Business Practice for Garden Designers

The introduction of business linked strategies, guidance and support specifically targeted to the field of garden design. The course also requires specific research in costing and quantifying skills and information relating directly to a previously prepared design. The majority of teaching in this module is lecture based although some open up into workshop sessions in which students can explore and analyse comparative systems and approaches in relation to marketing, fee estimating and contract. Studio based teaching concentrates on the development of detailed costings. Through this exercise, students learn how to quantify the raw materials that make up their designs and the labour and design support required in their realisation. There is also a requirement that students analyse the impact of their cost findings on the quality of their finished design – they are encouraged through group and individual studio discussion to provide solutions to reducing costs without necessarily reducing design quality. Students will need to supply a scheme of sufficient hard detailing to use as a basis for the costing exercise. If this is not possible, the school can supply an in house project.

Costing Exercise
Introduction to bills of quantity; costing exercise

Legal Issues
Contractual procedures and options; planning issues for the garden designer

Starting your own Business
Starting your own business; marketing and promotion

Monetary Issues
The design package remuneration and indemnity

Professional Relationship
The designer/contractual relationship