Why Am I A Floral Designer?

"Why am I a floral designer?"

it is a question that I commonly hear at parties and cocktail hours.

It is a question that most floral designers are asked at one time or another.

Here are some random musings. Some of them are from us. Some are representative of typical comments made by friends, graduates and colleagues.....They may give you some kind of feeling as to why we love floral designing..........

Floral Designers Can Make A Difference In Peoples lives...........

"I find that floral designing is a nice way to make people happy."

"The things that I make are really appreciated. It's amazing how someone will focus on a little arrangement placed on their workstation and feel so much better during the day as they view it......"

"There are all kinds of ways to try to change the world. To make it better......Floral art is one way that I can use to bring some warmth and happiness to other people."

"Doing good with floral art makes people smile and offends no one and hurts no one....."

"It's the spark in their eyes when they get flowers that makes my day!"

"Sometimes they want just a little change to something......Like adding a bow to a design or incorporating a little teddy bear. It takes me two seconds to do it, but it means so much to the person who ordered or received the arrangement......"

"I do floral designing as a hobby. But you know something...........my family and friends actually look forward to the various gifts that I can craft for them for various holidays and events........The fact that I actually made it means more to them then if I went out and bought something from a store......"

"Everyday when I go home from school and bring a floral design on the train, it brings about a reaction............Strangers who normally don't talk, all have to get into a discussion about one style of arrangement that I have made compared to another.....which flowers and colors they prefer.......Some are actually telling me that the commute won't be as nice when my class is over and the floral designs are no longer on the train........

"Quality of life issues are important to me.........I was making six figures in another field, but I couldn't stand my job..........I dreaded going into work each day..........I now actually enjoy what I do....."

"The thing about being a floral designer is that they come to you not only for everyday flowers but for flowers at important times during their lives.......When someone is trying to romance someone, when they get married, have kids, celebrate Mother's Day, or even a birthday or special anniversary, they come to me.....I feel a very special connection with my customers.....I am helping them celebrate the most important events in their lives........."

"When picking a career I wanted to pick something that would help people. But the neat thing I've discovered about floral designing is that you can help people with the beautiful things that you make... make them happy..........and feel really good about yourself at the end of a day............Not everyone in other helping professions can say that."

I Work With Beautiful Things......Flowers!

"I love flowers and I get to work with them every day!......"

"Other artists work with glass, or metal or oil to create things.......I use natural media!"

"I came into the floral field because in the field I was working in, folks were always sick or dying.....It was depressing........ Flowers are beautiful and just working with them makes me feel better as well as the people who receive them........"

"The range of floral product available today is awesome. Each has its own unique personality......There are carnations that come in strange colors.......Cheerful bright yellow sunflowers, and even foliage that feels like something structural....It's amazing how these things can be combined......."

"Flowers are to the floral designer like notes to music........"

"In scripture God created flowers first...before people.......Maybe that tells you something about their importance....."

"It's the colors I adore........Flowers come in every color of the rainbow...... "

"Using natural media can be quite a challenge.......Flowers look good and are incredibly pretty, but part of the challenge of being a floral designer is to make sure that they are in the right stage of development for that dinner party or function, and that they look great as long as possible. You have to become an expert in conditioning flowers and post harvest treatments. It is challenging, but gives me a great feeling of accomplishment, knowing that if I do all the right things everything will turn out well for the customer...."

"The Japanese call flower arranging Ikebana-making flowers come alive---I always loved growing things my back yard, but the process of taking those flowers and actually making art out of them really takes it to another level. And that is fantastic...."

"No other profession gets to do artistic things with cut flowers and get paid for it......That's what attracted me to floral designing......"

"Years after someone gets married, they go back and look at those wedding photographs........Do they really remember the exact menu of the food they ate, or the exact words used in the ceremony? Usually not.......They look at the pictures and see the various people and the gorgeous flowers that created an atmosphere! Flowers are one of their major memories from the wedding..........."

Personal Artistic Expression is Important To Me.........It's the Creativity Thing.....

"It can really be challenging.......When I make something.......I have to please not only the person who orders the design, but also the person who receives it and they could be two different individuals.......People really do have quite a variety of taste as far as color, style and kinds of flowers......."

"The floral artist deals in the same visual language of other artists.......She or he uses line, form, texture , balance and color to come up with pleasing combinations........I love that visual
artistic aspect....."

"It is a very practical art form. When I studied painting, I enjoyed it very much. But the products that floral designers make are much more easily sold then painting or sculpture...It's a very practical art form."

"I love to work with my hands.......I get great satisfaction out of creating something...and better still then I get paid for it.......Floral art is a terrific outlet for my creative and my entrepreneurial desires.........."

"It is an interesting time to be a floral designer. There is a history of thousands of years of techniques, styles and approaches to floral art..........Most of these techniques past and present are all co-existing and are being marketed out there....... "

"I was amazed to learn that floral designing does not require a mystical combination of talents or skills. Yes you have to have manual dexterity and a good eye helps, but once you are taught certain techniques, ways to put things together, and styles you can arrange flowers in so many different creative ways....... "

"Some people have the idea that because flowers are natural and pretty, there isn't all that much to learn... Wow are they mistaken........In order to be creative you really do have to master a wide range of floral design construction methods and approaches.......If you don't know how to do these things it is almost like an contractor trying to make a house without knowing what she or he can and can't do with certain materials and without knowing how to build.......Talent is important, but it will only take you part of the way.......Knowing how to do it actually helps one be creative.......

"It's the range of expression I like.....Someone wants something romantic? I can make it. Another person wants something that feels like it's out of a sci -fi movie? I can do that too...... Its incredible how you can use the same raw materials, and if you know what you are doing, create different effects.... "

"You have to consider not only the flowers, but where they are going to be placed. The style of the interior, the kinds of colors already there, even the size of the arrangement in its intended setting are important........I was surprised to find how floral art has this detailed intellectual component to it...."

"I am very much a people person........In my last job I spent more time huddled over a computer than dealing with people.......It paid well, but I felt unfulfilled........As a floral designer I actually interact with people...and I really enjoy that.... I find out what their hobbies, colors, tastes are, and then I come up with floral solutions to their problems.....It is problem solving and makes me feel really great.........Floral design is far more than simply sticking some flowers into a vase..... It is very much a people thiing....... I find that very satisfying....."

You may also be interested in the following links:

How Smart People Are Making Money in The Floral Field.

At Rittners Floral School in Boston we provide floral design instruction that includes a wide range of different styles and techniques. Folks attend Rittners Floral School, because we are great floral designers, and just as importantly because we are outstanding teachers!!

Your Webmaster is Dr. Steve Rittner, who may be reached at Stevrt@tiac.net. All photographs and text on this page are Copyright - Rittners School, and may not be reproduced, or used for any commercial purposes.