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LANDSCAPE GRAPHICS
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GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND THE DESIGN PROCESS is also a literature study of similar projects in Ethiopia as well
as international projects. The focus is on facts, attitudes, needs,
There are 5 generally recognized stages, or phases in the design data, constraints and potential.
process. At each of these stages, graphic products are generated Graphic character and media
to record, externalize, and communicate ideas or information. A program is often comprised of notes, completed
These graphic products range from the simplest sketches to the questionnaires and other logically organized written materials,
most detailed drawings of construction details. All the graphic and drawings or sketches to highlight them.
products have one quality in common, i.e. they are all products INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
of graphic thinking – visualizations of something that does not At the inventory and analysis stage, the landscape designer
exist. Relationship between the 5 major design phase and their gathers and records information on the physical characteristics
appropriate graphic products. of a site such as lot and building dimensions, vegetation, soils,
climate, drainage, views and other important affecting factors.
Design phase Graphic product The purely objective recording of site data is an inventory.
Program development Written program Interpretive manipulation of this data and subjective comments
Inventory and analysis Site Analysis drawings constitute a site analysis. This information together with the
Conceptual design Concept plans and sketches written program are the basic guide lines for design.
Design development Presentation drawings Graphic character and media
Final design Implementation documents The inventory and analysis are separate graphic items, but
mostly they are combined. In all cases, they are accurate, clear
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT and comprehensive plan view drawings that explain site
It is a research and information gathering phase in which data specific conditions, constraints and potential.
is collected from property owners, administrators and users. It

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 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
At the design development stage, specific ideas begin to
formulate. At first the drawings are quick free hand sketches
which allow the designer to evaluate solutions as they evolve.
As the ideas are refined to integrate all the functional and
aesthetic criteria, the more developed drawings contain specific
information as to spatial organization, form, color, materials
and user potential.
Graphic character and media
Although the initial drawings are usually very rough and very
preliminary. The refined drawings need to be fairly realistic
and convincing. A combination of plan view, sections and
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN perspectives with color are most effective.
The conceptual design phase is when early design ideas and
functional relationships are explored. The graphic products at
this stage are called functional diagrams, concept plans or
schematic plans. They are sketches or sketch like drawings.
These sketches are usually made for the designer’s self
communication – a record of ideas that forms the basis for
further idea development. Sometimes it may be presented to
other designers and clients for feed back.

Graphic character and media

Concept plans and sketches should be honest, open, rough free
hand drawings that may be a series of creative scribbles and
jumbled diagrams.
Simple plan view diagrams, quick sections.
It is common to see bubble shapes, arrows and abstracts
symbols on concept drawings but should always remain
vigorous, powerful, and direct.
Concept graphics are supposed to be done rapidly with ideas
flowing freely. They need to be self explanatory, with script limited to brief
They should not be constrained by the desire to impress any labels. Rough models are also effective.
one with one’s own artistry.

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FINAL DESIGN
The landscape designer final ideas, once they are approved by
the client, need to be communicated to the people who will
build the project. A series of construction working drawings
must be produced for use by the various installation
contractors. A typical set of landscape working drawings may
contain a site plan, grading plans, layout plans, irrigation plans,
planting plans, and detail sheets.
Graphic character and media
Technical drafting required
Although free hand graphics –needed for - lettering and
organic symbols
The graphics must be complete, accurate and easy to read.
CONCEPT DRAWINGS

Conceptual drawings are loose and free in character..

There are no conventional symbols that are right or wrong.

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However most of the graphics at this beginning design stage NON -LINEAL SYMBOLS
are very abstract and are primarily not meant to convey exact
shapes, textures or forms.
They primarily express functions, activities, space and their Activity areas, use
relationships. zones, functional spaces
For example, use areas may be shown simply as bubbles, or
blobs and movement corridors as arrows
At this stage there is no attempt to show exact forms or edges
Buildings and structures
of materials.
Use 6B pencil, felt tip
markers or colored Focal areas, points of
markers interest, conflict zones

For toning areas

Activity or circulation
For directional signatures nodes

For narrower lines

STATIC LINEAL SYMBOLS
Vertical and horizontal
strokes joined in a Functional edges:
continuous movement. Barriers,
Parallel or radiating Screens,
strokes of consistent Walls
width – effective symbols
for landscape barriers.

Noise zones

Ecological edges:
Forested areas,
Cliff area

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ACTIVE LINEAL SYMBOLS

Automobile circulation

Pedestrian circulation

Access points

View direction

Wind direction

Ecological processes

Movement of anything

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QUICK TREES TREES WITH FOLIAGE TEXTURE

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TREES WITH BRANCH SEQUENCE FOR DRAWING CONIFEROUS TREES
PATTERNS BRANCHED TREES

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PLANT GROUPS DECIDUOUS SHRUBS OR TREE GROUPS

TROPICAL PLANTS
FINE TEXTURED SHRUBS

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HEDGES TONE CONTRAST AND BALANCE

LANDFORM
LAYERING

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GROUND COVERS

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ROCKS POOLS AND FOUNTAINS

WATER

WATER SURFACE TEXTURE

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PAVING BUILDINGS

FREE HAND BUILDINGS

HARDSCAPE PATTERNS

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SHADOWS FOR TREES

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FAST SHADOWS OUTLINE TREES

COMPOSITE SHADOWS

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OUTLINE TREES

BRANCHED TREES

OUTLINE TREES WITH BRANCHING

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FOLIAGE TEXTURE TREES

TONED TREES

CONIFER TEXTURE TREES

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TONED TREES TREE RUBBINGS

TONED EVERGREEN TREES

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SHRUBS

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TONED SHRUBS

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WATER

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WATER

WATER

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VERTICAL PLANE ELEMENTS

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GROUND PLANE ELEMENTS

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CHARACTERISTICS OF A LANDSCAPE SECTION

A bold prominent profile line DRAWING A SECTION FROM A PLAN

All vertical features drawn at the same scale no matter how far
they are from the profile line.

USES OF LANDSCAPE SECTIONS  To study the landform
 To illustrate landscape processes.
 To emphasize the importance of vertical elements as  To demonstrate the importance of climate and
they relate to activities and use. microclimate.
 To communicate hidden elements in plan view.  To use in lighting studies.
 To analyze screening and views from specific vantage  To show ecological relationships
points.  To show the internal structure of a built element.

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To emphasize the importance of vertical elements as
they relate to activities and use.
To show people, activities, uses and the built environment,
it is best to keep the vertical scale and the horizontal scale
the same to avoid unrealistic distortions.

To communicate hidden elements in plan view.

Caves, overhangs, depths of water, and under ground To analyze screening and views from specific vantage
features are some of the elements that are impossible to points.
show in plan view.

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To study the landform To demonstrate the importance of climate and
On larger scale landscapes with subtle landforms, it is microclimate.
sometimes helpful to exaggerate the landform by scaling the
vertical by 1.5 or 2.0 times the horizontal.

To show ecological relationships

To illustrate landscape processes

To show the internal structure of a built element.

To use in lighting studies

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