Floral Design
Program Summary
Floral design is the art of using flowers and other materials found in nature (or silk facsimiles) to create a pleasing and balanced composition for the enjoyment of people in their homes, professional settings, and for special occasions. The art of floral design also includes making wreaths, floral bows, garlands, etc.
This art is arguably as old as mankind as Ancient Egyptians already featured refined floristry. While the craft of floral design is a popular expression of personal creativity, it is also an essential component of the hospitality industry. From the six foot tall floral masterpieces in the lobbies of major hotels and casinos to the dainty bed-side arrangements in quaint bed-and-breakfasts, floral design often sets the tone in an environment. Today, many grocery stores are adding full service floral departments, making flowers more accessible to the general public.
Students pursuing careers in floral design should also take business classes. Floral designers often have a hand in running the business, especially in a small shop. Student should also sign up for earth science and biology courses in order to learn the basics about flowers, trees, and plants, among other natural materials.
Employment Trends
- The outlook for jobs in floral design is very good. Most cities already have small flower shops.
- Turnover rates in this profession are high because the pay is low, so getting your start in floral design is easier than in other design careers.
- As the population grows and more stores sell flowers, sending flowers to mark an occasion is likely to become more common. In addition, many flowers are imported from other countries, which keeps the cost of flowers down. More people are likely to buy flowers when the price is low.
- Though a love of flowers and an artist’s eye are essential, it’s equally important for a floral designer to have good people skills, for it’s a very personal kind of business.
Program Objectives
- Successful completion of each course earns a Certificate of Completion
- Coursework leading to award of a Continuing Education Certificate
- Skills development and preparation leading to an academic degree or professional credentialing Program Curriculum
| Crs # |
Course Name |
Hrs |
| OCU338 |
Basic Floral Design, Beginning |
|
| OCU376 |
Basic Floral Design, Advanced |
|
| OCU335 |
Silk Flower Design, Part 1 |
|
| OCU336 |
Silk Flower Design, Part 2 |
|
| BUS303 |
Running an Independent Floral Design Practice |
|
| BUS365 |
Niche Marketing for Florists |
|
| |
Program Total
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
- I see you offer both fresh and silk classes and I don’t know which one to take. What do you recommend? Do I have to take both?
It depends on what you want to do. If you plan to open a shop one day, either in your home or outside your home, you will want training in both. It really doesn’t matter which one you take first. If you are a visual learner you may decide to take the silk class first, because you will have a floral piece to refer to when you do future arrangements. There are some similar techniques that will be taught in both classes and some very unique skills that you will learn when taking each course (fresh and silk).
- What if I already know how to do silk flower arranging can I skip right to the advanced level?
Please contact the coordinator for the floriculture program. She will discuss your ability and contact the instructor before you register for the course. The instructor may say that you can register for the advanced level or ask you to come to the beginning level so she can observe your skill level. If that is what she recommends she will determine whether or not to add some more technical training for you during the beginning level so that you are challenged along with the beginning students.
- Will I be able to get a job in the floral industry with this training?
Your training and certificate should certainly help you obtain an entry-level job in the floral industry. Keep in mind that each floral shop has their own hiring standards but this training should certainly help you find a job where continued training will take place.
- I don’t understand the pricing for these courses. Can you explain the different charges?
Each class has a tuition charge.In addition to the tuition, at the beginning of each floral class, there is a $10 materials fee for standard materials that you will use during the class that the instructor will purchase wholesale. There is also a $20 fee each week for the flowers and containers that will be used.
We ask that you pay for the next session in advance ($20). What has happened in the past, particularly in the case of the fresh flower class, is that the instructor would purchase the flowers and containers for that week’s class and students would be absent and he was absorbing the loss.You cannot save fresh flowers. This was not fair to the instructor.We now require both the fresh and the silk classes to pay in advance for the next class. If you contact your instructor in advance of his/her purchasing your flowers for the next week, you will not have to pay for the flowers when you miss a class. If you do not contact the instructor in advance, there will be no refund back to you for that week’s training. The instructor has indicated that it is getting harder and harder to do these arrangements for $20 because of the quantity and quality of the flowers used in the fresh flower classes.Some arrangements if sold in a floral shop could be sold for $150. You will do quality arrangements. Students, to justify the weekly fee, may want to use the arrangements they make as gifts while taking the class.