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Replies

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  Maria Greenhill November 23, 2009 at 5:35pm

  I fear that many of my potential clients do not know about this organization. As I am considering applying for registered membership and it involves presenting a lot of work for adjudication (in additon to increased fees) I would be very interested to hear from other members - both on their perception of the SGD and if they are full members whether it has been beneficial to them.
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  Keith Barker November 23, 2009 at 7:05pm

  I'd be interested to see some research which puts figures on the public's awareness of the SGD (and BALI and APL). I suspect awareness is very low. For that reason I can't see a good business case for putting our business through whatever flaming hoops SGD (or others) demand.
  
  How do you make the SGD better known? It needs a higher profile (perhaps it should sponsor the new Channel 4 programme mentioned on here earlier in the week?). I honestly couldn't tell you what the SGD stands for, and it doesn't seem a very proactive organisation.
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  The Perfumed Garden November 23, 2009 at 9:24pm

  I'm an associate member of the SGD (this is Jill replying by the way, not Simon) which in reality means not a jot apart from the fact you get regular design magazines at a reasonable price! I'm not 'allowed' into the 'registered member' area of their website and they do not seem to offer much support as an organisation to, or seem very interested in associate members. They are very keen to get you on the road to 'registered membership' which obviously involves time and investment for us and more revenue for them.
  From the limited experience I have had first hand, the cluster groups offer useful resources to meet with other, most often, really nice people but I also know many excellent designers and landscapers that are not linked with the SGD, that would undertake as good as, or better work than some of their registered members.
  Associate members do not appear to receive any potential leads whereas I assume registered members do.
  My other slight whinge is that there seem to be a very small number of members who believe that as they are fully registered, all 'others' are obviously inferior and should be treated as such! Can't be doing with that, I'm afraid! A good reputation is something you have to earn and work hard at to keep with consistent high standards and customer liaison - if you are good you should prosper through recommendation and referral.
  With all that said, the magazine is good quality and an entertaining although sometimes infuriating and provocative read. It is interesting to see what others are doing out there - sometimes this is a very lonely job!
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  Keith Barker November 23, 2009 at 10:45pm

  That's interesting Jill.

  I often see high profile SGD members who have exactly the attitude you describe. It was their attitude which sent me here in the first place.
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  The Perfumed Garden November 23, 2009 at 11:46pm

  I'm sure there will be a few people sticking pins in my wax effigy.....so another positive - the workshops they have organised have been professionally run and very informative. I think the accreditation idea is good but as with every organisation it is only as good as it presents itself to be. Perhaps they could listen to the needs of the broad spectrum of designers rather than the elite few or maybe they simply prefer that ABC? (Jill again, not Simon!)
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  Graeme @ BGS November 24, 2009 at 9:04am

  Not being a member I can't really comment but I see that you would only get out based upon how much you put in and use the facilities available.
  
  These organisations serve a purpose to those that want to be part of it, just like LJN. If you join thinking it will sudddenly open doors that were previously shut I think members would be disappointed. Yes the SGD and others would give some creditability assuming that the clients have heard of them but it comes down to networking and making the most of what they have to offer.
  
  I see paid membership as being acceptable but would want to see value for money, not to get 1st pickings for new work but for information and guidance however I know some people don't always agree with paying for "professional help" if they can get it for free and third hand.
  
  There are cheaper and quicker ways to get noticed but it's horses for courses and everyone will have their own views as to how they address this.
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  David Beasley Garden Design November 24, 2009 at 10:50am

  I would say that the SGD is quite high profile and well known nationally. You can not read a garden design related article in the posh broadsheets (The Sunday Times) without a mention of the SGD at the bottom. They also have a presence at most garden shows too. Members are also listed together in the garden design sections of local yellow pages.
  
  Its a shame the committee and members of this organisation think they are something special/elitist because If it was cheaper/easier to 'get in' I would probably join. However, having had a look at loads of of SGD members websites, the majority of members work is nothing special and some quite inferior to non-members work elsewhere (IMO that is!).
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  Maria Greenhill November 24, 2009 at 3:18pm

  Glad to hear that David thinks the SGD has a high profile.
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  David Beasley Garden Design November 24, 2009 at 3:53pm

  There are thousands of trade bodies in other industries that no one (except the members) have heard of.
  
  I think that any well-healed, keen amateur gardener who reads the Sunday broadsheets will know by now that the SGD is for garden design what RIBA is for architects, RICS is for surveyors and Corgi is for gas fitters etc.
  
  
  Maria Greenhill said:

  Glad to hear that David thinks the SGD has a high profile.
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  Paul Ridley November 24, 2009 at 4:36pm

  I joined the SGD as a student this year, and hope to get accredited at some point in the future, as soon as I have a sufficiently varied portfolio. One of the problems is that there really is no other national body that represents this side of the industry, and while we may wish for the SGD to have a higher profile, more inclusive approach, greater tranparency it is, for the moment, the best we have. I can see that accreditation may seem a rather pointless hoop to jump through to some, but if individuals view it as an important step in developing their professional profile then I can't see that it does any harm, providing there is a truly clear set of criteria that ensure the highest standards.
  I think that the proposed new structure of the SGD goes some way towards making things more transparent - as to improving the profile of the Society I imagine this is difficult given that most people who engage a designer will presumably only do so once, or very rarely, and that these will anyway form a tiny minority of the population as a whole - it's not as though we're talking about the majority of the population who will need the services of an accredited gas engineer at some point. If designers think that it's worth while being a member, and accredited, they should then do what they can to publicise the Society and improve its visibility by getting involved at any level they can. It would be similarly helpful for designers to discuss with clients the benefits of working with BALI-registered contractors as a way of enlightening them and building the expectation that these people are the ones to go with.
  Whilst there must be many good designers working outside the Society, membership and accreditation won't have any point if fellow professionals within the industry are talking down the benefits of these and the quality of members' work. As to poor design by designers, SGD registered and otherwise, I'd say it's often hard to judge from a website how good a designer's work can be - without much in the way of background on the client brief, the site and the available budget it is difficult to gauge how effective the design is. That's not to say there aren't some obvious howlers out there that anyone could spot!
  Sorry - long reply.