What do you think of garden designer accreditation?

The Society of Garden Designers is the UK's professional body for garden designers. Many of us hard working designers aspire to be fully registered members so we can advertise the fact that we belong to a professional, credible body. I would be interested to know how this organization is perceived by others - landscapers, other designers etc. etc. Have you heard of the Society of Garden Designers? What is your perception of the organization? How do we make ourselves better known?

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Pip Howard on November 24, 2009 at 20:19

Following the comments, but on top of the other self accreditation forum and the comments on this thread, there does appear to be such a plethora of organisations out there, trying to induce members across the whole landscaping / garden design spectrum. Whilst actually each and every organisation needs to hone in on its particular target membership which exists for each organisation. This would enable said organisations to concentrate and specialise in their own field much more, leaving the LJN (and others?) to cross the genres.

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Hall on November 26, 2009 at 14:51
To go back to Jill’s post there is not a category of associate membership for the SGD. There never has been. I believe Jill is a corresponding member of the SGD (like myself) . However this category of membership is being phased out in 2010 to be replaced by Pre Registered Membership (PRM). All those members who are not students or registered members will transfer to this new category. Those choosing not to do so will become “friends” of the SGD but will not actually be a member of the SGD.

This new membership category is a ‘shape up or ship out’ method of sorting the hobbyists from those that are professional designers. PRM members have 5 years to achieve full membership. If they fail after five years they will become “friends” of the SGD. Student membership will continue as before.

Phil comments concerning trades will make the SGD cringe. The SGD believes that garden design is a profession more akin to that of an architect or surveyor rather than a tradesman such as a plumber, electrician or (dare I say it?) a landscaper. Hence a tie up between SGD, BALI and APL will never happen under the watch of the current council of the SGD in my opinion.

To also clarify matters the SGD only regulates issues of registered members that are design related. Any construction of gardens is not covered within the SGD remit. Hence design and build companies who have registered members of the SGD working for them, can not offer the client protection on the build side of the contract. These companies are encouraged to be a member of BALI or APL as well as their designer’s being members of the SGD.

In addition, only people can be members and not companies. The name of the registered member should be clearly displayed by the side of the SGD logo on all websites, letterheads etc.. Only registered members are entitled to use the SGD logo. You can not claim to be “a member” of the SGD. You should state your category of membership i.e. registered member, corresponding member or student member. There is no such thing as a member of the SGD.

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on November 26, 2009 at 15:25

"Phil comments concerning trades will make the SGD cringe. The SGD believes that garden design is a profession more akin to that of an architect or surveyor rather than a tradesman such as a plumber, electrician or (dare I say it?) a landscaper. Hence a tie up between SGD, BALI and APL will never happen under the watch of the current council of the SGD in my opinion."

Not sure which particular comment you refer Jonathan?

If the above statement really reflects what the SGD believe then surely it's a ridiculous point of view for an organisation to hold? I would hazard a guess that most members of the SGD cannot and have never touched landscape construction.

I believe that it often takes great skill by an experienced (not going to use the word qualified) constructor to overcome many of the impossible build specifications of garden designers.

If the SGD are going to share part of the future as a respected body, they will have to start talking to everyone who is involved.

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Hall on December 15, 2009 at 11:13
Hi Phil

You referred earlier to trade associations and IMO the SGD does not want to be considered as a trade association. It is the T word that causes concern.

I believe the SGD (although I must not speak for them this is just my humble opinion) is happy to talk to BALI and APL etc... it is just they don't want to merge with them. If the SGD were to merge with anybody I suspect it would be the LI, although given the financial position with the LI, I think currently this would not happen.

There is an increasing number of members of the SGD who are design and build and this does create some problems. I am not sure how the SGD will address these as I believe there is no desire for the SGD to "get involved" with the construction of gardens - we already have the APL and BALI for this area.

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on December 15, 2009 at 11:27

Hi Jonathan

Such a coincidence that you added to the debate today. I picked up on comments made by garden designer Mark England and I was going to write a piece about the rumblings the SGD reorganisation has caused.

"While I think that the SGD is a very well-intentioned organisation, and indeed one to which I have contributed time in the past manning the stand at flower shows and the like, I think it is still struggling with its direction.

"I do welcome the move toward encouraging all members to undertake the rigorous peer review to achieve registered status; however, in individual cases this has been treated clumsily."

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Hall on December 16, 2009 at 21:55

I too have read Mark's full comments and I'm afraid he is not the only one who has been treated like this. However, these things don't change because members don't complain about them. Trying to get members to take up issues with the council of the SGD is difficult. I'm not sure why. I hope Mark does have success. I believe he should be refunded some of his fees, but I would be surprised if this happens. I don't defend the SGD, there is an awful lot I would like to change about it. I think the SGD has lost direction and its new membership rules will mean some members will leave.


PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on December 17, 2009 at 8:23
Hi Jonathan

"Trying to get members to take up issues with the council of the SGD is difficult."

Is it because they don't feel they are being listened to?

A forum such as this one is a start.
Permalink Reply by Maria Greenhill on December 17, 2009 at 9:43
I fear Jonathan is right - the SGD will lose members as a result of the recent changes. The cluster group I co-ordinate has already lost four members since the recent changes. Two who don't think the SGD is offering them value for money (One of these was an MSGD) and two who are more mature members and no longer want to remain members. Interesting days ahead..
Permalink Reply by Maria Greenhill on December 17, 2009 at 11:07
One of my original questions was how do we make our society better known? - raise our profile. Don't you think it's about time we had our president as a paid position? Our society may not be perfect but many members of council work many hours for no pay. I would assume that at times this is difficult (even detrimental) to their core businesses. If our president was paid (even if on a part-time basis) s/he could spend more time promoting our society and driving it forward. The president could co-ordinate the marketing of the society. More attention could also be given to members concerns and any issues addressed. At the moment the task must seem a fairly thankless one to the commitees and members who presently do this. Am I being naive? Does the BALI head or the RIBA president get paid? Should we pay our president? - and would it be beneficial if we did so?
Permalink Reply by david andersen on March 7, 2010 at 16:49
I knoiw several garden designers who have become full members (rather a gruelling certification process) They have all benefitted by being on the SOGD website in terms of getting more design work.
I myself am going for accreditation in May....I will let you know how I get on.

Just by being a corresponding member (£90) a year I think you can attend many of their excellent seminars and training days.

Cheers

David Andersen
Permalink Reply by Jonathan Hall on March 7, 2010 at 21:24
Every chance Karl, that is I believe part of the problem. There are many registered members of the society who have no qualifications in design at all!!! And this is my point. You can't ignore education. Could you imagine another profession were you were allowed to become a full member of its professional body without a qualification in the subject matter? Its quite simply crazy. The SGD defends itself on this basis as wishing to be open and inclusive of all. But when members with degrees who took three years to get them and someone who has no qualification other than what they have picked up from TV or the internet, are treated the same then something is fundermentally wrong. No other profession I know allows this to happen.

Karl Harrison said:
What chance has someone got of realistically got of becoming a member with no qualifications in horticulture or design?
Permalink Reply by Kirsty Blair on March 7, 2010 at 22:36
Hi Jonathan

I tend to disagree with your point about education, whilst I think its important that people have knowledge in their particular subject, there are other ways of learning. If you have learned on the job and been taught what you know by experienced people, you still have the knowledge and I don't think you should be excluded. I've met some people who know more than those who have been 'educated' but don't have the bit of paper to show. Is that not the whole point of the hoops you have jump through - only those who are committed to joining the organisation start the process.

Jonathan Hall said:
Every chance Karl, that is I believe part of the problem. There are many registered members of the society who have no qualifications in design at all!!! And this is my point. You can't ignore education. Could you imagine another profession were you were allowed to become a full member of its professional body without a qualification in the subject matter? Its quite simply crazy. The SGD defends itself on this basis as wishing to be open and inclusive of all. But when members with degrees who took three years to get them and someone who has no qualification other than what they have picked up from TV or the internet, are treated the same then something is fundermentally wrong. No other profession I know allows this to happen.

Karl Harrison said:
What chance has someone got of realistically got of becoming a member with no qualifications in horticulture or design?

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