Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week let's do an overview of the DESIGN PROCESS...in celebration of our free Garden Room Masterclass next month (plus the re-opening of our design membership). Hooray!

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Starting a landscape project, big or small, can feel intimidating, but luckily there is a design process that can guide us. Allow yourself to follow this process to see how your design projects evolve, rather than jumping in towards the end with details. Collecting and conceptualizing many ideas over several steps will strengthen your final design.

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STEP ONE: COLLECT

Learn about your client + establish the design program

How will your client (or you!) use their landscape, what issues need to be resolved, what is their style, what is their budget? Make a list of wishes that you can easily refer to as you progress through the design process. Learn more here.

Draw the basemap

The basemap is the plan view, or birds eye view, of the existing site. This includes the house, plants, utilities, structures and anything else that will be staying through the final design.

Create a site study 

Use the basemap to inventory and evaluate site features that might potentially influence the final design. This could include things like drainage, wind and sun patterns, views, zoning ordinances, and architectural style of the house.    

STEP TWO: DESIGN

Develop initial design concept 

Think of the concept as the unifying element of your design. All decisions you make (plants, colors, materials) should relate back to the concept. A mood board is a great way to start collecting images and ideas to help focus your concept. 

Explore functional diagrams

When planning your landscape it's important to arrange your spaces first with a functional diagram, then move towards more detail later. The purpose of this is to study the relationship of spaces and the movement between them

Define garden structure

In this step you'll take your bubbles from the functional diagram stage and give them a definite, strong form. The forms you create here will often become the final shape of each lawn, patio and bed area.

Create preliminary design

Once you create the garden structure plan it's time to fill in all the cool details of general plants, arbors, paving materials, and furniture. This is often the first plan you share with the client to show the overall feeling of the space.

STEP THREE: DOCUMENT

Create master plan

The master plan includes everything related to the project so someone can install it. This typically includes the entire landscape plan with areas and plants labeled, a plant schedule/list, design concept statement, materials identified, plus any additional photos, perspective drawings, and/or construction details needed to install the project properly. 

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The design process is a guide and not necessarily set in stone. You may find that your process is slightly different, you may want to add elements, or change a step to fit your project. The important part is to have a process that assists you from beginning to end. Use this one as a starting point and alter it as needed!

LET'S DO THIS!

Would you like a more in-depth explanation of the design process? Jump on our design membership waiting list. It opens again next month (May 2023). We dive into one design topic each month and learn so much together.

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To kick-start the re-opening of our design membership, we are also offering a free online GARDEN ROOM MASTERCLASS. Click here to grab a spot.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit your inbox! I look forward to seeing you in two weeks.

Cheers,

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in this newsletter.