Diploma Garden Design

Entry Requirements

No previous art and design history is necessary but students must be at least twenty years old. Normally the entry standard is a degree, but mature students with sufficient prior learning experience are particularly encouraged. Entry is by interview and numbers are strictly limited. The purpose of the interview is to give candidates the opportunity to visit the studio in Hampton Court Palace and for the interviewer to assess the applicant's academic ability, motivation, performance under pressure and the reasons for undertaking the training. English language ability must be competent and we look for a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System www.ielts.org or its equivalent. Students are also required to have a laptop computer for this course.

Students on KLC's Diploma level courses are expected to use computers during their studies. These will be used for producing presentational material and for CAD and presentation software training. Important information relating to the course is sometimes communicated via email. For this reason, students should ensure that they are familiar with the general operation and use of computers (for example, they should be able to confidently create, amend, save and distribute documents, and use email) before starting their course. Prior experience in using either PCs or Macs will be equally helpful and students are free to choose whichever type they prefer. Full details of the expected level of ability will be provided at interview.

NOTE: The interview is the first step in the formal application process for KLC's full-time courses. Before coming in applicants should check that they are able to give the necessary time to the course, have the funding available, be of sufficient age and have the required language ability. To arrange an interview for this course, please contact us on 020 7376 3377 or email info@klc.co.uk.

Qualification

The KLC Diploma in Garden Design has built up an increasing reputation for highly creative and professional graduates well-grounded in garden design and theory, with a good knowledge of plants and planting design, construction, horticultural and professional practice.

Course Details

Students are introduced to the fundamentals of design drawing and learn the principles of design, form and structure, plant identification and planting design supported by the essentials of practical horticulture with the opportunity for practical work in the 20th Century Gardens at Hampton Court Palace. Garden design history plays an important part in the curriculum as does landscaping and construction. The course is firmly rooted in business reality and includes detailed sessions on professional practice and business management while a range of dynamic lectures from professional designers and industry experts help to inform and inspire the students. Sketching is much encouraged and students are taught CAD (Vectorworks) and 3D visualisation with a wide range of visual presentation techniques. Projects are increasingly challenging as the course progresses and students are encouraged to develop the breadth of their design solutions and the extent of their presentational skills while the importance of the relationship with the client is emphasised throughout the course.

Course Delivery

KLC is committed to providing dynamic, supportive and engaging specialist tuition in an inspiring and creative environment that is both challenging and enjoyable. In order to encourage and enable innovation and cutting edge practice and to maintain and develop an exciting and current curriculum, tutors and lecturers are professional garden designers or industry specialists.

The in house teaching and support team provide course cohesion while specialist and inspirational lectures are given by some of the country's top landscapers, garden designers, horticulturists and specialists.

The course is part time, two days a week, divided into three terms commencing in either January or April. It is based at KLC's studios in Hampton Court Palace and each day is from 10.00am-4.00pm although students will have to undertake a considerable amount of work outside these hours. A combination of different teaching and learning strategies are employed which include lectures and workshops, discussion groups, individual tutorials and presentations. Great emphasis is placed on encouraging the individual development and potential of every student. Visits include site visits for projects or visits to libraries and archives to facilitate their use during project research in addition to the school library at the Hampton Court Palace studios.

There are 4 main design projects during the course, based on a variety of realistic spaces and the resultant presentational material will form the basis of an impressive and comprehensive design portfolio including examples of the skills which students have acquired through the course of their training. The brief is always given by "the client" and, wherever possible, students visit the actual site. Recent projects have included The Royal Ballet School, National Trust Mottisfont, Swallows Care Home, Charleston Manor and Glyndebourne.

NOTE: KLC uses Vectorworks which is a straightforward yet professional software and is regarded as an industry standard to create, document and present designs. Each student is given a one year's licence to the current Vectorworks software.

Syllabus

INTRODUCTORY WEEK

Drawing skills, technical and sketching: lettering and titling, drawing plans, elevations and sections and mood boards.

TERM 1 - Discovery

• Guidance for self-generated research and project work
• Garden history - Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Formal
• Continued drawing, drafting freehand sketching and rendering, inspirational lectures
• The role of the garden designer
• Design process - survey/client brief/project management
• Design skills - principles of design
• Functional layout and conceptual work
• Practical gardening skills including pruning, training and propagation
• Planting design and principles, including plans, schedules and using colour
• Plant and soil science including nomenclature

TERM 2 - Development

• More complex design situations and theory, including design of challenging sites
• Specialist lectures and visits
• Continued design theory, creativity and concept work
• Related practical design projects
• Continued garden design history - Early Landscape, Landscape Movement, 19th and 20th Century Gardens
• Continued sketching, drafting and rendering
• Presentation techniques
• 1 and 2 point perspectives
• PowerPoint presentations
• Continued hard landscaping - construction details, water
• Study of inspirational designers

TERM 3 – Direction

• Inspirational talks and lectures
• Business practice, including specifications, contracts, project management, proposals and costing
• Portfolio advice and surgery
• Continued CAD and Photoshop
• Concept design workshops
• More complex design situations and projects
• Garden Lighting
• Final project

PROJECTS

• Residential garden
• Conceptual show garden
• Commercial design
• Historically based project
• Final project