Course Summary
Landscape and garden design is concerned with the design of all external spaces and the relationships between people and places. It is a rich and diverse subject that draws on traditions of both the creative arts and sciences and involves research, analysis and the exploration of concepts in the form of spatial proposals.
This course adopts an art led and people centred approach to landscape and garden design with a strong emphasis on the use and function of plants within the landscape. In the first year this course will provide students with subject specific knowledge and understanding and enable students to master those skills that are specific to practicing as a landscape designer. In the second year students will expand their knowledge and skills and develop a broader outlook to the design process, combining separate elements to produce complete solutions and encouraging students to evaluate solutions in a broader context. Students will explore modern cultural issues such as sustainability and urbanisation and will investigate major historical influences and trends and develop their awareness of contemporary and European influences.
Course Aims
-
To contribute to raising the profile of the landscape and garden design profession by raising educational aspirations and achievements
-
To improve the availability of key ICT skills amongst landscape and garden designers in the region
-
To enable students to reflect on their personal learning and identify future goals
-
To develop students’ research and evaluation skills
-
To provide students with the a sound knowledge and understanding of the principles of landscape and garden design
-
To develop students’ understanding and ability to compose and implement planting designs landscape schemes
-
To enable students to be proficient in employing graphical and technical drawing skills to produce plans and illustrations of a professional standard
-
To develop students’ understanding of space in a landscape and garden design context
-
To develop students’ ability to effectively communicate design ideas through a number of mediums with clients
-
To develop an understanding of the broader influences, historical and geographical, on contemporary landscape design
-
To develop an understanding of the professional and legal framework of landscape and garden environments
Core Skills
Transferable academic and employability skills are delivered in specialist modules delivered throughout the programme.
Module Framework
|
Year 1
|
Module
|
Year 2
|
Module
|
|
Semester 1
|
Principles of Landscape and Garden Design
|
Semester 1
|
Designing with Plants
|
|
|
Spatial Design and Colour Composition
|
|
Use of IT Applications in Practice
|
|
|
Academic and Professional Development
|
|
Managing in an Organisation
|
|
Semester 2
|
Plant Use and Knowledge
|
Semester 2
|
Contemporary Design and Landscape History
|
|
|
Structures and Materials
|
|
Design Application and Contract Management
|
|
|
Academic and Professional Development
|
|
Research Methods and Problem Solving
|
First Year Modules
Module Title: Principles of Landscape and Garden Design
This module will introduce students to the principles of landscape and garden design. It will go through the practical process of developing a design, from start to finish, including site surveying, data collection, concept development and technical drawing techniques. A working artist will guest lecture for three weeks in the first half of the semester and will introduce students to the concept of seeing through the delivery of practical drawing and sketching workshops. Students will develop client briefs and discuss the needs of different user groups and how to accommodate for these in their designs
Module Title: Spatial Design and Colour Composition
This module primarily identifies how art can be used within the context of open space and contemporary garden design. Students will have the opportunity to extend their creativity and explore a range of visual communication skills and techniques in order to improve their spatial awareness and visual perception to ultimately become better garden designers. The module will consider the close relationship between garden design and art and will equally consider art as a source of inspiration for designers. It will examine the difference between looking and seeing and investigate balance in negative and positive space. It will introduce students to 3 dimensional drawing, landscape drawing, sketching, quick on-site sketching, colour techniques, model making and methods of conceptual development.
Module Title: Plant Use and Knowledge
This module will act as an introduction to plants and designing with plants. It will explore the many ways plants can be used within a designed space to serve different functions and will provide students with the fundamental knowledge of plant biology, plant growth and development, plant specifications, selection criteria and plant establishment. With a particular focus on shape, form and texture, successful planting schemes and plant combinations will be explored and evaluated. Students will learn how to draw scaled planting plans using appropriate specification methods and will gain hands-on experience working with plants through a series of taught practical sessions and through the involvement in the build and implementation of a show garden display at the end of the semester.
Module Title: Structures and Materials
This module will focus on the built landscape and will introduce students to a range of hard landscape materials and landscape features in our environment. Students will adopt a critical approach when investigating landscape materials and features and will explore new innovative products developed in response to environmental concerns using latest technology. Students will produce a design proposal for a given site for which they will source and select a range of materials and produce a set of construction drawings applying correct drawing techniques.
Second Year Modules
Module Title: Designing with Plants
Following on from the module Plant Use and Knowledge, this module will focus on the approach to producing detailed planting plans and scheduling. Students will produce detailed planting schemes and carry out investigative work to identify various outlets that the garden designer can use for selecting and sourcing British standard nursery stock. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the success of planting schemes which they were involved in the design and planting of in the previous year, giving them an valuable insight into the performance of individual plant species as well as increasing their general plant knowledge. Students will further carry out research into contemporary use of plants and consequent emerging technologies against the background of ecological issues, sustainability and urbanisation.
Module Title: Use of IT Applications in Practice
This module will introduce students to two computer aided design software programs VectorWorks and SketchUp. Students will begin by familiarising themselves with the VectorWorks and SketchUp interface and basic drawing tools and gradually develop core skills to create 2 and 3 dimensional objects using editing tools, adding textures and images. Students will further be introduced to the industry specific tools and plant database of VectorWorks Landmark. During the sessions delivered by a guest graphic design lecturer students will explore the definition of branding and brand identity. Students will evaluate their core strengths as designers and decide how they would want to promote themselves and develop brand ideas that effectively transmit their chosen message. Basic visual communication and presentation techniques will be discussed.
Module Title: Contemporary Design and Landscape History
This module will study the interaction between cultural, economic, political events and the development of landscape and garden design. Students will be introduced to different garden styles and movements, as well as a range of influential garden designers that have contributed and have had an impact on landscape and garden design through history. Current trends in landscape design and international influences as well as the impact of the environmental movement, the RHS and associated shows and media will also be analysed and evaluated.
Module Title: Design Application and Contract Management
This module will be the culmination of the design and practical work studied during the course. It will provide students with the opportunity to draw from this information to produce landscape design work to a professional standard for a given live project. Students will be asked to research a particular user group to establish a detailed brief for their design. They will further develop their creative, theoretical and practical skills and will present their design proposal to an audience at the end of the semester. Students will also learn about the specific requirements for managing landscape construction contracts and explore the complexities of writing appropriate contract documentation and managing the construction process in line with landscape industry standards.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The student’s learning will be led and supported through:
Lectures and seminars exploring subject knowledge and theory, and their application.
Tutorials (small group and one-to-one).
Formative exercises that encourage the students to explore issues within class, during their study time, and at their work place.
Assessment will take a number of forms:
Written research reports in which the application of theory within practical scenarios will be explored.
Group project development work documented through group deliverables and individual reflective and evaluative submissions.
Presentations.
Personal development diaries and planning/tracking deliverables.
Timetabling
The year is organised into two semesters, which are 15 weeks periods (12 weeks of teaching and 3 of assessment), together comprising an academic year. The year runs from September to January and February to June. The inter-semester period is used for Assessment Boards and other activities. This is when the grades for the semester are confirmed and made official.
Attendance is on a two day a week basis for full time students for two years. Full time students will study 60 credits in each semester and can expect to have to attend for around eight hours each day. Outside formal study times, students will be expected to spend at least an equivalent amount of time per week in independent study. In addition, students will also be required to take on some work based study during the two summer periods of their study.
Work Placements
It is an essential requirement that students attend a placement accumulating 200 hours work experience per year to achieve the FdA Landscape and Garden Design. Students are required to find pertinent work experience in the landscape and garden design industry to enable them to successfully achieve the qualification. Achievement of the work experience is assessed at level 4 in the core module Academic and Professional Development and at level 5 in the core module Managing in an Organisation.
Landscape and Garden Design students could potentially find work experience in public or private gardens, plant and wholesale nurseries, botanical gardens, National Trust gardens and Suffolk County Council.
Students will be encouraged to arrange work experience before they begin their programme of study, however, this is not a requirement. Students will be advised about appropriate placements at interviews and during induction week. Students will be supplied with a course handbook that includes guidance on organising and working in a placement. Students will be asked to provide their course leader with contact details of their proposed placement who will then confirm in writing with the placement provider.
There is a requirement for all placements to meet the current and relevant Health and Safety regulations and provide relevant insurance. Therefore, a placement officer from UCS Otley will arrange to visit the placement provider to ensure these regulations are met in accordance with UCS Placement policy. Students must attend and complete an induction at their placement before they commence work.
Placement providers will be able to feedback and evaluate student performance as well as provide confirmation of student attendance. They may also take on the role of mentor, although this is not a requirement.
Employers will also be involved in the delivery of some aspects of the programme e.g Sarah Baddon Price, a self employed artist will be delivering the Spatial Design and Colour Composition module and Kevin Rowton from Suffolk County Council will be a guest speaker. Employer involvement is critical to the successful achievement of all students on the programme.
Assessment of work based learning and work experience occurs in the work based learning modules, Academic and Professional Development at level 4 and Managing in an Organisation at level 5. Where opportunities exist for students to carry out other module specific case studies at their work placements will be considered.
Tutorial and Study Support
Students will be offered a combination of pastoral one-to-one tutorials and subject specific tutorials that may be individual or group sessions as part of their programme of study.
All students are entitled to two 20 minute individual tutorials per semester with either the Course Leader or the HE Student Support Tutor. Such tutorials are designed to support individual student needs during which students identify and review their own targets and develop action plans for successful achievement of goals. Individual tutorials will address a students’ academic progress or any factors affecting progress as well as career and key skills development.
Group tutorials are designed to support small or large groups of students with a common set of objectives for achievement of goals. These may involve support with achievement of assessment e.g. delivering oral presentations, writing essays or reports, presentation of portfolio work or career development e.g. interview preparation.
Subject specific tutorials form part of the module taught hours and are designed to help students successfully complete assessments and achieve module learning outcomes.
All types of tutorials are designed to promote confidence and embed a positive attitude toward achievement of learning outcomes and nurture lifelong and reflective learning.
All tutorials will be conducted in a manner that follows the UCS Tutorial Policy.
The role of the HE Student Support Tutor at UCS Otley involves providing pastoral support to enable all students to complete their programme of study to the best of their ability. Students with disabilities or learning difficulties will be invited to attend one-to-one tutorials with the Course Leader and HE Student Support Tutor to discuss how their needs can be met. Students at UCS Otley will also be able to access the Learner Services Team based at Otley College for advice on careers, student finance, transport and student welfare. The student services team at UCS Ipswich will also be able to support students with advice regarding student accommodation as well as offer study skills workshops.
Opportunities on completion of the course
Graduates of FdA Landscape and Garden Design are able to progress onto the BSc (Hons) Landscape & Garden Design or BSc (Hons) Horticulture (Garden Design) at Writtle College which enables students to top-up their foundation degree to an honours degree. Alternatively students may wish to progress onto a BA (Hons) programme in Landscape and Garden Design offered by other HEIs or the UCS BA (Hons) Professional Studies programme. Details of articulated progression routes are provided in the Student Handbook. Guidance on progression from the foundation degree to other courses and into industry is provided by UCS Careers Office and is embedded in the work based learning modules.
This course will prepare students for the professional world of garden design whether in employment or as a freelance designer. There are career opportunities for landscape and garden designers in landscape architect’s practices, landscape companies and local authorities.