Floral Designer

Job Description:

Floral designers have to both maintain and create floral arrangements per customer request. For maintenance, the designer will have to water and keep the flowers as fresh as possible, as well as place orders for new specimens. When designing the arrangements, the floral designer will use different tools and decorations to make fuller and stunning bouquets for events. The floral designer will also have to communicate with customers in order to gage the right vision for the arrangement.

Salary: On average, the salary is around $33,000. On the higher spectrum, floral designers usually earn around $50,000.

Occupational Outlook:

There are many openings for this career, most small businesses looking for assistance in creating arrangements.

Links to Learn More About This Career:

Educational Requirements:

Knowledge in plant identification, design, marketing, and business management. Florists will need professional training in floriculture, and the proper care and cutting of flowers. Though optional, most choose to gain certification through the American Institute of Floral Designers, which is an exam that includes terminology and arrangement techniques. The creation of five different arrangements in separate categories will also be required to show physical understanding of floral design. In order to stay certified, florists will have to enroll in educational classes every three years, which renews the certification.

Eastern Kentucky University

Address: Richmond, KY

Website: https://www.eku.edu/

Information on the Major: https://programs.eku.edu/academics/agriculture

Western Kentucky University

Address: Bowling Green, KY

Website: https://www.wku.edu/

Information on the Major: https://catalog.wku.edu/undergraduate/science-engineering/agriculture/floristry-certificate/
https://www.wku.edu/agriculture/floristryminor.php

American Institute of Floral Designers

Address: Online course

Website: https://aifd.org/

Information on the Major: https://aifd.org/online-education/

Soft Skills, Characteristics, and/or Abilities Need For This Career:

Knowledge in design
Plant identification
Hand eye coordination
Dexterity
Communication and customer service skills
Organization
Floriculture

Software Knowledge Needed For This Career:

Illustration applications can be used to design prototypes for the customer to view, as well as communication applications and websites for advertising.

Pros and Cons to Choosing This Career

Pros (Positives to this Career)

No advanced educational degree is required to become a floral designer.
Self employment and success in the subject.
There is almost always an event to make arrangements for, lots of business available.

Cons (Negatives to this Career)

Could become repetitive making many of the same order requests.
Little room for growth since more designers stay within the same creative realm/ process.
Certification requires the enrollment of classes every three years in order to renew itself.

Typical Working Conditions For This Career:

Indoor for the majority of the career, physically inclusive working in greenhouses and daily care for the flora, as well as creating simple or grand arrangements.

Career Researched By: Veronica Goodley