Floral Design Training Outline

Unit 1 Getting Started in Floral Design

• Lesson 1.1 Fundamentals of Floral Design

  In Lesson 1.1: Fundamentals of Floral Design, we teach you how to care for flowers, how flowers are categorized for an arrangement, and advise you on building a toolkit. With online resources to supplement the resources your local area, you'll be able to obtain all of the materials you need for your work as a floral designer.

• Lesson 1.2 Principles of Floral Design

  In Lesson 1.2: Principles of Floral Design, it is our intention to help you become fluent in both the language of design and the principles. We see it as our responsibility to develop your ability as a floral designer. This includes building your knowledge and skills in handling flowers and ability to create not just replicate.

• Lesson 1.3 History of Floral Design

  In Lesson 1.3: History of Floral Design, we will look into the great styling of the past for inspiration and details to create specialized looks for different occasions and locations. This brief history will help you think about the origins of great floral design work.

• Lesson 1.4 Design Exercise: A Basic Arrangement

  In Lesson 1.4: Design Exercise: A Basic Arrangement, we're going to be focused on creating a basic arrangement. Basic does not mean boring, but rather a design that utilizes the principle of pairing a focal flower with accent flowers, fillers, and greens. If an element doesn't add visual value it should be reconsidered.

Unit 2 Developing Your Online Presence

• Lesson 2.1 Setting Up Your Online Workspace

  In Lesson 2.1: Setting Up Your Online Workspace, we go over using mood boards to express a design idea. Organizing your boards by subject or theme is helpful for communicating ideas to others, and an excellent way in determining your own style.

• Lesson 2.2 From Inspiration to Execution

  In Lesson 2.2: From Inspiration to Execution, we bring elements from inspiring images into your arrangement without directly imitating. You'll take your design ideas, work through the process of honoring them, and problem solve as necessary, regardless of the challenge.

• Lesson 2.3 Focus on Photography

  In Lesson 2.3: Focus on Photography, we go over the importance of building a photo library that highlights your work as a floral designer. A good working sense of the principles of photography is a useful skill to have. Additionally, we instruct you how to create a consistent aesthetic in your photos and how to use image-editing software.

• Lesson 2.4 Image Sharing

  In Lesson 2.4: Image Sharing, we look into using Instagram as an outlet to present your work. We give you detailed step-by-step instructions to create your own account and how to use the social media platform to your advantage to present your work and share with others.

• Lesson 2.5 Design Exercise: Inspired Arrangement

  In Lesson 2.5: Design Exercise: Inspired Arrangement, we challenge you to create a simple arrangement to display in your home based on an image you find inspiring. This will test your ability to source and design an arrangement based on the image you select.

Unit 3 Day-to-Day Design

• Lesson 3.1 Dinner Party Decor

  In Lesson 3.1: Dinner Party Décor, we focus on designing tablescapes. Yo'll also consider areas such as an entry table, bathrooms, and bar cart. We also go over what necessary details are needed from your client to prepare the appropriate decor.

• Lesson 3.2 Design Exercise: Dinner Tablescape

  In Lesson 3.2: Dinner Exercise: Dinner Tablescape, we experiment aspects and interaction of color across different arrangements. The goal is to work with a set color scheme and explore how various colors can be distributed and feel cohesive.

• Lesson 3.3 Working as Part of a Creative Team

  In Lesson 3.3: Working as Part of a Creative Team, we explore creative teamwork. When working with a creative team for an event, you will be required to function as just one part of a whole. You will learn how everyone has their own talent and everyone has their role.

• Lesson 3.4 Design Exercise: Designing for a Photo Shoot

  In Lesson 3.4: Design Exercise: Designing for a Photo Shoot, we will teach you how to create two different floral pieces, a headpiece and a hand-tied bundle. Additionally, we will go over techniques that will help you when working under tight time constraints.

• Lesson 3.5 Customer Orders

  In Lesson 3.5: Customer Orders, we go over how to communicate and handle clients when taking orders. We also go over how to handle creative direction from clients and when to use your design sense to make suggestions to their vision.

• Lesson 3.6 Design Exercise: Three Arrangements with Various Requirements

  In Lesson 3.6: Design Exercise: Three Arrangements with Various Requirements, we consider requests that pertain to three separate orders. We show how you can make the most of the flowers you'll purchase and how to structure and schedule your day.

Unit 4 Weddings and Events

• Lesson 4.1 Designing for Events

  In Lesson 4.1: Designing for Events, we go over how to keep good relations with your clients. We also discuss other responsibilities a floral designer may have such as, directly communicating with vendors, budgets, schedules, purchasing, hiring, etc.

• Lesson 4.2 Developing a Concept and Proposal

  In Lesson 4.3: Developing a Concept and Proposal, we go over how to create a proposal for your client. We also discuss what necessary materials are needed to best present your concept and get your vision across to your client.

• Lesson 4.3 Wedding Client Relations

  In Lesson 4.3: Wedding Client Relations, we go over the various steps that you will need to take when designing floral arrangements for a wedding. We also go over how to properly mark up the flowers and appropriately arranging payments.

• Lesson 4.4 Designing for the Wedding Party

  In Lesson 4.4: Designing for the Wedding Party, we discuss flowers for everyone in the bridal party everything from how to construct exquisite, fairy-tale bridal bouquets to garlands for the flower girl's hair.

• Lesson 4.5 Creating a Romantic Environment

  In Lesson 4.5: Creating a Romantic Environment, we discuss how to plan the flowers for a wedding ceremony and reception. We cover table centerpieces and decorating the place card table, the buffet table, and how to adorn the wedding cake.

• Lesson 4.6 Design Exercise: Wedding Arrangements

  In Lesson 4.6: Design Exercise: Wedding Arrangements, we go over some of the most common elements including a large branch-based arrangement, bud vase arrangements, a bridesmaid bouquet, a boutonniere, and a corsage.

Unit 5 Advanced Floral Design

• Lesson 5.1 Design Exercise: Flowers Under Glass

  In Lesson 5.1: Design Exercise: Flowers Under Glass, we show you how to properly design an arrangement that will be displayed under a glass bell jar. We go over what flowers would be the best choice for this particular arrangement, and we discuss different ways to promote airflow inside the glass jar.

• Lesson 5.2 Design Exercise: Constructing a Garland

  In Lesson 5.2: Design Exercise: Constructing a Garland, we show you how to hand-make a garland or greens and flowers. We go over important elements that will help the garland hold up without water and how to lengthen its lifespan. Additionally, we explain how to properly hang and display your finished garland.

• Lesson 5.3 Design Exercise: Exploring Minimalist Design

  In lesson 5.3: Design Exercise: Exploring Minimalist Design, we introduce you to the art of Ikebana. We dive into the origins of Ikebana and its meaning, and discuss the process of designing a minimalist arrangement.

• Lesson 5.4 Design Exercise: The Art of Lei Making

  In Lesson 5.4: Design Exercise: The Art of Lei Making, we show you how to string orchid lei. We discuss the history of lei and what it means to wear and receive one. Additionally, we give you two step-by-step instructions to create two different kinds of lei.

Unit 6 Designing as a Professional

• Lesson 6.1 Selling to Businesses

  In Lesson 6.1: Selling to Businesses, we go over how to take all of the floral design skills you have learned and market you. We share tips about how to sell floral design to different types of customers. We also share with you the eight rules for selling and different tactics to help you sell.

• Lesson 6.2 Setting Up Your Own Business

  In Lesson 6.2: Setting Up Your Own Business, we share the advantages to starting your own business and the realities that come with it. We also share resources about starting and running a successful small business. Additionally, we share tips on how to prepare your own business plan.

• Lesson 6.3 Developing Your Online Presence

  In Lesson 6.3: Developing Your Online Presence, we go over how to create your own website. We also discuss what to look for when hiring a professional web designer. We also give you a step-by-step breakdown on what standard pages are needed for a website.

• Lesson 6.4 Marketing Yourself

  In Lesson 6.4: Marketing Yourself, we go over how to bring the people who want you to design their flowers right to you. We'll help you simplify the approach so that it feels more organic. We also go over how to best present yourself to potential employers, give some thought to the ideal work situation.

• Lesson 6.5 Design Exercise: Publishing an Online Portfolio

  In Lesson 6.5: Design Exercise: Publishing an Online Portfolio, we discuss how to take your collection of photographs you've taken throughout this course, we'll teach you how to thoughtfully put them together to take your brand live, via an online portfolio.