Professional Diploma in

Floral Design

Lesson 1: Types & Styles of Floral Displays

Understand the history and characteristics of floral design styles

Lesson 1

Identify types of floral displays

Familiarize yourself with notable designers and their works within the floral design industry

Objectives

A brief round-up of floral design history

Content

European floral design styles

French floral design styles

English floral design styles

American floral design styles

Japanese Ikebana design styles

European floral design styles

Italian Renaissance 1400s – 1600s

• Symbolism, rich textures, small & bright

• Triadic colour harmonies

• Classical or basic shaped containers

• Uncluttered

• Symmetrical

• Combinations of dried & fresh flowers

• Use of fruits & vegetables

• Equal or twice the height of its container

• Triangular, arc or elliptical shapes

Image: “Italian Renaissance Style”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/4502634519/in/album-72157634027359492/

Dutch/ Flemish 1600s – 1700s

• Extremely tall

• Portrayed abundance & opulence

• Symmetrical

• Oval masses

• Beauty and nature from any angle

• Little regard to seasonal compatibility

• Interspersed “exotic” tropicals, wildflowers & fruits

• Round formed fruits more suited to the oval shaped arrangements

• Usage of accessories to denote wealth

• Vibrant jewel tones for colour with highlights

• Blue was preferred Exotic, round- formed fruits

Image: “Dutch/ Flemish Style”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/287417

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Designers during the period of Dutch/ Flemish floral design style avoided the use of shiny metal containers.

No shine for me!

Did you know?

Biedermeier

• Uses Pavé Technique

• Slightly conical or round forms

• Low bowls or footed compotes used

• Contrasting with plant types in adjacent rings

• Concentric rings containing one flower type

Originating from Austria & Germany during post-war years this periodic style of floral design is associated with the furniture style that went by the same name.

Furniture & florals

Biedermeier

French floral design styles

Baroque: Louis XIV 1661 - 1715• Schedule, container, plant

material & concept determine design

• Semi-ovoid masses

• Lacking focal points

• To communicate opulence and magnificence

• Accessories used to add to the design

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Rococo: Louis XV 1715 - 1774

• A soft & feminine style

• Oval, S-curve and other curvilinear forms are usually used

• Taller than wide

• Don’t always aim for symmetry

• Rhythm

• One dominating colour Dominating colour

Image: “R

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Neoclassical: Louis XVI 1774 - 1793• Also airy & feminine

• Tall & slender vessels

• Arrangements have flame-like shapes

• White fragrant blossoms alongside cool tones preferred

• Gold highlights

Tall & slender vessel

White fragrant

blossoms

Cool tones

Empire: Napoleon 1804 - 1814• More militaristic & masculine

• With subtle references to Napoleon himself

• Dense & compact triangular masses

• Mainly used period flowers

• Primary colours, whites & golds

Dense placement

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English floral design styles

Early Georgian 1714 - 1760• Embraces contrasts between

warm & cool colours

• Opting for monochromatic colour harmonies

• Tall triangular compositions

• 1-2 times the vessel height

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Late Georgian 1790 - 1830

• Triangular compositions

• Symmetrical

• Texture was what determined how plant materials were selected

• Use of harmonious & soft hues of colour

Elements of texture

Hues of light green, light yellow & white

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Victorian 1830 - 1901• Early, Mid and Late Victorian era

• Globular or circular forms

• Proportion – plant material: size of vessel

• Lacks a focal point

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Tussie Mussie

• Aromatic value

• Symbolism (“language of flowers”)

• Designed as concentric rows of fragrant flowers/ leaves

• A symbolic fragrant flower at the centre

Scented geranium

foliage

Scented flowers

Art Nouveau 1890 - 1915• Influenced by Japanese art

• Asymmetrically balanced compositions

• Dominance of Line

• “whiplash” curvilinear form

• Avoided unnecessary excess of previous styles

• Preference for subdued colours

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Plant material 1

Plant material 2

Plant material 3

Tones of yellow, green and brown

American floral designs

Early Colonial 1607 -1699• Reflective of the people’s lifestyle

• informal arrangements

• Rounded form

• Use of common household items as vessels

• Use of common or cultivated native wild floral elements

• Fresh and dried florals sometimes used in the same arrangements

Household item

Image: “Early Colonial Style”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/7039712213/in/album-72157629301232614/

Late Colonial (Williamsburg) 1700 - 1780• Typically fan- & triangular- shaped

• Fruits & flowers laid around base

• Focus on achieving symmetry & sophistication

• 1-3 times the height of their containers (extremely tall)

Image: “Late Colonial Style”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/2874414155/in/album-72157626020944351/

Federal 1780 - 1830• “Upside-down cone” form, elongated

horizontally

• Tall flame-like arrangements, tall vessels

• Ancient world referenced in plant material used

• Matte or greyed colour schemes

• White or ivory peripherals

Image: “Federal Style”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/3970136301/in/album-72157629514456235/

Martha & George Washington are credited as the founders of the Federal Style of floral arrangement.

Founding father… and mother

Federal

American geometric designs 1901 - 1950• Rise of garden clubs & flower

shows

• A need for organization and a set of categories

• 3 Categories: Line, Line-Mass & Mass

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Traditional line design• Linearity and line emphasised

• Influenced by Asian styles

• Common forms are the Horizontal Line & Hogarth Curve

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Traditional line-mass• Blend of European & Japanese

• Impressions of depth created

• Presence of a focal point/ centre of interest

• Gradation & tradition = rhythm & balance

Image: “Traditional line-mass”https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcvirginia/9152838992/in/album-72157634025408285/

Traditional mass

• Typically round/ oval/ triangular/ fan-shaped

• Consisting of full, dense plant materials

• Avoid crowding the presentation

• Central focal point

Image: “Equilateral Triangle” pg 15; Types of Floral Design- Powerpoint PPT Presentationhttps://www.slideserve.com/manning/types-of-floral-design

Full & dense

Japanese Ikebana Style

Image: “Ikebana cover”https://pixabay.com/photos/flower-ikebana-floral-bloom-4644654/

Ikebana

• A spiritual exercise through art

• Minimalistic style

• Balanced asymmetrical triangle

Ikebana: Substyles

Moribana

• Simple

• Naturalistic

Nageire

• Expressing elements “as is”

• Avoids manipulation

Free Style

• Less contained designs

• Radiating form

• More than one focal point

Floral display types

• Hand-held

• Varied assembling techniques

01 02Bouquets

• Downward loose-trailing flow

• In a container or hand-held

Cascade/ waterfall

• Usually a table setting

Centrepieces

• Flat on the floor

• Parts of flower, coloured rice, coloured sand, etc

• “Rangoli”

Floor designs

03 04

• Minimalist

• Suspended in a frame

Framed spatials

• Kinetic or still

• Eye level or little above

Hanging designs

05 06

• Light incorporated WITHIN

• Conceal mechanics

• LED lights, rope lights, coloured lights & string lights

Illuminary

• Importance of scale & proportion

• Ratio for heights & widths to vessel 1: ½

Miniature arrangements

07 08

• Worn around wrist

• Worn as an accessory

Corsages

• Small wreaths or crowns

• Worn as an accessory

Headpieces

09 10

• Miniature spray of flowers for a buttonhole

• Commonly used as an accessory

Boutonnières

• Cylindrical forms

• Metal, cardboard, glass or fabric

Pillars & Arches

11 12

13. Wreaths

• Commonly for sympathy or seasonal holidays

• Ring-shaped

Notable designers in the industry

• Daniel Ost

• Junichi Kakizaki

• Paula Pryke

• Phil Rulloda

• Catherine Conlin

• Constance Spry

Jennifer McGarigle Judith Blacklock

Stanlee Gatti Irene Hayes

Julia Clements Azuma Makoto

In conclusion…

#ShawFlorals

ChallengeResearch and then recreate one of the

works of a designer that inspired you the

most. Photograph your recreated floral

masterpiece and upload it to social media

using the tag below and a short

description of your work.

Completed lessons

1 2 4

5 6 7 8

3 See you soon forL e s s o n 2