Chapter 5 Results

5.0 Results

The total number of visitors to the model website during the survey period (2^nd Oct. 1998 - 30^th Mar. 1999) was 302 excluding visits made by the author in order to check and maintain the site. The graph below illustrates how the visits are distributed over the survey period.

fig.8 Visitors to model website

There were no responses recorded to the online Enquiry Form and so a sample Client Group was assembled according to the parameters set out in 4.1 Survey Strategy. The Client Group was composed of the Hoogstad Family in Holland, the York Family in England and the Monagle family in Australia. The Client Group was instructed to complete the online Enquiry Form. The case studies proceeded according to the Internet model website and the Design Service provided was composed of;

A summary of the survey information which was submitted
A survey/evaluation drawing
A scaled drawing of the Design Proposal
A Design Report which included 3D views of the Design Proposal

A copy of each Design Proposal is contained within Appendices 3,4 and 5. The clients responses and comments to the feedback interview are summarised below. The York family and the Hoogstad family were interviewed in person. The interview with the Monagle family was conducted by telephone.

Case study 1 - York Family

Question	Response Summary
1. Did you feel that you were able to give sufficient survey information to describe your garden site and what your preferences were for the design?	Yes
2. How did you feel about the process for giving survey information?	Awkward but not a two way thing so no elaboration of wants but also not influenced by the designer
3. Did you feel that you received a satisfactory design service?	Yes because the content of the report shows that their wants were actually used to produce an individual design and not simply some standardised design out of a box
4. How did you feel about the process/method for describing your garden?	Preferable because you can evaluate the design in your own time without the sales patter of the designer

Case Study 2 - Hoogstad Family

Question	Response Summary
1. Did you feel that you were able to give sufficient survey information to describe your garden site and what your preferences were for the design?	No. The spaces in the brief for additional notes were not noticed and as a consequence the carport area was not described sufficiently
2. How did you feel about the process for giving survey information?	Would have liked some helpful hints as to the best way of recording information and how to draw a plan of the garden
3. Did you feel that you received a satisfactory design service?	Yes because the content of the report shows that the design is tailored to their needs and has taken time to produce
4. How did you feel about the process/method for describing your garden?	It took a while to get used to the conceptual nature of the images and although there were explanations, they were more difficult to understand because of unfamiliarity with the english language

Case Study 3 - Monagle Family

Question	Response Summary
1. Did you feel that you were able to give sufficient survey information to describe your garden site and what your preferences were for the design?	Yes but forgot to mention the presence of standard roses up the side of the house
2. How did you feel about the process for giving survey information?	Yes because the house and garden plans were available so it was not necessary to measure anything
3. Did you feel that you received a satisfactory design service?	Yes - thought the sketches were excellent and use of colour was informative and much more than expected
4. How did you feel about the process/method for describing your garden?	They felt quite comfortable with the process because the drawings had sufficient labelling to explain all of the features

At the conclusion of each interview, the sample clients were invited to make any additional comments regarding their experiences. The York Family stated they they would not use a Traditional Garden Design Service because of a perceived ‘hard sell element’ which they believe a designer would subject them to. Mr. York stated that they would be interested in using an Internet Garden Design Service.

The Hoogstad family live in a house which is more than 100 years old. They had recently built large double glazed doors opening out onto the innercourt as part of major renovation work proceeding in the house. They were particularly pleased with how the steps and garden would appear from this doorway.

The Monagle family were pleased to have a design which they felt could be implemented in stages in order to spread the cost over a longer period of time. Mrs. Monagle stated that she would be happy to use either an Internet Garden Design Service or a traditional Garden Design Service.