Crazy/unusual designs..

[shannonlovesflowers]

Well, I've slept on it.

Thanks for all the responses.

I've pretty much came to the conclusion that my design skills that I had 10 years ago could have landed me a job in just about any shop in this country. at least 75% of them.

I have spent A LOT of time and money going to school, design shows, books, magazines, etc.

And for what????

So I think I figured out for what. Because I need for me to know, for my own benefit that I can design well, not just arrange well.

Funny story, this happened last week. A woman I know was talking to a group of young designers, all of them haven't been in the biz a long time, maybe 1 or 2 years each TOPS. But they all think they are great designers. OR AT LEAST THATS THE IMPRESSION I GET. And from what I hear they can arrange pretty well. I never really seen their work though.

Anyway this woman who was talking to them was telling them about me, how I was a good designer, etc, etc, and she also mentioned that I have been working on becoming AIFD. You know what they all said??? "What's that?" good grief.

I grew up in a shop like Lori spoke of, carns, daisies, BB, etc. She described the shop to a T.
I couldn't wait to "grow up" and do cooler things like I saw in the magazines.

Well now I'm grown up, and I think I've come to the realization that those pics in the magazines are to feed my creativity and also designers like me, but those designs are not so much for Jane/Joe public like my mom.

So here's my plan. Not gonna dumb myself down, or quit educating myself. But I think I will be more mindful that not everyone (most people) understands or WANTS what I think is so great.

Case in point, the winner of the Flowers& contest. When I saw the entries, I knew which one would win. I totally knew it. It's well designed, has beautiful color, and it's not too weird. It's a beautiful beautiful design. And the one that took 2nd was one of my favorites as well. I love the design of it. And I mean love it. I knew those 2 would be in the top 3.

I can go to any design contest and pick 1st 2nd and 3rd. I pick them almost every time. Or at least who will place in the top 3-4.

Anyway, this has all been a great learning exercise for me. Good mental growth. Good character building. Good self discovery.

Now I just need to go and apply what I've discovered.

 

[Rhonda]

(haven't read this whole thread) but after many many many years of doing "shows" that had design contests....
#1 - if judged by an AIFD designer panel, mechanics, color, principles & elements, & theme are of the extreme importance.
#2 - if judged by a "People's Choice", something quirky and "cutesy" themed design will win.

A good designer should be able to upscale but also play to their consumers. We do this by offering contemporary choices in our permanents as well as the tussie mussie table designs. We do this by adding contemporary designs at holidays in the cooler, which we find are usually purchased by a younger sect.
I love to play and it's fun to have someone come in and say "How different!!" and then walk out the door with it.
Dumb down...never...always offer the option.

 

[Lucy's Garden]

We had a bride last weekend who asked for tie-dyed daisy mums and "clouds" of baby's breath for her attendant's bouquets. I was just mortified while I was putting them together and a customer walked in the door. (Luckily, we're a studio, so it only happened once!) These were hands down the ugliest bouquets I've ever seen- AND I MADE THEM!

The thing is, the bride LOVED them. Her husband was a full-time Deadhead- a huge, huge, groupie- and the bouquets just fit in perfectly with the rest of her wedding. We did what she wanted and grit our teeth and bared it.

There are two full-time designers in our shop, and we have majorly different styles. Teresa has great 'natural' looking designs, and I have a more contemporary tendency. It works great for the area we're in- but if we were somewhere else, we might just have to get used to the tie-dyed daisy mums...

There's also the problem of the sending customer who prefers the arrangements she considers artistic, creative, unique and well designed- but is buying for her out-of-touch aunt, or 97 year-old grandmother and knows that what they would expect is a giant vase of pink carnations and alstro. Grit your teeth! She's doing the same thing.

We try our best, though, to keep a good variety of styles on our website to spark the imaginations of our more creative and daring customers. That's where the fun is!

 

[jeannieballerini]

Good thread...We ALL can relate!
What popped into my head was "He who pays the piper choses the tune"....It's what we do..and I do believe that a huge part of our biz is to work to whatever tune the customer wishes yes?
Honey, as long as they are buying flowers all is well !
carpe bloomem!
jeannie

 

[Carol Bice]

Since I am semi retired, I don't get Flowers& magazine. Can someone tell me who won or post pictures?
Carol Bice

 

[logan]

Well now I'm grown up, and I think I've come to the realization that those pics in the magazines are to feed my creativity and also designers like me, but those designs are not so much for Jane/Joe public like my mom.

So here's my plan. Not gonna dumb myself down, or quit educating myself. But I think I will be more mindful that not everyone (most people) understands or WANTS what I think is so great.

Case in point, the winner of the Flowers& contest. When I saw the entries, I knew which one would win. I totally knew it. It's well designed, has beautiful color, and it's not too weird.

Shannon, don't give up or become complacent, which I know you won't so I don't know why I even feel the need to mention that but...
How do you think the big names in our industry ever got to where they are now???? Ahead of the trends,and our times, visionaries, not followers. Like the general public, ahead of them are the 5% that want us to do our thing, 35 % something new and "currently' trendy, the other 60% what your mom(and mine) likes. We do that 95% (blindfolded sometimes-please don't tell my employer) just to smell the flowers (keeps me enthused:spintongu) and 5% to actually get my creative juices flowing, that percentage that walks in and says: just do your thing! (whoohoo) for the rest it is my own studies at home etc., a hobby really, an art form, but that is my personal experience.
On the competition front, and this is my weakness often for the sake of artistry and I need to learn from this myself, mark it b4 the judges! yourself!, can you find the points for the judges? Where they can score you? you said:"I totally knew", can you see where the points were given on the score sheet?
You did really well, onto the next one and push your limits.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Shannon, don't give up or become complacent, which I know you won't so I don't know why I even feel the need to mention that but...
How do you think the big names in our industry ever got to where they are now???? Ahead of the trends,and our times, visionaries, not followers. Like the general public, ahead of them are the 5% that want us to do our thing, 35 % something new and "currently' trendy, the other 60% what your mom(and mine) likes. We do that 95% (blindfolded sometimes-please don't tell my employer) just to smell the flowers (keeps me enthused:spintongu) and 5% to actually get my creative juices flowing, that percentage that walks in and says: just do your thing! (whoohoo) for the rest it is my own studies at home etc., a hobby really, an art form, but that is my personal experience.
On the competition front, and this is my weakness often for the sake of artistry and I need to learn from this myself, mark it b4 the judges! yourself!, can you find the points for the judges? Where they can score you? you said:"I totally knew", can you see where the points were given on the score sheet?
You did really well, onto the next one and push your limits.

To clarify Logan:

The flowers& design competition.....

When I made my design I knew it would be judged by real floral industry judges. I knew it was good, I made it the way I made it, not to win the contest but to get into the magazine.

Then the final top 3 are judged not by real floral industry judges, but by the subscribers to the magazine.

I KNEW my arrangement was "kinda out there" and not many would get it. It's weird and different than a typical cascade or a "little wad of flowers" like Sharon McGukin and Wilton Hardy say..

So I knew the chances of it even placing in the top 3 were slim. And that's OK, because I achieved my goal of getting a design and my name in the magazine. Mission accomplished.

As far as regular competitons, The first one I entered is the only one I didn't win or didn't place, or wasn't a finalist. And I'm sure there are going to be some that I just flat out loose, but that's OK, I always learn so much and grow not only as a designer but also as a person when I enter these contests.

 

[HollyB]

Right on!!!!