Online Landscape Design Course – My experience so far + recommended supplies

Two years ago, I decided that I really wanted to get into Landscape Design and create beautiful native and natural landscapes that would heal and restore the environment. Landscape Design programs in my area are extremely limited, there are literally only 2 programs that I know of and they are each a 45+ minute commute away. My daughter had just started pre-K so I crunched the numbers and considered her schedule and all the variables, but I quickly realized that there wasn’t going to be a way to make it work. I just didn’t have the time, the childcare or the money to pay for childcare and college tuition, so I would have to wait. A few months later, I tortured myself by going to an open house at one of the schools and I had the chance to tour the school gardens and hear more about the landscaping program they offered. Gah! To be young again…

I decided to wait a while and focus more on my home garden and increase my plant knowledge and identification skills. I started this blog and just focused on spreading a peaceful gardening message. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic happened and it seemed like the world was ending. I spent those first few months feeling like each day would be my last. I spent my time worrying and questioning my life decisions, feeling unaccomplished and upset that my life would be cut short before I could pursue my true passion. All my dreams and goals seemed to disintegrate before my eyes. It was a dreary time and I know many people went through some version of this too. As time went on and we learned more and realized that quarantine and mask wearing were good ways to manage this crisis, suddenly the realm of possibilities started to expand again; the dreams and goals slowly crept back onto the table but the world was still on lockdown and schools were closed. I spent many months looking for online Landscape Design programs and finally found one through NYIAD (New York Institute of Art and Design). I looked into it, made sure it was accredited by the state, read reviews, and decided to enroll in the Landscape Design program. This is a certificate program, meaning I won’t earn a degree, but I see it as a good intro to Landscape Design and a possible stepping stone to enrolling in on of the degree programs some day when I have more time. Of course, many states do not require a license for Landscape Design, so really, I could go into business after completing this program. I am about 60% through the 6 part course and it has been pretty good so far. Here is my review:

Positives:

• Price: the program is about $1,100 if you make monthly payments of $69. It’s about $800 if you pay in full up front. The fact that I could start the course for 60 bucks and access Part 1 of the course was really amazing to me. For reference, the local two year degree program I had my eye on 2 years ago is about $20,000. Included in your tuition are several hard copy books that are mailed to you and some that you access online.
• Time: I can log on and read the material at any time and I have 18 months to complete the program. There are 6 sections and each one has an exam and a series of projects that are submitted online. As long as I am paid up to a certain section, I can skip ahead and do other projects. For example, I realized in section 3 that I was going to need several new materials (which I ordered on Amazon) to complete my projects, so I worked on my section 4 projects while I waited for those materials to arrive.
• Convenience: in the past year, I have been chronically ill with gallbladder disease, I had gallbladder removal surgery a few months ago, and I threw out my back out few weeks ago (all while raising a rambunctious 5 year old!). I continued my studies during all of that. If I was attending school in person, I would have probably already dropped out due to all these health issues!

Negatives:

Very little guidance: I knew that most of the course would be self taught, but I guess I expected a little more guidance from my mentor. I’ve gotten useful, thorough feedback on assignments, but beyond that, if I have a question or concern and send a message, it may take a week or more to get a response. This format is definitely not for a person who is used to being in constant contact with their teacher and getting constant feedback! I don’t mind reading and can look up difficult concepts to understand them better but lots of people can’t learn that way, so a program like this would probably not work for them. There is a student forum but there’s not much interaction happening there in the Landscaping programs. I did experience a little confusion regarding which materials to buy but ultimately I went back and reread certain chapters, and got my answers.

Not a degree program: the fact that it’s not a degree program makes people feel like it’s not “legit” enough but it is. The books they use and all the information they provide is quite legit. The projects I have done are quite legit. The tools and materials I now own and know how to use are legit as well. Frankly, I think it’s a little classist to assume that online schools and correspondence schools are inherently subpar to mainstream schools. Maybe a big chunk of what you pay for at a university is just the diploma itself because that is what will open doors in the current system. That doesn’t necessarily mean that what you have learned is far superior, it may be virtually the same curriculum as an online program; the difference is that online schools and correspondence schools are accessible both financially and physically to those who are disabled or work full time or have children and no time to commute. Maybe there is no degree at the end, but there is knowledge gained, a certificate earned, and the potential to get your foot in the door.

***** Use this code GAJDZCHIHDG to save $50 offany NYIAD course *****

So now that I have reviewed the Landscape Design program at NYIAD, let me share a list of materials/tools I have purchased so far:

• Pencils: Get a set of drawing pencils with difference degrees of hardness from 4H to 2B. I haven’t purchased lead or lead holders or pens yet, but that is definitely on the horizon.
• Erasers: Plastic erasers (white)
• Architect Scale: a ruler that helps you draw to scale
• Compass: a regular one to make small circles and a large one (giant circle beam compass) to make large circles on huge paper, which brings me to:
• Drafting board: you can purchase a tabletop board or a standalone table, but you need somewhere to put it and space to stand/sit in front of it. I bought a 24″ x 36″ Blick portable tabletop drafting board with inbuilt parallel ruler for $130, which I’ve been working with on my dining room table. I saw some drafting tables with storage and stools for the same price on amazon but I didn’t have the room. If you have the room, then it’s something to consider. Get one with a parallel ruler if possible!
• Paper: graph paper and tracing paper (8-1/2″ x 11″) for beginner projects; large 24″ tall x many yard rolls of tracing paper and vellum paper or 24″ x 36″ sheets of these papers which are way more expensive but maybe worth it?
• Drafting tape. I’ve heard not to use masking tape but that painting tape is okay. I haven’t tried either so I don’t know how true that is.
• Triangle set
• T-Square
• Retractable tape measure and 100′ fiberglass tape.
• Books! About landscape design, drafting, gardening for nature, etc. If you have a particular niche, this is especially helpful to acquaint you with designers and plants.

Well that’s the nitty gritty on the NYIAD Landscape Design program. They offer a ton of other design courses, including interior design, graphic design, event planning, photography, and more. If you decide to sign up, use this code GAJDZCHIHDG to save $50 off! I will update again as I progress further through the course.