Price:  £595   

Format:  E Learning
Course Code:  EDLEV4 
Award:  Level 4 Certificate 
Study Time:  300 Hours
Requirements:  Basic Event Planning Knowledge

The Certificate in Event Design is a fully interactive course which uses podcasts, videos, PDF's and Elearning material covering all elements from understanding the principles of design to applying colour, special effects, lighting and decor to an event. Your course will include  assignments, 18 which are based on on an Awards Evening with the theme of Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend. These assignments will lead you through every stage of designing an event. You will be expected to treat your tutor as your client and the assignment you submit as your proposal.

Designing an event is part of the Event Planning process, but it is a separate activity and requires different skills and knowledge if it is to be done well. Event design refers to the overall look and feel of an event and how it appeals to the five senses, so we have included as part of your course material a license to the Academy design software. This license is unlimited and will be a great tool for you to use when you commence designing for a living. It can also be used throughout the course so you are familiar with it upon graduating.

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Course Units

1. The World of Event Design

• History of the industry
• Working in Design
• Traits & Required Skills
• The difference between styling and design 
• Finding your Inspiration
• Sparking Creativity
• Setting Up Your Office

2. Conceptualisation & PLanning

• Designing for your audience
• Using the 5 Senses & Feng Shui in Event Design
• Unleashing your creativity
• Storyboards: When, Why & How
• The A-Z of Event Design
• Producing your event
• Planning techniques

3. Creating a Concept

• Flirting with the 5 Senses
• Developing the Concept
• The 5 C's of Event Design
• Five Ways to Kill and Idea
• The Creative Process
• Brainstorming
• DO IT - a simple process for creativity

4. Designing the Experience

• Choosing a Theme
• Theme Ideas
• Researching your Theme
• Using your Surroundings
• Telling the Story
• Creating the WOW factor

5. Colour Schemes and Effects

• The Colour Wheel
• The Meaning & Psychology of Colour
• Colour Tricks
• Colour Trends
• Using Colour in Event Design
• Innovative uses of Colour

6. Design & Decor Techniques

• Designers Block
• Keeping your Design Team Inspired
• Maximising Decor
• Design Techniques
• Tricks of the Trade
• The L Factor

7. Design and Your Venue

• Researching Your Venue
• Unique Venues
• Conducting a Site Inspection
• Room Configuration
• Transforming a Venue
• Working with Tents
• Outdoor Events

8. Decorative Elements

• Visual Styling
• Food Design
• Food & Flowers
• Floral Trends
• Balloon Design
• Using Candles
• Backdrops & Props

9. Fabric Decor

• Types of Event Fabrics
• Fabric Swatches
• How to Light Fabric
• Table Linen
• Fabric and Colour
• Skirting & Fabric Accessories
• Table Design Software

10. Entertainment & Music

• Music and your Event
• Thinking about Entertainment
• Choosing the right Entertainment
• Using an Agency
• The Timing of music and entertainment
• Telling the Story

11. Lighting & Aesthetics

• The Art of Lighting
• Lighting your event
• Recognising Lighting Equipment
• Lighting Effects
• Lighting Glossary

12. Sound and Production

• How to use Audio Visual
• Technical Budgets
• Production
• Understanding Power
• Podcasting
• Simulcasting
• Audio Response Systems

13. Staging, Rigging & Draping

• Types of Staging
• How to set your stage
• Forms of Rigging
• Staging Terminology
• Pipe and Drape
• Dance Floors

14. Special Effects

• Pyrotechnics
• The Magic of Ice
• Fog & Haze
• Water Effects
• Using Projection
• Balloon Drops & Confetti Canons
• Insurance

15. Creating a Table Centrepiece

• Floral Centrepieces
• Themes & Centrepieces
• Tablescapes
• Tabletop Design
• Mirrors & LED's

16. Sourcing Materials & Budgeting

• Sourcing Suppliers
• Questions to ask
• Building Relationships
• Negotiating Tactics
• Defining a Budget
• Working out Costs
• Negotiating Tips

17. Designing with Software

• Learning to use Event Designer Space Planner

18. Presenting Your Design

• Design is in the Detail
• From Concept to Completion
• Tips & Techniques
• Setting the Scene
• Reading your Clients

19. Event Execution

• Prepping for the Event
• Event Set Up
• Loading In and Out
• Working with your Suppliers
• Run Sheets
• Dealing with your Client

20. Event Trends & Technology

• Colour Trends
• Theme Trends
• Venue Trends
• Catering Trends
• Advice form the Experts

Student Testimonial

Sophia Waters

What was it about the Academy that made you choose to study with us?

I was looking for a course I could do from home which looked at both wedding planning and design and styling, which also gave you a qualification at the end of it. The website for your Academy is great, I found it really inspiring, and the course plan of what we would be studying looked really interesting. As soon as I found it I knew it was the course for me!

What are you enjoying most about your experience of studying with Academy?

I am loving the course so far! I graduated from university six years ago, and it’s actually nice to be learning new skills and writing assignments again! The course assignments are testing and challenging me, and making me really think, which is great. The excellent, constructive feedback from my tutor really helps too. It’s interesting coming up with whole new concepts I’d never have thought before and looking at how every aspect of the day can revolve around one central theme.

How is your course preparing you for taking the next step?

I am currently working as a wedding coordinator for a relatively new wedding venue in Suffolk. Eventually, I’d like to be the venue’s fully fledged planner, but need a good knowledge of what that entails first, as well as learning how to think of appropriate ideas for various colour schemes or themes for the day. The course is giving me an excellent grounding for this, from the creative side of things, like how to decorate the venue and incorporate a theme throughout the wedding, to the more practical side of things, like the order of service and sourcing suppliers. I’m also in the process of organising my own wedding at the moment so it’s helping me with that too!!

What would you say to anyone thinking of pursuing a career in Wedding and Event Planning?

For me, it’s amazing to have finally found what I want to do! I’ve never really know what I wanted to be when I ‘grew up’ (despite being 27!) but doing this course, along with my current job, has made me realise that wedding and event planning is it. It’s diverse, every day will be different, and it’s very demanding. But I think it’s fantastic. You get to meet loads of different people and completely go to town with an idea and explore it to your heart’s content. It’s a challenging career path, but a very rewarding one when you see the results at the end of it.

Do you currently own a wedding or events business or are you looking to launch a new business?

At the moment I am a wedding coordinator for Lanwades Hall, a wedding venue in Suffolk, where I would eventually like to be the in-house wedding planner. Ultimately, I’d love to launch my own wedding and event planning business, but in such a competitive market, I need experience and good contacts first.
www.facebook.com/LanwadesHall and www.twitter.com/Lanwades_Hall

Would you recommend the Academy to others and why?

I would definitely recommend the academy. I think the course modules are interesting and range across a huge selection of topics, whilst still covering each one in detail. It covers every aspect of the job of a wedding and event planner and explains how hard it is, as well as how rewarding it can be. One of the most valuable things I have found is the feedback I get from my tutor Zoe after every assignment. Her comments are in depth, constructive and very useful. I like the fact she tells me what I’m doing right, as well as where I can improve in future assignments, and I think this kind of communication and feedback is really important. I think the academy is brilliant and would absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking of doing something similar!