Garden Design School Diploma

Students of the Garden Design School Diploma excel through superior tuition and the depth of practical experience of the tutors.

The vast majority of those students who want to practice professionally go on to do so successfully, becoming competent, confident garden designers, owning or participating within profitable, professional landscape and garden design companies.

Accessible Course Structure

The Garden Diploma School Diploma is a part-time, one year (34 weeks) intensive training course.

Comprising a refined blend of lectures and practical studio work at college (one day per week ).

Independent study and projects are also an essential element of the Diploma (between 24 and 30 hours per week are expected to ensure that all subjects are covered, and skills mastered to a high standard).

Fieldwork trips and visits are included to enhance and extend subjects learnt in the classroom.

Intake and class numbers are kept small to optimise opportunities for 1-2-1 teaching, support and feedback.

Expert Tuition

Tutors who are not just excellent communicators and trainers, but also highly accomplished experts in specialist areas of garden design.

Students are inspired through lectures and frequent, direct contact with the School’s founders, Robin Templar Williams, Moira Farnham and John DeVore, as well as by a network of well renowned, expert guest speakers.

Skills Focused Course Content

Structured and up-to-date content, specifically developed to equip students for a career in garden design.

Divided into four major strands, as follows:

Design Principles and Drawing

Principles of design; drawing and drafting skills; printing processes; application of colour and rendering; axonometric projection; freehand sketching; plan presentation; single point perspective drawing; fast drawing techniques.

Hard Landscaping

Practical surveying with levels; site analysis; elevations and sections; hard landscape materials; detailing hard landscape; construction methods and techniques; setting out; water in the garden; lighting, irrigation and drainage.

Soft Landscaping

Basic botany; soil science; classification and identification; planting design; horticultural requirements; establishment; site specific planting; planting plans and schedules.

Professional Practice

Running the office; documentation and systems; health and safety; planning implications; client/designer relationships; contractor/designer relationships; specifications and contract management; project costing; getting started as a freelance designer; advertising and promotion.

A detailed, week-by-week syllabus is issued to all students once they have applied to join a course.

Exciting, Hands-on and Practical Project Work

Four major projects are undertaken by students during the course.

Starting with a small courtyard garden they build in complexity to the final project  - a large rural garden - with students producing full documentation; survey and site analysis; outline proposals; setting out drawing; visual realization; planting plan and schedule; construction details; specification and scope of works. 

In addition, 2 portfolios are produced by each student and compiled throughout the year, one devoted to hard landscaping the other to soft landscaping.

By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of four garden design projects that act as a launch pad for their new businesses.

Regular Assessment and Feedback

Students are assessed at regular intervals and do not sit any examinations.

All assignments are of a practical nature and closely resemble the types of projects a professional garden designer might encounter. No pointless essay-writing!

And, unlike some colleges, Garden Design School believe students' work should be marked and returned quickly ensuring a steady pace of learning. Students receive timely, relevant feedback before moving forward to the next stage.

Garden Design School tutors give face to face, one to one feedback to each student on each of their four major projects.

COURSE DATES & TIMES (2009/2011)

Lectures and Studio sessions for GDS’s Diploma Courses are held on Tuesdays at Painshill Park, Surrey and on Thursdays at the Bristol Botanic Garden. Please Note: students study for their Diploma either at our Surrey training centre or at our Bristol centre, NOT a mixture of the two.

Each course is divided into three academic terms of 10-12 weeks duration. College days (when students attend lectures/studio sessions) take place between 9.30am and 4.30pm on the dates shown below. There is a 45 minute break at lunchtime, and two shorter (15 minute) breaks during the morning and afternoon.