Getting Started 

How I became involved with floral design

I learned floral design on the job. This is not uncommon, but getting your foot in the door is key. Here is how it worked for me.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in drawing and painting, my yearning to be connected to the natural environment led me to work in a greenhouse for the summer. This was the 'foot in the door" for me. I was in the right place at the right time and, even though I had no direct experience, a flowershop owner who regularly visited the greenhouse where I worked, got to know me and recommended me for a floral design position at another business.

This was years ago and things have changed since then. It might be harder today to begin with no experience, but don't let that stop you from trying. It's a great way to learn.

After working in my first floral position for a few years, I went back to school, received an MA degree in drawing and taught art for several years. Eventually my love of nature and flowers guided me back to the art of floral design. But, you do not need a Master's degree to be a floral designer.

Designers have started out as delivery drivers, flower processors or salespeople. As a flower processor, your job is to inspect, cut and treat the flowers as they arrive from the wholesale and its a great way to learn about the flowers.

I have known of salespeople, drivers and processors who wanted to start designing, but the shop owners felt they were too valuable in their positions to move them to another one. You may need to think through a plan to present to the owners which would make the switch more desirable to them.

Formal Training 

Going to school for floral design

As I did, you may want to study art and design at a 2 or a 4-year academic institution. Another degree which can help you along toward a floral design career is horticulture.

There are also schools specific to floral design such as Rittner's in Boston (see below). Some of my fellow designers have studied there and are doing quite well now. Once you begin to work in a shop you will fine-tune your skills and find working with other designers to be of great benefit as you learn from each other.

Floral Design Schools and Other Resources 

Rittners School of Floral Design in Boston

Rittners School of Floral Design offers diploma, hands-on workshop courses in Floral Designing and Flower Shop Management. The site also offers free flower arranging lessons, industry information and more.

American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) Market Place

The "AIFD Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques and Traditions" is full of excellent information and is a very useful reference. It is full of photos and illustrations and was recently compiled by the American Institute of Floral Designers to serve as a comprehensive guide. You must be familiar with the information in this text, along with passing an intensive design test, in order to be certified as an AIFD member.

Chain of Life Network

One of the most interesting and helpful sections of the site is a comprehensive listing of floral design and horticulture schools. The site is also full of information on horticulture including plant and cut flower care.
Sign up for free membership to access all the information.

Study Floral Design in London

Here is a link to Paula Pryke's design school in London. Paula is one of THE top floral designers and highly regarded among her peers. This would be top-of-the-line training. Some of her beautifully done publications are highlighted in the book listing further on.

Flower Council of Holland

The Flower Council of Holland site offers step-by-step bouquet tutorials, information on specialty and novelty flowers from Holland, design and display ideas, theme suggestions, market information and much more. This is an informative, interesting and colorful site.

Society of American Florists (SAF)

The Society of American Florists is an organization providing support to florists in the form of information, research and promotion. Explore this website which is a wealth of resources including many well-written articles and research reports.

The SAF Career Page

"Careers in the Floral Industry": The Society of American Florists makes available on-line publications to help you learn more about career opportunities and training in the floral industry. The career brochure is a PDF file.

What is There to Learn? 

Its not just design

An important part of your education in floral design will be in what is called "mechanics". These are the techniques you will need to know in order to produce a solid piece which will be long-lasting and secure.

Proper use of a knife, though it may sound elementary, is important, for instance. Cutting cleanly at the correct angle can make all the difference in the success of your designs. Certain flowers will need extra support and unique treatments.

Even for someone who has been in the business for years, there is always something new to learn and floral supply companies are constantly coming up with innovative products to make our job easier and more interesting.

Shown here is a centerpiece design I created for an elaborate wedding.

Safety Issues 

1. PESTICIDES & HERBCIDES: I think that the one issue most disregarded is that of pesticides and herbicides. These are absorbed through the skin and, while most designers do not wear gloves because they want being able to feel what they are doing, its not a bad idea to start early-on and get used to wearing them. (With corsage and other delicate work, however, gloves just won't work).
   
   I have found the best work glove to be a latex-free one by Kimberly-Clark called "Safeskin Purple Nitrile exam Gloves" and you should be able to find them in many drugstores. They are not as fragile as latex gloves and can be re-used. At the very least, consider wearing them if you are cutting the flowers as they arrive from wholesale.
2. AEROSOLS: Many shop owners will want you to use a spray to shine the greens in your arrangements. This is so bad for you and we should legally be able to refuse to use it. These sprays specifically say to use them only in a well-ventilated area. Many a day I have seen clouds of this spray lingering in the air and gone home with a layer of it on my glasses. You know you are breathing it in. Try using a similar product in a spray bottle rather than an aerosol.
3. SPRAY PAINT: Most shops discourage their customers from insisting on flowers sprayed with color. Some customers, however, cannot be convinced. Asthetically, its not great and the sprays are even worse than leaf shine, especially the metallics. I have seen designers get physically ill from using these. If you must use them, go outside.
4. SHARP THINGS ON THE FLOOR...knives, wires or other sharp things! When you and your fellow designers are working quickly and dropping things on the floor as you go, the debris around you can be hazardous. You may forget that earlier you dropped your knife and had to get out another one because you couldn't find it. I've seen some pretty serious injuries caused by people scooping up debris off the floor to put in the trash. I jammed a wire up under my fingernail once and now I always use a broom and dust pan to pick things up. I cringe when I see someone using their hands. I just don't want you to learn your lesson the hard way.

Floral Design Tools 

The Best!

Joyce Chen Scissors

The official description: "These strong, handy, all-purpose kitchen scissors can cut right through chicken bones, lobster shells and whole fish. Dishwasher safe. This versatile scissor can also be used for art work and gardening. With the flexible handle, this is such a versatile tool for every part of your home!"

Many floral designers love and covet these Joyce Chen snips. I have 3 pair, just in case I lose one. They fit so nicely in your hand.

The Importance of Speed 

or ..."Time is money".

Any good manager or shop owner will encourage you and reward you as a designer for being fast.

You are a major component of the product being sold: the flower arrangement. It is your skill and creativity which transforms the raw materials into something greater than the sum of its parts. Without you, it is just a bucket of flowers, a vase, some water, a knife, greens. With you as the added component, it all comes to life.

To many people looking from the outside in, this is almost magical and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to provide a creative product. Speed, however, is an important part of professional floristry. It is what makes the business profitable. Speed will come with experience and focus.

I have seen Paula Pryke work and, in addition to being a fabulous designer, one of the things that stands out about her is that she is very, very fast.

Holiday Work 

Argh!

It takes a dedicated floral designer to hold up through the holidays. When other families are getting together on their day off before the holiday, you are working long hours at the shop, eating while you work without a break. Afterwards, you might end up like these kitties: spread out on the couch for days.

Some holidays are intensive but short, like Valentine's Day, while others seem to drag on forever (Christmas). At Christmas you get tired of red and white and Holly (ouch). After Valentine's Day, you never want to see another rose again.

Holidays can be a fun time in the shop when you bond with your co-workers through punchy silliness. You go through highs and lows throughout the day. Quiet times will ramp into periods where everything is suddenly funny.

It can take days to catch up on your rest and spouses and children can be resentful of your absence. Unless someone has been in the floral business, they will not understand how burned out and tired you are.

During these times, your love of flowers and design must carry you through.

Find a Job in the Floral Industry 

Florapersonnel

1740 Lake Markham Road Sanford, Florida USA 32771
Phone: 407-320-8177
Fax: 407-320-8083
E-mail: hortsearch@aol.com

Magazines for Floral Designers 

While these may seem expensive compared to your every-day magazine, as a professional publication, they are worth the price. Besides, if you are working as a designer, you should be able to claim these as a deduction on your taxes.

If you end up working in a shop, make sure you are given access to all of the shop's magazines each month.

Here's another idea: Talk to the owner of your local flower shop and tell them you are interested in learning more about design. Ask if they would be willing to give you issues of any floral magazines they recieve once they are finished with them. This will have the added benefit of showing your interest and potentially developing a relationship that might "get you in the door", so to speak.

Florists Review

Packed with useful information and design suggestions. A subscription to this would keep you up-to-date on what is happening in the world of floral design. You will see this being read in almost any flower shop. The link in the next section will take you directly to a place where you can see the magazine and look inside of it.

Amazon Price: $52.00 (as of 07/26/2008)

Fusion Flowers

This magazine is fabulous: very innovative, European design. I receive this mag and the following one. They are both filled with crazy-cool designs.

Amazon Price: $78.84 (as of 07/26/2008)

Fleur Creatif - French ed

This European publication is very innovative and cutting edge in style and highly recommended by some of the hip, big-city florists. The designs are very contemporary, creative and interesting.

Amazon Price: $119.50 (as of 07/26/2008)

Look Inside Florists Review 

Florists Review Magazine

Check out Florist's Review by going directly to their own site. Here you can read some of the articles every month.

Their official description: "Florists' Review magazine is a monthly guidebook for operating a successful floral business. As the industry's only independent magazine, its goal is to inform and inspire professional florists."

A Workshop on Flowers at Omega Institute 

Being With Flowers

Floral sculptor, Anthony Ward, leads this workshop for beginners or veterans. His teachings are about the spiritual aspect of flowers and how we can learn what we need to know from nature.

Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY is the nation's largest holistic learning center (2 hrs. from NYC) and offers workshops, retreats, and wellness vacations.

Anthony's Website

Have a look at Anthony Ward's website to learn more about him, his work and his teachings.

Flower Therapy 

About Flowers

This is a VERY INTERESTING article on the effect flowers have on us emotionally. The photos are beautiful and the information is organized, well-presented and backed by research.

Wholesale Flowers 

The Boston Flower Exchange

The Boston Flower Exchange - Flowers wholesale to the floral trade, Boston, MA

Some Great Books About Floral Design 

These are books I highly recommend, especially the one by Malcolm Hiller. Not only does he show many wonderful designs, but there is a wealth of information on individual flowers and their care.

The photography in all of these large-format books is beautiful and the prices are really great from Amazon.

Flowers: The Book of Floral Design

by Malcolm Hillier

IF I WAS CHOOSING JUST ONE, THIS WOULD BE IT. Not only are the designs very creative and the photos beautiful, but it is a terrific reference as well. Lovely color photos of individual flowers give you information on care and handling for each. I refer to this book all the time. The price may seem high, but it is a big, fat book chock full of info.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)

Flowers: The Complete Book of Floral Design

by Paula Pryke

Paula is a well-known British designer and is highly regarded among floral designers. Her books are a good place to see the newest trends in flowers.

Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 07/26/2008)

Flowers, Flowers

by Paula Pryke

Another Paula Pryke book.

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/26/2008)

Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design

by Paula Pryke

Paula's NEWEST book was available on Valentine's Day of 2006. You can attend her school in London, too. See the link to her site under "Floral Design Schools and Resources".

Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 07/26/2008)

In the Company of Flowers

by Ron Morgan

A beautiful book by one of the best US designers. He uses lots of fruits in his arrangemements which add texture and interest. Check this out for wonderful ideas.

Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 07/26/2008)

Fun Floral Design Info 

Color Experience

This is fun!
Find out about the theory of color, test your knowledge regarding color and use what you have learned to make your own creations.

This is a playful little exercise you can do on-line to learn about color and its importance in flower arrangements. It was designed to help florists use color more effectively in their bouquets and arrangements.

Color Quiz

Here is another interesting and interactive website. While not directly related to floral design, it is about color and it is just fun to do!

I read a book on this color theory 20 years ago and it was very interesting. Now I have found the same info on the web to play with. ColorQuiz is a free five-minute personality test based on decades of research by color psychologists around the world. There are no complicated questions to answer, you simply choose colors with a click of the mouse!

Wedding Flowers 

Check out this lens of mine on wedding flowers.

Wedding Flowers

This page which I wrote about wedding flowers will give you even more information about being a floral designer. Even though it is oriented toward brides who are choosing a florist, it can also help you to learn more about the job of a floral designer. It has links to many beautiful flower shop websites, too.

And..... 

I hope you have found this information helpful. I just met a man who worked as a floral designer years ago. He said he had to change jobs once he was married and began to have a family. Yes, the floral business takes up so much of your time. "I never worked harder in my life.", he told me. So, there you go. Be prepared to work hard and make sure you love floral design.

If you have any questions about floral design, please feel free to contact me! I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Reader Feedback 

Any comments? Feel free!

Chris Deegan

Thank you for posting this lens.I myself am a fellow floral designer, and I worked commercially for five years in the trade, in both Boston and Aspen CO where I got a lot of really great exposure to the high end of floral design.Having worked in Boston, and even managed in floral retail, I would reccommend Rittner's over Cass.Also it's funny how many professional floral designers have the same library...Paula Pryke is a great inspiration, and I would like to meet her and see her in action one day.

Posted July 21, 2008

LauraSchofield I've often wondered how to become a floral designer. I know my late auntie did quite a bit of this. Very interesting lens! Posted April 10, 2008

njg Sheron Bergeron: You asked if I would recommend Rittner's in Boston or Boerma Institute in Holland. I do not have first hand knowledge of either. If someone else does, I hope they will offer you their feedback. Off-hand, I would opt for Boerma. (I removed your e-mail for your safety.) Posted August 30, 2007

gods_grace_notes Greetings, Fellow Designer! I too, love to design florals. I THOUGHT I wanted to be a floral designer; until I tried it commercially. You are so right! It is a lot of work, and at times requires a fast and furious pace..So, now I'm happy to just design for my home and special occasions, Great Lens! Posted March 06, 2007

njg Kimberley: We designers understand each other! Some in other professions do too. My stepson worked overnight and through the next day just before Christmas installing audio equipment and remote starters in cars. He was falling asleep standing up. At least he was working for himself! Posted January 08, 2007

 

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