High School
Take art and design classes while in high school. After all, creativity is an important buzzword in this industry. Biology classes would be helpful in learning about plants and flowers. Do you have aspirations of owning a flower establishment? Sign up for business, marketing, and computer science classes—they will help make you a better entrepreneur.
Postsecondary Training
In the past, floral designers learned their craft on the job, usually working as an assistant or apprentice to an experienced designer. Most designers today, however, pursue advanced education resulting in a certificate or degree. While this education is not mandatory in the industry, it does give candidates an advantage when they apply for design positions. There are numerous universities that offer degrees in floriculture and horticulture, as well as community colleges and independent schools that offer certificates in floral design. Visit https://safnow.org/floral-design-schools for a list of schools.
Programs vary from school to school, lasting anywhere from days to years depending on the type of degree or certificate. A typical floral design curriculum includes flower and plant identification, the different types and growth properties of flowers and plants, the fundamentals of artistic floral design, general instruction in picking or wiring, tinting, and arranging flowers, different types of arrangements and their containers, fashion flowers and wedding flowers, and flower shop management. When you are choosing a school to attend, consider the course offerings as well as your career goals. For example, the Boston-based Rittners School of Floral Design offers classes that emphasize floral business skills, a must if you plan on starting your own shop.
Certification
Many schools offer certificates in floral design and related fields. For example, Johnson County Community College in Kansas offers a floral design certificate. Classes in the program include Elements of Floral Design; Contemporary Design Styles; Plants for Interior Design; Wedding Design; Special Event Designs; and Herbaceous Plants. The Society of American Florists provides a list of schools that offer certificate programs and floral design on its Web site, https://safnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Careers_SchoolListing_013020.pdf.
Other Education or Training
The American Institute of Floral Designers offers online classes such as Introduction to Floral Design, Elements and Principles of Design, Design Techniques and Applications, Personal Flowers: To Wear or Carry, and Arrangements: Everyday & Sympathy. The Society of American Florists provides continuing education opportunities online and at its annual conference. Recent conference sessions included Building Big Business with Small Corporate Customers, Social Media Essentials, Does Your Technology Measure Up?, and SEO and Search Marketing Decoded. Contact these organizations for more information.
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