What makes a Mediterranean garden different from a contemporary urban garden? How can you translate a design style into a coherent layout, planting concept and spatial experience?
Eight Gardens in Eight Weeks is an intensive, practical online course for people who already have some experience in garden design and want to develop their skills by working across a range of garden styles.
Each week, you will be introduced to a different design style and given a small garden brief to interpret and develop. You will explore the character, principles and design opportunities associated with that style before translating your ideas into a garden layout plan and a section or elevation drawing.
Working through eight different briefs will challenge you to think creatively, make design decisions, explore different spatial arrangements and respond to the specific requirements of each garden. Throughout the course, you will receive guidance and individual feedback to help you refine your designs, identify areas for improvement and develop your own design approach.
Delivered entirely online in a small group of no more than four participants, the course offers a supportive studio environment where you can share ideas, discuss design challenges and learn from one another.
By the end of the eight weeks, you will have created eight garden designs, each responding to a different brief and design style, forming the foundation of a varied garden design portfolio.
Course Content
During the course, you will explore:
- Urban gardens — making the most of compact spaces, privacy, boundaries and multifunctional outdoor living.
- Wildlife-friendly gardens — integrating biodiversity, habitat creation and ecological planting into a coherent design.
- Woodland gardens — working with shade, layered planting, naturalistic compositions and a strong sense of atmosphere.
- Healing gardens— creating restorative outdoor spaces that support wellbeing through sensory planting, accessibility and connection with nature.
How the course works
Each week combines a short introduction to the design style with practical studio time.
- Discover: Explore the characteristics, principles and visual language of the week’s garden style.
- Interpret: Analyse the brief, identify opportunities and establish a design direction.
- Design: Develop a garden layout plan and a section or elevation drawing in response to the brief.
- Present: Share your work, discuss your design decisions and receive constructive feedback.
- Refine: Use feedback to improve your design and strengthen your approach to the next brief.
Participants will develop their designs between sessions, bringing their work back to the following studio meeting for review and feedback.
What you will achieve
By the end of the course, you will have:
- Designed four gardens in four distinct styles, responding to four different briefs.
- Produced a layout plan and a section or elevation drawing for each design.
- Developed a stronger understanding of how design styles influence layout, spatial organisation, planting and material choices.
- Improved your ability to interpret a brief and translate initial ideas into a coherent garden design.
- Gained confidence in exploring alternative design approaches and making informed design decisions.
- Received individual feedback to help you identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Created eight pieces of work that can be developed into a garden design portfolio.
Who is this course for
- This course is designed for aspiring garden designers, garden design students and enthusiastic practitioners who already understand the basic principles of garden design and have some experience developing layouts.
- It is particularly suitable for those who want to practise designing across different styles, expand their creative repertoire and gain constructive feedback in a supportive learning environment.
Please note: This is not a beginner’s course. Participants should already be familiar with the basic process of developing a garden design and producing a simple plan.
