Floral design

Salix discolor used in a decorative arrangement outside a hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.

Floral design is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create a pleasing and balanced composition. Evidence of refined floristry is found as far back as the culture of Ancient Egypt. Professionally designed floral designs, arrangements or artwork incorporate the elements of floral design: Line, Form, Space, Texture and Color and the Principles of Floral Design: Balance, Proportion, Rhythm, Contrast, Harmony and Unity.

Floral art in a competition in Rose festival in Chandigarh.

There are many styles of floral design. Eastern, Western, Zebra and European styles have all influenced the commercial floral industry as it is today. Ikebana is a Japanese or eastern style of floral design and incorporates the three main line placements of heaven, man and earth. In contrast, European style emphasizes color and variety of botanical materials not limited to just blooming flowers, in mass gatherings of multiple flowers. Western design historically is characterized by symmetrical, asymmetrical, horizontal and vertical style of arrangements.

In additional to flower arrangements, the art of floral design includes making wreaths, nosegays, garlands, boutonnieres, corsages, and bows.

Chrysanthemum flower arrangement for food catering

Dried arrangements and related media

Permanent creations and components incorporating dried materials such as bark, wood, dried flowers, dried (and often aromatic) inflorescences, leaves, leaf skeletons, preserved materials and artefacts, are common extensions of the art floral design, and are of practical importance in that they last indefinitely and are independent of the seasons. Their materials offer effects, idioms, and associations complementary to, and contrasting with, fresh flowers and foliage.

Floral design schools

With the ever-growing interest in the natural world and flowers, the floral industry continues to grow. The increase in educational institutes providing training in floral design has expanded to many state universities as well as certified design schools worldwide.

Over the past few years there have been a number of web flower schools that have started offering certified programs as well. These include the following programs:

• Web Flower School webflowerschool.com
• Floral Design Institute floraldesigninstitute.com
• Ashworth College ashworth.com
• Penn Foster pennfoster.edu/floraldesign
• Stratford Career Institute scitraining.com
• Flower School of New York flowerschoolny.com
• American Institute of Floral Design aifd.org
• Floral Design School USA floral-design-school-usa.com
• Universal Class universalclass.com
• Boerma Instituut dutchfloraldesign.com

Floral design promoting associations

The most prominent industry associations that promote floral design world-wide include AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers ) and SAF (Society of American Florists) There are many more associations that promote floral design through workshops, conferences, flower shows and seminars. The leading British association is the National Association of Flower Aranging Societies.

See also

Floral design types

• Bouquet
• Boutonnière
• Corsage
• Festoon
• Garland
• Ikebana
• Nosegay
• Wreath

Some notable floral designers

• Jane Packer - has stores and schools in London, New York, Tokyo, and Seoul.
• Nichlas Vilsmark
• Judith Blacklock
• Stanlee Gatti
• Irene Hayes
• Junichi Kakizaki
• Paula Pryke
• Phil Rulloda
• Constance Spry
• Jennifer Gamel
• White House Chief Floral Designer
• Gregor Lersch - German
• Fernando Ferreira - Portugal

Deborah Dolen - Bestselling Author of Floral Design Basics

Related disciplines

• Creative Direction
• florist
• floral designer
• Art Director
• Architecture
• sculpture
• Ikebana
• Botany
• Plant
• Flora
• Flower
• Floristry
• Floristics
• Floriculture
• Horticulture

Other

• History of flower arrangement

Bibliography

Hunter, Norah T. The Art of Floral Design. Albany, N.Y.: Delmar, 2000.

External links

• The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)
• Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA)
• The British Florist Association
• Association of Irish Floral Artists (AOIFA)
• Society of American Florists
• Nippon Flower Designers' Association (NFD)
• West Australian Floral Art Society
• UK National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS)
• The Korean Society of Floral Art & Design (KSFAD)
• Web Flower School
• Web Flower Design Classes