Sissinghurst

Note: Program Content Subject to Change

In this jam-packed week you will work on a real design project in studio, with feedback and tutoring during the process. Morning lectures include “The Design Process,” “Designing With Style,” “Principles of Planting Design,” “Creating A Portfolio That Sells,” and “Selling Your Ideas.” Afternoons are spent primarily in the studio. The week ends with each student presenting his/her design to the class for critique and feedback. Click here for materials list.

Monday
8:30 AM-9:00 AM Check-in and continental breakfast
9:00 AM-9:30 AM Introduction
9:30 AM-10:30 AM The Design Process: Design IS a process, not based on "intuition" or "feeling." We'll review some of the principles and strategies that you will use in this week's design project.
10:30 AM-11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM-12:00 PM The Project: Design project will be introduced.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM-4:30 PM Studio: Students work on the design project with tutoring from instructor.

Tuesday
9:00 AM-12:00 PM Principles of Planting Design: This is not a discourse on “my favorite plants.” You can get that elsewhere. What we will discuss are ways to use plants as design tools. A unique planting design project will help you as you work on The Project after lunch.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM-4:30 PM Studio: Students work on the design project with tutoring from instructor.

Wednesday
9:00 AM-10:30 AM Creating a Portfolio That Sells: People don't hire the portfolio. They hire YOU. But an effective portfolio is still important to making a professional impression. Whether for a job interview, or for a potential client, your first impression is crucial.
10:30 AM-11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM-12:00 PM The World Around Us: Design is Design. Just because we are designing landscapes does not mean that gardens are all we need to know. By studying other designed spaces, objects and even words, we can increase the depth of our skills as designers.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM-4:30 PM Studio: Students work on the design project with tutoring from instructor.

Thursday
9:00 AM-12:00 PM Design Style and Architectural Primer: If you are going to design a landscape that is appropriate to its context, it is important to understand what the context actually is! Formal, informal, prairie, woodland, Victorian, and English are all terms we use to describe a garden. We’ll review what each means, as well as cover various architectural styles. This session and the afternoon studio will be taught by Barbara Geiger, MALA. Her web site is here: b geiger group.
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM-4:30 PM Studio: Students work on the design project with tutoring from instructor.

Friday
9:00 AM-10:00 AM Selling Your Ideas: The term “starving artist” exists for a reason. We can create the greatest design the world has ever seen, but if we can’t get someone to understand how good it is, and why it is good, it is not likely ever to be built. We’ll review strategies for getting your ideas across to your client
10:00 AM- 12:00 PM Studio.: Complete your design projects for afternoon presentation
12:00 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM-3:30 PM Presentations: Students present projects they have worked on all week.
3:30 PM-4:30 PM Concluding remarks. Feedback.

PLANET has approved this course for 2 Education Points and APLD has approved this course for 20.75 CEUS, three of which are Business CEUs.

Expectations
This is not a design program for beginners. Instructors assume you will have some experience with drafting tools, plants, and landscape design and understand basic landscape design vocabulary. Design projects will emphasize space planning, creating connections, and advanced design principles. We ask that each student have at least two years of experience. If you do not meet these criteria but feel your other qualifications ought to be considered, by all means give us a call and we can discuss it. Likewise if you have any other concerns, please let us know.

We limit class sizes to make sure each student gets enough one-on-one attention. Depending on the material being covered, you may have more than one instructor over the course of a week.

Facilities
Courses will held at the Wheeling campus of National Louis University at 1000 Capitol Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090, a short walk across the parking lot from the Candlewood Suites Hotel described below. All rooms in the hotel are suites and moderately priced. If you are into nice restaurants, there are many in the area and the hotel shuttle will be glad to take you. If you would rather keep it simple, each room is equipped with kitchen facilities. The hotel can shuttle you to a grocery store if you would prefer to go that route.

Many visitors may want to plan on coming early or staying on a couple days to explore the City of Chicago. For those who want to explore the city, you will need to have a car. Wheeling is about 20 miles from the heart of the city, which can take 40 minutes or so, depending on traffic.

The hotel headquarters is the Candlewood Suites at 8000 Capitol Drive in Wheeling. Call 847-520-1684 and mention the American Academy of Landscape Design to get preferred rates as listed below. Rooms must be guaranteed at the time of the reservation for late arrival by a credit card. A guaranteed reservation not cancelled prior to 6:00 pm 24 hours prior to arrival will be billed to the method of guarantee. Candlewood is an all-suites hotel. You can cook in your room, or go to one of the nearby restaurants for meals. The hotel has a complimentary shuttle that will deliver you if you need a ride. A hotel brochure in pdf format is located here.

Room Rates
Studio Suites $77.99 per night includes continental breakfast
One Bedroom $97.99 per night includes continental breakfast
*11% tax applies to all above rates..

Travel
If you are driving, the AALD programs will be held in Wheeling, IL, a suburb 20 miles north of Chicago. From O’Hare Airport, it is about a 30-40 minute taxi ride. Call 303 Taxi (1-888-CALL-303) for a flat rate of approximately $25 each way.