design better with CRAP..

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

...yes, I know it sounds outrageous, but this article about using (C)ontrast, (R)epetition, (A)lignment, and (P)roximity got me thinking about how floral designers could use the same principles for their designs.

I have been looking at 100's of recently snapped pics from our shop for our web sites, and have seen a lot of good and bad examples of design in them. It's funny how something that looks great "live" does not always photo well, and visa-versa. I think some of the better designs I have seen incorporate these principles.

From the article...

Contrast: Contrast refers to any difference of size, shape, or color used to distinguish text (or other elements, though here we’re focusing on text) from other pieces of text....

Repetition: Repetition in your text is bad; repetition of your design elements is not only good but necessary...

Alignment: Alignment is crucial not just to the cohesive appearance of your [design] but to the creation of contrast for elements...

Proximity: Pieces of [your design] that are meant to complement each other should be near each other...

Of course, the author was talking about web design, but it struck me as interesting how the same principles could be used in floral design (and all other art) as well.

Perhaps some of you may find it interesting...www.Lifehack.org is a great site.

 

[vuzien]

Are the 'principals of design' taught to florists in the US? In NZ we were taught these. The refer to all areas of design no matter the 'medium'....Just curious! I do notice that the US style is very different to what we do on this side of the planet!

 

[Joe Mioux]

Are the 'principals of design' taught to florists in the US? In NZ we were taught these. The refer to all areas of design no matter the 'medium'....Just curious! I do notice that the US style is very different to what we do on this side of the planet!

Yes, Principles of Design as it relates to flowers is taught to those budding and veteran florists willing to learn. So much-the-better in a formal classroom. I can think of a few very well known floral design schools here in the U.S. that excel at teaching elements of design.

I would love to see what your side of planet's style. Pics? please.

Joe

 

[RJD]

For those who choose to seek training. But, there is plenty of the regular crap being made.

 

[vuzien]

We are very influenced by the English/Euro styles. Handtieds, handtieds, handtieds! Wish the consumers were into the arranged/vased flowers! We did quite a bit of arranged flowers compared to others in our town and the profit to be made on these was very welcomed! have uploaded a couple of examples of our styles (from our store)......
Here is some of our bouquets. (the posy style is most common). Will find some arrangements too!

 

[RWK]

I love the use of texture in these bouquets....really nice and creative textural usage.

 

[vuzien]

But wait, there's more......
Some of our best sellers were the wine glasses and the handbags which we made from cardboard and all sorts of floral wraps.

 

[vuzien]

I love the use of texture in these bouquets....really nice and creative textural usage.

Thanks Rick

 

[Joe Mioux]

I love the use of texture in these bouquets....really nice and creative textural usage.

Ditto!!!! great stuff.

 

[vuzien]

Ditto!!!! great stuff.

And again!

 

[RWK]

What kind of mechanics did you use in the wine glass to hide the foam? If you did not use foam....what did you use to achieve that great linear design?

 

[vuzien]

What kind of mechanics did you use in the wine glass to hide the foam? If you did not use foam....what did you use to achieve that great linear design?

Definantly foam!
Sometimes we would wrap it in a leaf or use very small, coloured stones from the local hardware store. (coloured glasses are a great friend with a small channel of the stones around the top/outer edge of the glass)!!!

 

[RWK]

I like this idea....We have a bunch of wine goblets in the shop left from a function....and this is the perfect way to use them up.

 

[vuzien]

I like this idea....We have a bunch of wine goblets in the shop left from a function....and this is the perfect way to use them up.

Sure would!
We used to just buy a few from the local $2.00 shop or even go to the 2nd hand shop (for a cheaper arrangement, say $10-15) and buy a box of the 'old style' champagne glasses for 50cents a glass!
The ones we did like in the pic we sold for $20.00 - $30.00

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Really lovely arr's - love the wine glass idea also - it screams "hostess gift."
I would love to try all the different wrap ideas that our european counterpoints seem to use so well - we get great response just from colored tissue inside clear cello, I think they would love the texture of the burlap and sisal wrap treatments. More food for thought ....

thanks for sharing the pics!

tracy

 

[vuzien]

Really lovely arr's - love the wine glass idea also - it screams "hostess gift."
I would love to try all the different wrap ideas that our european counterpoints seem to use so well - we get great response just from colored tissue inside clear cello, I think they would love the texture of the burlap and sisal wrap treatments. More food for thought ....

thanks for sharing the pics!

tracy

IMO the wraps can really make the whole BQ 'come to life'.

PS: My pleasure!

 

[RWK]

You know, That would really be great...If you all could give us some pointers on the techniques to create those neat wraps