Skip to main content

Become a Designer

Andrea Newill. 9 crop1920x350

If you're looking to start a career in garden and landscape design, here are a few helpful tips to get you started.

 

Is a Career in Garden and Landscape Design right for me?

If you’re looking at this page then the answer is likely yes! Skills can be learnt and experience built, but more important is whether the following aspects of the career appeal to you. If so, then maybe it’s time for you to take your next step towards a rewarding career.

  1. Creativity and Satisfaction: Designers create aesthetically pleasing and functional environments by responding to the environment and client needs. Seeing your designs come to life and being enjoyed provides a huge sense of achievement.  
  2. Problem Solving: Each design project presents its own set of challenges, such as how to make the best use of space, how to work with different soil types, or how to provide a high quality garden to a budget.
  3. Connection to People and Nature: Designers need to understand their clients’ needs and wants as well as those who will be using the space. They spend time visiting and assessing sites and building their understanding of the landscape.
  4. Sustainability and Biodiversity: Designers have the opportunity to incorporate sustainable practices such as material re-use, water conservation, and reducing the carbon footprint of a landscape.
  5. Diverse Career Paths: Designers can work on a variety of projects: residential gardens, public parks, commercial landscapes, and even large-scale urban planning projects.
  6. Flexibility and Demand: Designers can work independently, run their own businesses, or work as part of a design practice. The demand for well-designed, functional outdoor private and public spaces that enhance lifestyles and provide ecological and social benefits is growing significantly.
  7. Learning and Growth: The world of garden and landscape design is constantly evolving, with new trends, technologies, and sustainable practices, offering designers continuous learning and future career opportunities.

How to Become a Garden and Landscape Designer

There are practical steps you can take today to make your career dreams a reality.

  1. Join Us: we are the only professional association for garden and landscape designers and being within our network will allow you to connect with similar people locally, hear about what’s new in the industry, enter awards, attend events as well as access a wealth of training.

Join Us

  1. Design Courses: Garden and landscape is a highly skilled and broad profession and enrolling on a Garden Design Course is an excellent way to develop your skills. In person and online courses are available to suit your preference.

Garden Design Courses

  1. Immerse yourself: Visit gardens, notice seasonal changes, think about your own garden if you have one, or a public space if you don’t and think about who uses it, who doesn’t and what the opportunities are. Seek inspiration from TV programmes, events, or magazines such as the Garden Design Journal

Read the Journal