AIFD Let's go for it!

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Flowerchatter03

Flowerchatter03

Co-Owner and Floral Composer
Oct 14, 2007
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Cross Lanes
www.crosslanesfloral.com
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I have noticed in other threads, there are lots of people (including myself) who would love to go for AIFD accreditation.

It appears that the main obstacles are:

1. Fear
2. Knowledge
3. Money

Those of you who are planning on trying out next year AND those of you who are wishing but are not planning, let's all get together here on Flowerchat and make it happen!

Let's take care of 1. Fear.....Say it out loud that you are talented enough and share with others that you want this. Even if it is just for yourself. If you don't feel that you are talented enough, say you want it and study, study, study. We have 11 months to prepare. Do it anyway. Do it afraid!

2. Knowledge....I went to a show called, "AIFD Across America" and they talked in depth about the process. They even had one designer make a piece and they talked about it with the audience to explain the judging process. Even if they don't still offer this, there are plenty of AIFD members here to help all of us.

3. Money...I have seen that AIFD does have some type of scholarship program but that's all I know. I don't even know what area my state would be considered to be in. That brings us back to 2.

So lets get a team together and get going on this! I am ready to commit, how about you?
 
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Let's do it!

1. Fear: What is the worst that can happen; you won't make it and you will have had a really neat experience.

2.Knowledge: What you said!

3. Money: We have time to save our pennies.

I'm in!! :cool:
 
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Flowerchatter03 said:
2. Knowledge....I went to a show called, "AIFD Across America" and they talked in depth about the process. They even had one designer make a piece and they talked about it with the audience to explain the judging process. Even if they don't still offer this, there are plenty of AIFD members here to help all of us.
Click to expand...

this is a great Idea for a thread!
I hope to test next time the symposium is on the west coast.

I went to the 2005 symposium, so I have that part done.. what would be great for all of us is for someone to evaluate our work and let us know what we have to work on between now and then.

I would love to go to the evaluation workshop.. but there hasn't been one close enough for me to attend in a while(bay area)
 
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Tip #1

I went out to AIFD's web site and they have a place where you can be on their mailing list, so you might want to sign up at www.aifd.org.

The fees for registration of accreditation are a little confusing. I'm sure someone could clarify this.

I hope lots of people get interested in trying out next summer! :hug:
 
Don't be scared shannon. You're a rock star.
I have started the process, I'm registered too. I was gonna go this year then decided I couldn't afford it. I'm gonna make sure I save up my pennies now though.
 
OMGosh!!

You me and Brad will all be testing together....I'm glad I'll have friends there with me...

I wonder if anyone else from here will be testing next year??
 
Wow- I agree, what a good idea for a thread!
I work with a woman who is AIFD, and she has been encouraging me to try my hand- but all three of those points have been big hurdles for me. I'm not signed up yet, but I guess if I can get my confidence up, I will!
Biggest fear- designing on site. It's silly, I know, but it's never as comfortable as being in an empty shop I'm familiar with!
I'd love to hear about some experiences or tips from flowerchatters who have done this... The woman I work with doesn't speak great English, so other than "You should try!" I'm pretty clueless about the whole process.
 
Go to the AIFD website, there's a lot of info there... and ask any and all questions you might have of AIFD members. Part of having those letters behind their names means they're committed to educating other florists so, soak it up. Talk to any you can, here or at shows. They're human, and probably busy, so you might not get a loving and kind response at all times but 99% of the time I have had great experiences no matter how dumb my questions,:bouncy: and people have been SO nice.
 
one thing I learned at the new applicants meeting is the process is not as subjective as I had thought.. What was explained to me by a very nice guy (I wish I could remember his name) is your designs are judged by your use of the design principals, as long as you have a good grasp on balance, scale/proportion, mechanics etc.. etc, then you should have no problem..
(AIFD members on this board please correct me if I'm wrong)

so what I've done is print out the judging criteria from the AIFD site and refer to it when I'm working..

like I said I would love to go to an evaluation workshop, I'm even a little nervous about that..when I design, so much of ME is in there too.. I just don't have a very thick skin I guess..
 
Those of you who have signed up, please explain what your process was. Did you just send in the application and did you pay a fee? What was the fee?

Although I know the fee is listed on their web-site it goes on to say that for extra $$ you can have additional benefits. Did you already get your book for the written test part? Does it explain what is next after you apply?

This is most interesting...thanks to you all for sharing your experience going through this process.
 
Isn't it true that prior to signing for AIFD evaluation you should first attend their Symposium? For example, having evaluation in 2009 you were supposed to attend their last Symposium......
 
"To be accepted for an Accreditation Evaluation Session, registered AIFD Candidates and other interested designers are urged to first attend a Steps to Membership program. Although not a prerequisite, AIFD encourages those interested in pursuing accreditation to first attend an AIFD design program such as a National Symposium, AIFD Regional Symposium, In Step With AIFD program, or AIFD Connection Workshop. Attending such programs assists candidates in better understanding the level of design that is expected of them by AIFD Membership Committee evaluators. Experience has demonstrated to AIFD that designers who have had a firsthand opportunity to observe the level of AIFD design expectation can better guage whether their current skill set is advanced enough to purse accreditation. Individuals who have attended such events most often do better in their first attempt to achieve their Accreditation than those who haven't."


I took this is from the AIFD website so I'd be sure I was right! It's been a while since I did this. "Steps to membership" can give you a real leg-up and more confidence going into the process.
Patty
 
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Ok, As an AIFD member I am going to try and answer some of your questions.

1) Pre-attendance: Although Pre-attendance to an AIFD sponsored event, such as National symposium, Regional Symposium, AIFD across America, or Steps to Membership, or another AIFD sponsored event is encouraged and strongly suggested.....It is NOT required.

2) Scholarships: There are several scholarships available......To find out what is available, go to the AIFD website, go to About Us, go to Foundation.

There is all the information on the scholarships and how to apply.

There may be scholarships available through your local State Associations. Contact someone with your local association to find out if there are scholarships available.
To give you an example. SC State Floral Association has a 500 dollar scholarship available for the winners of the Designer of the year and Palmetto Cup of Interpretive Design winner respctively, That money can go toward AIFD attendance if desired.

3) Design work: In the AES (Accreditation Evaluation Session) You ARE NOT COMPETING against anyone. Many people view this as a contest, IT is not.
What is looked at is primarily how well you, the designer, know your design principles and elements, and how you showcase that knowledge in your design work. Creativity does count in your score.......but creativity is NOT the primary element evaluated.

You will do five designs......the designs will be in five categories - A sympathy tribute, an arrangement, a wedding design, a body flower, and your designer's choice. You will find out in your session briefing held before you design what exactly those designs will be in each category. When I did my testing, the arrangements in each category were as follows - A design to go on top of a casket, A buffet arrangement, an attendant's bouquet, a hair-design, and for my designer's choice, I chose to do another sympathy design....a cremation ring design.

4) Fear: You can help to alleviate your fear with several ways.....first and foremeost, be confident in your skill. When in that room with the other testers.....Don't look around at what other people are doing. Just focus on what you are doing, just do your best, and be aware of the fact that the evaluators WANT you to pass, Short of just being dishonest and padding scores, they will look for every possible way to make that design pass.

I cannot stress enough how important I think it is for you to attend a symposium BEFORE you go for the AES. You really DO have a better grasp of what we will be looking for. In between now and then, In your daily work, whenever you compete, Contact an AIFD member near you, Have them come in, or send them good digitals if your work.......And above all else, just have fun.
 
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Thanks Cathy for the compliment.

Let me also add.

The new CFD Designation.

Within the next two or three years, there will be in place, a new stepping stone to AIFD Accreditation and Membership.
Since both Lynn Moss and Eddie Payne are former presidents and board members and also post here on Flowerchat, they may have more up-to-date information than I have concerning the CFD program.

The CFD program stands for Certified Floral Designer. It will be an Intermediate level of recognition for a designer. The standards to meet that will not be as strict as what is set for AIFD membership. You will have to achieve the CFD designation before you go on to AIFD membership.

Now, between the time I tested for membership and was inducted.......I thought the decision had been made to REQUIRE a pre-attendance to an AIFD event. IT was my understanding that the results of the AES designs in New York were so badly done......that less than a third of testees passed the AES. I understood then that it was determined to enforce and to require the pre-attendance. I do not know when that requirement was dis-continued.



 
well....

I have wanted to be AIFD for years... But I just didn't feel like I was ready. I am mostly a "table trained" designer. I have been to at least a million design shows.
But last year was the first time I ever attended a class. It was an "everyday" design class. I took a small portfolio of my work and I asked Marie Ackerman to evaluate it and also I asked my instructor, Susan Ayala, to look at it and to tell me what they thought. I also asked them to be brutal with any and all critiques. I don't want candy coated critiques. I want the truth.

So anyway, I came away with the feeling that I wasn't ready still for AIFD. BUT I listened to what they both told me. So I applied, to the best of my ability, what they told me to my designs. I will tell you Marie was a lot more blunt than Susan :).
I love Marie. I think she's awesome....

Anyway, this year I went back and took Hitomis class. I'm totally a Hitomi groupie.

While I was there someone in the class told me that AES was almost full...So I called my boss and asked her to get me signed up, So she did.

It cost $150.00.

A few weeks later I got a book on AIFD terms and I got the membership directory and a letter telling me that I needed to attend a "steps program" before taking the test. And it also told me about the rest of the fee to do AES.

So naturally I freaked out.

So I made some calls, and I was told to call Ted Bruehl, and he would be able to answer any questions..

So I call Ted, a very nice person to talk with I might add, and I told him about myself and blah blah blah, he said he felt I understood what was expected of me, so no need to panic..

However, me being me, I asked him, well if I did decide to attend one of these steps programs where would I need to go???

He says, they are planning them in Mexico, and blah blah blah, so I ask "when will one be close to me so I can attend that one?" He tells me well, If I can find a wholesale house who will agree to host, AIFD will provide the designer!

SCORE!!!!!

So I call a couple of wholesale houses.. Of course I get, well I don't know, we'll see, blah blah blah..

Well, if you know me, you know I don't give up so easily.. So I call a NMSFA board member I know and tell her the situation... So now I have NMSFA involved.. So hope fully we can get something going a few months before July.

The shop I work for belongs to CRFA (Colorado retail florists association) and also NMSFA (New Mexico state florists association).

To all CRFA members who may read this: I chose NM for the simple fact that Albuquerque is only 3.5 hours away and my sister lives in Albuquerque. Much more practical for me to go to Albuquerque than it is travel to Denver which is 7.5 hours away, with no sister's house to crash at.. All these trips I make can get quite expensive and I pay for pretty much all of it myself.

I also am planning on taking a class from Phil Rulloda right after mother's day.

After that, hopefully I will be ready. I guess we'll see.

I'm totally terrified, and there's nothing anyone can say that will make me not terrified.

I really really really want to pass the first time. I think the only way to even have a chance at passing the first time testing is to be as prepared as possible. And to me getting prepared means getting educated. So I'm going to cram as much design info in my brain as possible. And hope to everything that is good in nature that I don't choke.

That is what I'm more afraid of than anything........choking
 
Thanks everyone for all the important information and insite. This is very important to us all!

I attended the AIFD across america in Kentucky 2 years ago and it was very informative. Hopefully they will have more in the next year so that everyone who is interested can get this information. The one I attended was a small group so you could easily get your questions answered and really had one to one time with the experts.

It was also suggested that you get to know an AIFD designer in your area that you could send photos of your work as well as get tips and additional training. A mentor if you will.

The problem with that senario for me is that 1. We do not have a floral association in my state and 2. There are no AIFD designers in my state.

While it would be great to attend a symposium beforehand, most regular people (like myself) cannot afford to spend that kind of money on a trip. Not only would you need air fare and hotel but also the costs involved in the AES program, etc.

I did find out that my state would be considered in the Southern Chapter which kind of surprized me but is quite helpful.

Those of you who are interested in trying out next year, please keep posting and let us all know how you are progressing. I'll let you know when I have actually done the application process.

Also, those of you who have already achieved greatness (LOL), we all would appreciate any continued support, suggestions, kicks in the rear, etc.
 
There are TWO AIFD members in West Virginia. Andrea Harrison Rowley AIFD in Gerrardstown, WV and Kelly Austin AIFD in Charles Town, WV

 
That's strange. When I checked it the other day there was no one. Perhaps there was something wrong with the AIFD site. Thanks for the info!
 
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