Landscape Digital Design
Course code : ENVT1016
Course co-ordinator : David Watson
Format : Block Course (11th to 15th January 2010)
Latest News
7th January 2010
Currently, the block course is due to run as planned. However, we are monitoring weather conditions and will publish any changes on this page as decisions are made.
10th January 2010
It looks as though the threat of snow has abated and the block course is due to run as planned.
Introduction
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.
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 Course Diary indicates when they will be required.
- A digital camera and whatever leads you need to transfer photos to a PC.
- Sketchpad and pencils.
- Tape measure.
- Notepad and pen.
- Your Student ID and Password.
- A USB drive (1GB or more).
- A good night's sleep!
Course Diary
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.
| Date | Time | Room | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 11th Jan | 10.30am to 1pm | Fry Lab (Southwood) | AutoCAD 2D - part 1† |
| Mon, 11th Jan | 2pm to 5pm | Fry Lab (Southwood) | AutoCAD 2D - part 2 |
| Tue, 12th Jan | 10am to 1pm | T305 (Tower Block) | Photos & sketch design* |
| Tue, 12th Jan | 2pm to 5pm | T305 (Tower Block) | Digital Design (lecture) |
| Wed, 13th Jan | 10am to 1pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | AutoCAD 3D - part 1 |
| Wed, 13th Jan | 2pm to 5pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | AutoCAD 3D - part 2 |
| Thu, 14th Jan | 10am to 1pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | Photoshop - part 1 |
| Thu, 14th Jan | 2pm to 5pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | Photoshop - part 2 |
| Fri, 15th Jan | 10am to 1pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | AutoCAD rendering |
| Fri, 15th Jan | 2pm to 5pm | Lab A (Tower Block) | PowerPoint‡ |
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 submit your project work.
Course Documents
There are currently 14 files in this section
| Filename | Size (KB) | Date Modified | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
AutoCAD 2010 Materials & Rendering.pdf | 1,320.5 | 4th Jan 2010 |
|
AutoCAD 2D Drawing Exercise.pdf | 146.2 | 10th Jan 2010 |
|
AutoCAD 3D Drawing Exercise.pdf | 45.2 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Example Submission 1.pdf | 1,821.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Example Submission 2.pdf | 1,135.1 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Example Submission 3.pdf | 926.0 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Example Submission 4.pdf | 629.1 | 4th Jan 2010 |
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How to make a PowerPoint presentation.pdf | 446.6 | 7th Jan 2010 |
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Landscape Digital Design - Day 1.pdf | 46.6 | 10th Jan 2010 |
|
Landscape Digital Design - Day 2.pdf | 273.1 | 10th Jan 2010 |
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Landscape Digital Design - Day 3.pdf | 49.3 | 10th Jan 2010 |
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Landscape Digital Design - Day 4.pdf | 136.4 | 10th Jan 2010 |
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Landscape Digital Design - Day 5.pdf | 29.9 | 10th Jan 2010 |
|
Landscape Digital Design 2009-10.pdf | 29.7 | 4th Jan 2010 |
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.live.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.
Shingo Oshima (2007)
Matthew Knight (2007)
Helen Allen (2008)
Hannah Slade (2009)
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 38 files in this section
| Filename | Size (KB) | Date Modified | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Avery Hill.dwg | 577.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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avery_hill_air_photo.jpg | 46.0 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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example_3d_table.dwg | 73.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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example_board_model.dwg | 69.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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example_panel_image.jpg | 155.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_butterfly.jpg | 29.5 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_cow_parsley.jpg | 22.5 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_foxglove.jpg | 18.1 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_globe_artichoke.jpg | 13.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_grass.jpg | 45.2 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_hawthorn.jpg | 13.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_leaf.jpg | 26.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_leaf_frost.jpg | 13.2 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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ldd_rosehips_frost.jpg | 15.1 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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map_base_01.jpg | 195.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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map_base_02.jpg | 214.3 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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map_base_03.jpg | 181.6 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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map_base_04.jpg | 187.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Photoshop_Balloons.jpg | 136.4 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Photoshop_Rockies.jpg | 154.0 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Coast.jpg | 774.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Greenwich.jpg | 325.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Winter_Garden_1.jpg | 190.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Winter_Garden_2.jpg | 201.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Winter_Garden_3.jpg | 236.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Winter_Garden_4.jpg | 191.6 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Settings_Winter_Garden_5.jpg | 181.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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tq4474ne.dxf | 929.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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tq4474nw.dxf | 664.7 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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tq4474se.dxf | 1,164.1 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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tq4474sw.dxf | 390.6 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Winter-Garden-1.jpg | 177.3 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Winter-Garden-2.jpg | 176.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Winter-Garden-3.jpg | 179.9 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Winter-Garden-4.jpg | 195.6 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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Winter-Garden-6.jpg | 201.5 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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winter_garden_air_photo.jpg | 102.3 | 28th Mar 2009 |
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winter_garden_interior.jpg | 41.8 | 28th Mar 2009 |
Key Texts
AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 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 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 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 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010 Bible by Ellen Finkelstein is available from Amazon.co.uk
Avery Hill Library copies: 6 plus 14 copies of previous editions.
AutoCAD 2010 & AutoCAD LT 2010: No Experience Required by Jon McFarland
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 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010: No Experience Required by Jon McFarland is available from Amazon.co.uk
Avery Hill Library copies: 9 plus 9 copies of the 2009 edition.
Photoshop CS3 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. 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 CS3 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: 4
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.