Creative Design

Handbook for Flower Shows Revised 2017
Chapter 7 Design VI Creative Design pp. 71-72

Creative Floral Design is an acknowledged art form introduced in the late 1950s to American Flower Shows. These designs are not bound by traditional patterns or styles. They are designs with a relationship between form and space.

A. Characteristics of Creative Designs
  1. Conform to the Principles of Design.
  2. Are eclectic in approach, borrowing from different styles and/or periods to create new concepts and forms.
  3. Shows restraint in the amount of plant material and/or number of components used. (Exception - Assemblage, Creative Mass and Tapestry Designs)
  4. May have more than one (1) point of emergence and focal area, but clarity of design is important.
  5. Uses components in a non-realistic manner and may contain abstraction, with plant material not necessarily in water.
  6. Positions components according to plastic organization, molding and shaping the design within a volume of space to create a three-dimensional effect. Create rhythm and balance using forms and spaces to achieve depth.
  7. Juxtaposes components by placing them sided by side, front to back, and above and below to achieve depth and a third-dimensional unity to increase the appearance of depth.
  8. Uses penetration of space - the strong thrusting of plant materials and/or other physical components, from front to back, and above and below to achieve depth and a third-dimesional unity to increase the appearance of depth.
  9. Employes contrasting, advancing and/or receding colors, smooth and/or rough textures, transparent and/or reflective qualities.
  10. Uses plant materials, non-traditional container/s with multiple openings and unconventional, man-made objects not normally associated with floral design or art.
  11. Allows any part of the design to be dominant, including the container.
Think Creatively - same elements and principles of design
Vertical Design: Creative 1
Vertical Design: Creative 2

Click on the picture to enlarge

Class Designs

traditional
Traditional. Indian eggplant repeats color of the stock and Thai eggplant repeat the color of the anise used as filler (fennel tops)		 spatial lines
Use lines and space		 proportion
Creative
Blue background
Yellow background makes the design pop
Birds of Paradise make the line - double at the bottom