Certified Watershape Designer (CWD)

Watershape University was founded with a principle of accessibility — allowing students of all levels to obtain meaningful high-quality education at lower cost and reduced travel expense. Portability is a key component of access and is an important principle and reason for institutions to obtain and maintain accreditation such as IACET.

All Non-WU courses need to be pre-approved if you wish to use them as a substitute for education requirements. We will happily accept any third-party accredited program that achieves the same learning outcomes as Watershape University’s Essential Classes:

DESIGN 1111: Essential Perpsective Drawing Workshop:

• 8 hour minimum duration
• 3rd party accreditation (e.g., ABET, ACCE, CMAA, IACET, NAAB)
• List basic perspective drawing and presentation skills.
• Define visual attributes including plan views, elevations, sections, detailing and lettering.
• Explore linear perspectives through one- and two-point techniques used to create visual depth in two dimensions.
• Identify common drawing flaws and errors in perspective.

PHTA/GENESIS DESIGN 101: Introduction to Perspective Drawing is an approved equivalent

DESIGN 2211: Essential Principles of Design Workshop:

• 16 hour minimum duration
• 3rd party accreditation (e.g., ABET, ACCE, CMAA, IACET, NAAB)
• List architectural elements of design including point, line, shape, space, texture, color and form.
• List architectural principles of design including balance, hierarchy/emphasis, repetition, rhythm, proportion/scale, movement, contrast and unity/harmony, variety, pattern, and negative space.
• Discuss design vocabulary, space programming and adjacency, design theory visual design basics, pool design trends and site features and the Blue Ocean Strategy.
• Apply elements and principles of design to an in-class project.

PHTA/GENESIS DESIGN 211: Elements of Design is an approved equivalent

DESIGN 2311: Essential Architectural Styles Workshop:

• 16 hour minimum duration
• 3rd party accreditation (e.g., ABET, ACCE, CMAA, IACET, NAAB)
• Define the concept of architectural style and historical influence.
• Review and describe 20th Century design traditions including Arts and Crafts, Prairie Style, Art Deco, Bauhaus, California Bungalow, Mid-Century Modern, Brutalism and many others.
• Consider the role of water in architectural motifs.
• Explore how 20th Century architectural styles continue to define 21st Century design.

PHTA/GENESIS DESIGN 271: 20th Century Architectural Styles is an approved equivalent.

DESIGN 2321: Essential History of Water in Architecture Workshop:

• 16 hour minimum duration
• 3rd party accreditation (e.g., ABET, ACCE, CMAA, IACET, NAAB)
• Discuss the importance of water in the built environment.
• Describe how water shaped civilization, the birth and growth of cities, and its influence on architecture throughout history.
• List several important water related projects you should know about as an architect or landscape architect.
• Describe design lessons inherited from these historical places and projects and what it might predict for our future in the watershaping world.

PHTA/GENESIS DESIGN 280: History of Pools and Water Features is an approved equivalent.

DESIGN 2611: Essential Color Theory, Materials & Textures Workshop:

• 16 hour minimum duration
• 3rd party accreditation (e.g., ABET, ACCE, CMAA, IACET, NAAB)
• List the properties of light, vision and optical physics. Define color theory, primary colors, color “DNA”, blends and color mixing.
• Discuss the use of color wheels. Explore the concept of color psychology and how impacts mood and ultimately purchasing decisions.
• Consider how color can make or break design concepts.
• Introduce color psychology, how color can influence purchasing decisions.

PHTA/GENESIS DESIGN 231: Color Theory & Its Application is an approved equivalent

Please submit certificates of completion or transcripts from other institutions by uploading via your personal account on the University Portal here.