Print this page Online Diploma Principles and Practices of Garden Design

The Online Diploma in Principles and Practices of Garden Design is a year-long, part time course, aimed at those students who wish to investigate garden design to a professional standard in the subjects addressed. The course is structured to suit both those intending to pursue professional careers as garden designers and those who wish to develop their expertise as passionate garden enthusiasts.

The course offers the following:

• You study part-time, following an achievable but dynamic programme structure. The Online Diploma in Principles and Practices Garden Design is designed around 8 hours of formal learning hours per week. However, you should expect to spend more time than this on assignments and garden design projects.
• You study in your own home or base, where you are encouraged to set up a small garden design studio.
• You can access your bespoke course website at any time and can study online or download and print course materials for offline study.
• You join a group of fellow Inchbald students who are studying the same course programme, so you can benefit from sharing, conferring and presenting your own ideas to fellow students using the online discussion forums and informal chatroom. Many garden designers work with a team, so co-operating with others and exchanging ideas gives valuable experience.
• You receive a high level of individual tutorial support from your tutors. The programme includes frequent assignments, which you complete and submit to your tutor for constructive comments and advice that is tailored to your needs. In addition, you receive informal support from tutors online.
• You practise and develop your garden design skills by carrying a series of practical design projects – with the support and guidance of your tutors – for assessment.
• You start the course with a one-day in-house induction programme which explains the course and how to work through it and is an opportunity to get to know your tutors and fellow students. The induction is invaluable, giving you a strong basis for succeeding on the course. If you are unable to attend we will provide and induction pack which you can complete at home.

Online Diploma Principles and Practices of Garden Design – course contents

The course is structured around modules – each leading to a design project.

Module 1 looks at the role of the garden designer and the creative concepts that underpin garden design. Emotional responses are a major part of this process and although it is difficult to define beauty and aesthetic excellence, this module explains a number of generally accepted principles that can be used. You will develop your creative skills and your critical faculties and will present a report analysing a garden in depth.

Module 2 explores visual communication skills. You will learn technical drawing, learning to draw plans to scale as well as elevations and cross sections. You will also look at free-hand drawing and sketching. You will start to keep a sketchbook, recording your design ideas, garden and museum visits, plants and hard landscaping elements that interest you.

Module 3 looks at planting design and how to design and present a planting plan. You will consider the structure, form, texture and colour of plants and how to put them together in groups. You will start to assemble a Plant Portfolio which will record individual plants in detail and their design potential for a garden designer.

Module 4 examines plant knowledge and planting design. You will gain a basic understanding of plant science, soil science and horticultural knowledge. This will equip you to choose the right plant for the right place when designing. You will also learn about fruit and vegetable gardening and complete a design and planting plan for a walled vegetable garden.

Module 5 is concerned with hard landscaping elements such as steps and levels, walls, paving, pergolas, boundaries, water features etc. You will look at each element in depth and consider its aesthetic potential and structural requirements. You will create a hard landscaping Portfolio as a reference tool for future use and learn about construction drawing.

Module 5 covers design implementation. You will fulfil a client brief for a garden design project that will require a master plan, planting plan and plant list, a concept board, sketches and a model.

Online Diploma Principles and Practices of Garden Design – course entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, although you will need to show a commitment to the heavy workload and the maturity to contribute to the course group.

As a participant on the course you are eligible for discounted entry to the Inchbald Garden Design Lecture series and other relevant Online courses.

You may also be interested in the comprehensive Online Diploma Garden Design. You can progress to this course on completion of the Online Diploma in Principles and Practices of Garden Design.

For more information about the Online Diploma in Principles and Practices of Garden Design course, please contact the Course Administrator.