Graduate Emily Rubira

Career Change into Garden Designer

A Meaningful Creative Path for Your Next Chapter

More than ever, people from all backgrounds are turning to garden design as a rewarding second career — one that blends creativity, plants, design thinking and purpose.

At the London College of Garden Design Australia (LCGD Australia), career changers make up a large part of our student community. Many arrive with no formal design experience, but a strong interest in gardens, nature and problem-solving.

Our programs are designed to take students from curiosity to capability, building the skills, confidence and portfolio needed to work professionally as a garden designer.

Why Garden Design Appeals to Career Changers

Garden design offers a rare balance of creativity, practicality and personal connection.

People shift into this field because it offers:

  • Creative expression grounded in the natural world

  • Meaningful work that improves how people live

  • A tangible outcome you can see built

  • A flexible career path — studio work, self-employment or collaboration

  • Integration of plants, design and wellbeing

  • A new professional identity, without starting from zero

Garden design is accessible to people with backgrounds in architecture, design, horticulture, marketing, healthcare, IT, education, trades, and completely unrelated fields.

**Do You Need a Design Background?

No — You Need a Learning Mindset**

Most career changers at LCGD Australia have never studied design before.

What matters is:

  • Curiosity

  • A love of plants and outdoor spaces

  • A willingness to learn

  • Commitment to developing new creative skills

Our teaching approach supports students from foundational concepts through to advanced design practice over the two-year program.

How to Retrain as a Garden Designer

1. Study a Professional Garden Design Program

The most effective pathway into the industry is structured, design-led training.

LCGD Australia’s two-year Garden Design Program provides:

  • Garden design principles

  • Planting design and horticultural science

  • Concept development and spatial planning

  • Construction knowledge and documentation

  • Digital and presentation skills

  • Real design projects and studio learning

  • One-on-one feedback, crits and mentoring

  • A professional, industry-ready portfolio

It’s a complete qualification for those entering the profession from scratch.

2. Immerse Yourself in Plants and Place

Garden designers work with living materials.

Students learn in the most immersive way possible — inside the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, gaining exposure to horticulture, plant identification and seasonal change.

Many career changers discover that plant knowledge becomes their biggest strength.

3. Develop a Strong Portfolio

Your portfolio becomes your entry point into the industry.

LCGD graduates finish with a refined, cohesive portfolio showcasing:

  • Conceptual thinking

  • Planting design

  • Documentation

  • Detailing

  • Built projects (where applicable)

  • A clear design identity

This is what helps graduates secure roles or launch their own studios.

4. Connect With Industry

Career changers benefit from the strong connections LCGD provides:

  • Guest lecturers and mentors

  • Studio visits

  • Supplier partners

  • Nursery and horticulture relationships

  • Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) opportunities

  • Links to leading design studios

Networking becomes part of the learning experience, helping students confidently step into the profession.

Career Opportunities After Retraining

Graduates move into roles such as:

  • Garden Designer

  • Residential Landscape Designer

  • Planting Designer

  • Garden Stylist / Outdoor Living Designer

  • Junior Designer in a studio

  • Design Support roles

  • Freelance design practice

Many career changers establish successful studios within a few years of graduating.

Why Career Changers Choose LCGD Australia

  • Clear, structured two-year pathway

  • Flexible learning options (in-person and online)

  • Internationally informed curriculum

  • Studio-based teaching

  • Strong planting design focus

  • Access to the Royal Botanic Gardens

  • Expert lecturers and supportive mentors

  • Strong track record of graduate success

The environment is professional, creative and welcoming — ideal for people stepping into a new chapter.

Your Next Career Begins Here

If you’re ready to explore a new future in garden design, LCGD Australia provides the training, support and industry exposure to help you make the transition with confidence.

Explore the Garden Design Program, download a prospectus or speak with our team about study pathways.