: Commercial Project
Research Project 1: Plant Combinations File
Research Project 2: Construction File

Focusing on complex design situations and theory, including designing challenging sites, this term progresses students’ knowledge of garden design principles, creativity and concept work. Advanced visual communication techniques are introduced, such as one and two-point perspective drawing and computer-aided design software, such as SketchUp, Photoshop and Vectorworks Landmarks. Students experience what it is like to design a show garden with the Hampton Court Garden Festival Conceptual Show Garden project, in result, many students become inspired by this project and submit their designs to the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) and show in future flower shows. A large scale commercial project follows where students design a part of the scheme as a therapeutic space whilst also considering sustainable materials, design and planting. This term includes two research projects to develop student’s plant library and to understand how to develop a construct file. A range of inspirational visits and lectures are also included in the course timetable to complement the ongoing projects.

Term Three

Design Project 5: Historical Garden Project

The course concludes with a large design project, incorporating all of the skills students have learnt so far, as well as further teaching on professional business practice; including specifications, contracts, project management, proposals and costing. Students are also offered portfolio advice and careers workshops to help them get started in the industry. The year then culminates in a final online Exhibition and graduation ceremony, with professionals from the garden design industry being invited to view students’ final projects.

2 days a week (Wednesday & Thursday), plus 20+ hours per week outside of class

Four-day work placement

• No previous experience in garden design or horticulture is required for this course; we simply ask that you have a passion and a drive to learn more about this exciting field of design!

English Language Requirements

• Good command of written and spoken English is required for all applicants.
• If you reside in the UK, but English is not your first language, you may be asked to undertake an approved English language test.