Garden design
Have you got a good eye for design in the garden? Find out what a professional garden designer is and how you can train to become one.
Modern garden
Professional garden designers are experienced in dealing with all aspects of garden and landscape design, mostly working in the private sector, with garden owners, to enhance their private spaces. The designer's contribution can vary from a consultation and professional advice on a small area to a complete transformation. Most designers offer project management as an integral part of their service, recommending landscape contractors and monitoring their works to ensure the integrity of the design and the best standards of workmanship are achieved.
One of the exciting aspects of the garden design profession is the way in which it has developed over the years. This is not only in terms of professionalism and public awareness but also in the approach to contemporary design, the new materials available and the possibilities of creating innovative gardens and landscapes.
TopA designer will interpret the client's requirements, how the garden might be used by the family members, the realistic skills and time available for ongoing maintenance of the garden, the style and genre of garden that would suit both the site and the owners, and the budget constraints. Armed with this design brief, the garden designer brings their personal creativity to design the garden spaces, introducing features and planting to resolve the problems posed by both the site and the client requirements. They will consider the aspect, levels, soil conditions, microclimates, neighbouring sites, and work with any planning conditions and constraints such as tree preservation orders and conservation sites.
Using a professional garden designer will bring new perspectives and ideasto solve the problems of the site and maximise the potential of the available space. Budget constraints are acknowledged throughout the design development process, so expensive mistakes can be avoided. No more plants that keel over and die because they have been planted in the wrong place, is just one of the most obvious benefits of working with a professional.
Garden designers will draw detailed construction drawings and planting plans to support the overall design and, with a full scope of works for the project, can facilitate the tender process and selection of the landscape contractor best suited for the job.
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Modern garden
Most designers are self-employed and setting up your own business is usually seen as one of the advantages of a career in garden design. However, there are some larger landscape design companies where graduates may have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience before setting up on their own. There are also openings with garden and landscape centres. Some professionals set up design and build companies, undertaking the hard landscaping as well as the design work. Others concentrate purely on design, although they may also source plants and undertake some of the planting work.
Whether you entered the profession as a graduate or from another discipline, continuing professional development is an essential part of all designers' careers. The Society of Garden Designers runs seminars and conferences throughout Britain to help address these issues and the Garden Design Journal, regularly features educational as well as inspiring articles.
TopThere is a wide range of training and educational opportunities for anyone wishing to pursue a career in garden design. These range from short four-week courses to degree and postgraduate qualifications. However, the increasing interest in garden design from the public and the media has led to a corresponding increase in standards and professionalism.
Creativity, design, drawing, computer and communication skills are essential, as is an in-depth understanding of horticulture and construction, plus knowledge of planning, law and environmental issues. It is therefore important that anyone planning a career in the profession considers taking a degree-level qualification.
(External) The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) can provide a list of degree and postgraduate courses in garden design and the Society also offers a graduate membership category.
The SGD, established in 1981, is the only professional body dedicated solely to garden design. It can help find a professional garden designer by supplying a list of all its registered members. To achieve this recognition, the designer will have spent a number of years in practice and will have undergone a rigorous selection process before being able to apply. Final selection is then made on the strength of an interview and a portfolio inspection by three examiners. The accepted applicants achieve registered membership and can use the initials ‘msgd' after their name.
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