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.