Landscape Digital Design

Introduction

Course code : ENVT1016
Course co-ordinator : David Watson
Course tutors: David Watson, Shelley Mosco and Trevor Furse
Course weighting : 15 credits

This course is designed to introduce you to digital design workflows. It is not intended that you become completely proficient in any one application. It's more important that you develop an understanding of the digital design process and the way that you can move from one application to another. Although the course is computer-based, it is design-led and you will be undertaking a design project during the week. The aim is to demonstrate how digital design tools such as AutoCAD, Photoshop and PowerPoint can fit into the design process.

Software versions

This year we will be using AutoCAD 2011, Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2007.

Aims and Outcomes

• To develop an understanding of the contemporary ideas and concepts relating to the use of digital design tools within the landscape profession.
• To develop three-dimensional cognition in both real and virtual worlds.
• To develop and test design proposals using digital tools.
• To introduce digital design methodologies including iterative and narrative processes.
• To introduce or improve understanding of AutoCAD, Photoshop and PowerPoint.
• To provide an overview of digital design workflows.
• To introduce techniques of digital visualisation and presentation.

You will need…

…some basic design equipment that will enble you to undertake a simple sketch design. You will also need a digital camera for site photos and (most importantly) you will need your student ID and password so that you can login to the University computer network. If you don't already know your credentials, you will find them on your registration documentation.

A complete list of equipment is given below and the Schedule indicates when they will be required.

1. A digital camera and whatever leads you need to transfer photos to a PC.
2. Sketchpad and pencils.
3. Tape measure.
4. Notepad and pen.
5. Your Student ID and Password.
6. A USB drive (1GB or more).
7. A good night's sleep!

Schedule

The timetable below gives a brief overview of the course content. This is indicative and may change. The course is composed of 10 sessions and each session builds on the last. Sessions are not optional and you will need to attend all sessions in order to successfully complete the course. All sessions will take place in Lab A on the first floor of the Tower Block.

Note: All morning sessions begin at 10am, please be prompt as we have a lot of ground to cover!

* You will need sketch paper, pencils, pens and a digital camera (if you have one).
† You will need your Student ID, your Password and note-taking equipment.
‡ You will need a USB drive (1GB will be plenty) in order to backup your project work.

See the Documents section of this webpage for a more detailed description of course content.

Course Documents

There are currently 14 files in this section

File Listing

	Filename	Size (KB)	Date Modified
	AutoCAD 2011 Materials and Rendering.pdf	906.3	28th Mar 2011
	AutoCAD 2D Drawing Exercise.pdf	146.2	2nd Mar 2011
	AutoCAD 3D Drawing Exercise.pdf	45.2	2nd Mar 2011
	Example Submission 1.pdf	1,821.9	2nd Mar 2011
	Example Submission 2.pdf	1,135.1	2nd Mar 2011
	Example Submission 3.pdf	926.0	2nd Mar 2011
	Example Submission 4.pdf	629.1	2nd Mar 2011
	How to make a PowerPoint presentation.pdf	446.6	2nd Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design - Day 1.pdf	220.6	25th Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design - Day 2.pdf	43.3	25th Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design - Day 3.pdf	46.2	25th Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design - Day 4.pdf	114.4	25th Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design - Day 5.pdf	25.4	25th Mar 2011
	Landscape Digital Design 2010-11.pdf	19.7	25th Mar 2011

Project Brief

You are to design a visitor information panel for the Winter Garden at Avery Hill. The panel should be 1.2m x 1.2m x 40mm and the base of the panel should be 1.0m above the ground. The panel should be located outside the Winter Garden and within 50m of it. The actual location is up to you. The panel support should be designed in a simple but appropriate style.

Your designed information panel must be presented in one or more photographic views as part of a PowerPoint presentation. Each presentation should contain a number of slides, illustrating the various steps taken towards completion of the project. Your presentation must be submitted at the end of the day on Friday. Take a look at the example submission to get an idea of what is required.

The Site

The Winter Garden, Avery Hill campus.

Go to this location at www.bing.com maps. Try zooming in to the campus and then use the Bird's eye option. You may also like to find site plans at Digimap.

Examples of student work from previous years

Below are a few examples of work for this course, completed in previous years. They show the designed information panel and panel illustration located outside the Winter Garden.

Konrad Boncza-Pioro (2010)

Hannah Slade (2009)

Helen Allen (2008)

Shingo Oshima (2007)

Take a look at Jane Thomas' PowerPoint presentation. This will give you some idea what you ought to be submitting at the end of the week. You may also want to look at Oliver Duguid's presentation to see what a more advanced student could do. This third example from Helen Allen is also very good as is this example from Hannah Slade.

Course Materials

There are currently 32 files in this section

File Listing

	Filename	Size (KB)	Date Modified
	Avery Hill.dwg	577.8	2nd Mar 2011
	avery_hill_air_photo.jpg	46.0	2nd Mar 2011
	example_3d_table.dwg	73.9	2nd Mar 2011
	example_board_model.dwg	69.9	2nd Mar 2011
	example_panel_image.jpg	155.7	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_butterfly.jpg	29.5	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_cow_parsley.jpg	22.5	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_foxglove.jpg	18.1	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_globe_artichoke.jpg	13.8	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_grass.jpg	45.2	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_hawthorn.jpg	13.7	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_leaf.jpg	26.7	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_leaf_frost.jpg	13.2	2nd Mar 2011
	ldd_rosehips_frost.jpg	15.1	2nd Mar 2011
	map_base_01.jpg	195.7	2nd Mar 2011
	map_base_02.jpg	214.3	2nd Mar 2011
	map_base_03.jpg	181.6	2nd Mar 2011
	map_base_04.jpg	187.7	2nd Mar 2011
	Photoshop_Balloons.jpg	136.4	2nd Mar 2011
	Photoshop_Rockies.jpg	154.0	2nd Mar 2011
	Settings_Coast.jpg	774.8	2nd Mar 2011
	Settings_Greenwich.jpg	325.8	2nd Mar 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-01.jpg	316.0	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-02.jpg	285.2	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-03.jpg	277.8	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-04.jpg	287.0	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-05.jpg	285.5	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-06.jpg	271.7	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-07.jpg	334.3	4th Apr 2011
	Winter-Garden-2011-08.jpg	319.7	4th Apr 2011
	winter_garden_air_photo.jpg	102.3	2nd Mar 2011
	winter_garden_interior.jpg	41.8	2nd Mar 2011

Key Texts

AutoCAD 2011 & AutoCAD LT 2011 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein

AutoCAD is a very popular professional software application and it is well supported by a large number or 3rd party manuals. In an ideal world, you should look at a variety of books and decide which is best for you. However, there is one book which is sufficiently generic and that most people seem to get on with that is worth a recommendation.

The AutoCAD 2011 & AutoCAD LT 2011 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein does two jobs. First, it teaches you how to use AutoCAD in the short term and second, it provides a reliable reference for you to keep over the longer term. The book begins with the basics of opening and saving drawings and moves on to an introduction of the basic 2D drawing commands and an explanation of the various interface components. At the other end of the spectrum, it covers customising menus and programming with AutoLISP. In between these two poles there is coverage of 3D modelling and rendering, plotting, data extraction etc. At over 1200 pages, it's not a pocket book but it is a book that can be relied upon to answer most questions across a range of levels.

The AutoCAD 2011 & AutoCAD LT 2011 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein is available from Amazon.co.uk

Avery Hill Library copies: 4 plus 6 copies of the 2010 edition.
Check availability

AutoCAD 2011 & AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required
by Donnie Gladfelter

Another popular AutoCAD book that is particularly suited to beginners. It doesn't cover as much ground as Ellen Finkelstein's book but it covers all the basics in a very logical and thorough manner. Those who prefer a gentler style of teaching or those who are completely new to drawing with a computer may prefer this book as the author spends more time on each topic. In a sense, this is very much a learning book whereas Ellen's is a reference. You may find it useful to begin with this book and then graduate to the AutoCAD Bible when you feel ready. In this sense, the two books complement each other well.

AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required by Donnie Gladfelter is available from Amazon.co.uk

Avery Hill Library copies: 6 plus 9 copies of the 2010 edition (by Jon McFarland).
Check availability

Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers by Martin Evening

The title of this book is now rather misleading because it seems to imply that this is a book for photographers only. Admittedly, the original concept for the book was to introduce photographers to the digital world of Photoshop. However, over the years, the book has expanded and matured into what is now probably the best single-volume text book on Adobe Photoshop for both photographers and non-photographers. This book is not just about tweaking images to make them look better (although that is included), it covers a wide range of Photoshop skills. In fact, one of the best chapters in the book, "Layers, Selections and Masking", takes the reader beyond the confines of traditional photography and into Photomontage. The accompanying DVD includes project images from the book and video tutorials. As a comprehensive introduction to Photoshop, Martin Evening's book is hard to fault but if you prefer a more technique-based book, take a look at the "Essential Skills" book by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers is available from Amazon.co.uk where you can also use the "Search Inside" feature to take a closer look at it.

Avery Hill Library copies: 6
Check availability

Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills by Mark Galer and Philip Andrews

This is a new book, first published in 2007 and has been written specifically for Photoshop CS3. This third edition for CS5 builds on the previous editions. It is a very good book with a great introduction to the application and to digital imaging in general. It is also copiously illustrated in full colour with excelent examples. It is clear, concise and easy to follow - exactly what a good textbook should be. There is very good coverage of selections and layers (two key skill areas) as well as all the other "essential skills". The book follows up with a series of projects that you can work through in order to practice the skills learned.

Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills is available from Amazon.co.uk where you can also use the "Search Inside" feature to take a closer look at it.

Avery Hill Library copies: 5 plus 4 copies of the CS3 edition.
Check availability

Online Resources

• CADTutor - Tutorials for AutoCAD.
• Planet Photoshop - Tutorials for Photoshop.
• Microsoft Office Online - Tutorials for PowerPoint.
• SketchUp - Tutorials for Sketchup and free SketchUp software for download.
• Autodesk Student site - Free AutoCAD software for download.
• Cute PDF Writer - Free PDF plot driver for download.
• Land-Line to DXF Translator - Free translator for Digimap NTF Land-Line tiles.