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HERE IS A LIST OF CURRENT DESIGN CLASS OFFERINGS:

• Landscape Design Lecture and Laboratory (LH18A-B & LH22A-B, fall and spring semesters). This introductory four course series covers the basic skills needed to prepare small scale landscape designs, including design process, aesthetic principles, site analysis, graphic techniques, site measuring, transit level use, and calculating shadow patterns. Offered days and nights on alternating years.

• Planting Design (LH29, fall semester). This class focuses on the production of landscape designs in which plants are the primary element. Topics include planting for erosion control, microclimate modification, screening, and other functional uses; aesthetic considerations such as color, form, texture, scale, and accent; the production of lists sorting species according to their design potential and uses; and the design process as applied to planting plans.

• Computer Assisted Landscape Design (LH34A-B-C, fall semester). We will use the 2D/3D CAD program Vectorworks (for Mac and PC), to generate landscape design drawings. Topics include the use of layers and color to separate and sort information; technical tools such as rescaling, dimensioning, area calculations, and plant counts; developing personal libraries of plant symbols, textures, and details; techniques to make a computer-generated design look pleasing and friendly. The class is held at a computer lab on main campus. It can be taken three times. Offered days and nights on alternating years.

• SketchUp Pro for Landscape Designers (LH48PC, fall semester). In this nine-week course we’ll cover the fundamentals of the 3D program Sketchup Pro (similar to Google Sketchup). We’ll learn the program’s tools and operations, with special emphasis on the preparation of landscape design drawings.

• Advanced Landscape Design (LH35A-B, spring semester). LH35A will cover issues related to designing on sloping sites. The central focus will be on designing walls, terraces, and stairs, and we’ll also learn how to prepare drainage and grading plans, measure topography, and calculate cut and fill volumes. LH35B will focus on the design of water features, lighting layouts, the custom detailing of structures, and cost estimating. Offered during the day only.

• Freehand Drawing for Landscape Designers (LH48OV, fall semester). In this class we’ll work on developing drawing techniques that help you quickly illustrate your designs in progress, so that you and your clients have a simple 3D view of the design as you are developing it. We’ll cover value scales, line drawing techniques, simple perspective and axonometric methods, color, and other techniques for depicting designs in 3D.

• Design Evaluation of Bay Area Landscapes (LH33, spring semester). Each week we will visit parks, plazas, campuses, botanic gardens, waterfronts, private gardens, and other landscapes around the San Francisco Bay Area, evaluating their success through observation, discussion, sketching, and writing. Students will come away with an enhanced design awareness and vocabulary, an expanded knowledge of plants and materials, and an appreciation of the ways designs do or do not adapt to their surroundings. Offered during the day only.

• Designing with Native Plants (LH32, usually in fall semester). In this class students will visit and evaluate local gardens and regional parks, and prepare planting plans incorporating species indigenous to Bay Area ecosystems. The class is taught by Glen Keator.

• Landscape Construction (LH14, fall semester). This class will cover the design and detailing of retaining walls, fences and gates, staircases, decks, pergolas, and paved surfaces. We will study the properties and design potential of common landscape materials such as wood, stone, gravel, concrete, and metals. Offered during the day, the class includes a weekly 3 hour lab. Offered at night, the class includes 3 Saturday workshops.

• Site Operations for Landscape Designers and Builders (LH31, fall semester). This class covers techniques for adapting a design drawing onto a site. We will learn advanced measuring methods, how to prepare accurate base maps, how to use a transit level, how to set grading and layout stakes, how to dimension a design, how to estimate project costs, and other procedures that lie within the common ground between designers and builders. Offered during the day only.

• Irrigation (LH17, spring semester). This class covers irrigation materials (pipe, fittings, valves, backflow, heads, and controllers), basis hydraulics (pressure loss calculations), and the layout of drip and spray irrigation systems. Offered during the day, the class includes a three hour lab; offered at night, the class includes three Saturday workshops.

• Landscape Design Forum (LH210A-B-C, every semester). This weekly class offers students a chance to discuss questions, problems, and other issues related to running a landscape design or design build business. We’ll critique each other’s designs, hear from guest speakers (contractors, suppliers), discuss contracts, billing, and setting rates, and other issues related to professional practice. You can enroll up to three times, and everyone is welcome to attend.