1. Floriculture Horticulture CD
Unit B2-3
Floriculture
Horticulture CD

2. Problem Area 2
Floral Design

3. Understanding the Principles of Floral Design
Lesson 3
Understanding the Principles of Floral Design

4. Interest Approach
Take a look at the design to the right. Why does this arrangement look so good? Would you do anything to improve it?
Now look at these two designs. What’s wrong with them? How could you make them better?
I find that it helps to have many pictures of floral arrangements on hand that can be used to illustrate all aspects of floral design. To do this requires a little bit of time up front, but get your students to help. What I did is take several magazines, Calyx & Corolla are the best for this, and cut up all the designs that you can find. Glue them onto colored paper squares (just slightly bigger than the actual picture; this makes the picture more sturdy and stand out) and then have them laminated. They will last for years! Than you can pull them out at a short notice and use them with your lessons. They work great!
Courtesy of Delmar Publishing

5. Student Objectives 1. Define floral design
2. List the principles of floral design
3. Explain the concept of proportion
4. Explain how the concept of balance is applied to floral design
5. Describe how rhythm is applied in floral work
6. Explain how the principles of dominance and focal point are used in floral design

6. Vocabulary Radiation Regular, repeated rhythm Repetition Rhythm
Asymmetrical balance
Balance
Centering
Contrast
Counterbalancing
Dominance
Floral design
Focal point
Free, variable rhythm
Physical balance
Principles of design
Proportion
Radiation
Regular, repeated rhythm
Repetition
Rhythm
Symmetrical balance
Transition
Variation
Variety
Visual balance
Visual weight

7. What Is Floral Design?
Floral design is the art of organizing the design elements inherent in plant materials and accessories according to the principles of design art
It is commonly called floral arranging
People who arrange flowers are called floral designers
These people have spent many hours mastering the art and design principles

8. What Are the Principles of Design and How Are They Used?
Principles of design are the rules and guidelines used by floral designers to create floral arrangements
There are four major design principles : proportion, balance, rhythm and dominance
Radiation, repetition, transition, variation, contrast and focal point are minor principles

9. Major Design Principles

10. Minor Design Principles

11. How Is Proportion Achieved in Floral Design?
The design must be in proportion to where it is going to be displayed
It must be suitable for and in harmony with its location
For example, a small bud vase of flowers would be inappropriate on a church altar
Also, a huge basket of flowers would not be in proportion on a small coffee table
For this section, it helps if you have several pictures of floral designs illustrating the various techniques. Have the students figure out what principle is being used; chances are there are more than one.

12. The height of an arrangement should be 1 1/2 to 2 times the height or width of the container
The height may be increased depending on room dimensions and material types

13. Containers are a primary factor in determining height
Consider:
Physical dimensions
Color
Material & texture
Shape
A darker vase can visually hold a larger arrangement than a glass vase.
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

14. Flowers and foliage of equal or nearly equal size will help in achieving proper proportion
For example, orchids should not be mixed with baby’s breath
Courtesy of Interstate Publishing

15. What Is Balance and How Is It Achieved?
There are two types of balance:
Physical = actual stability of the arrangement
The arrangement can stand freely and won’t fall over
Visual = refers to the perception of the arrangement being balanced; Should be evident from top to bottom, side to side and front to back
Designs not balanced will look out of sorts like a crooked painting on a wall

16. There are two types of visual balance
Symmetrical balance - having equal numbers of plant materials on both sides of a central axis
Round, fan, triangle and the inverted T are examples of symmetrical design forms
Asymmetrical balance - having unequal placement of plant materials and weight of materials on each side of the central axis
Hogarth curve, crescent, diagonal and right triangles are example of asymmetrical design forms

17. Balance can be achieved through the following methods:
1. Visual weight - a flower’s perceived lightness or heaviness based on its color, shape and pattern
Varying visual weight helps achieve the compensation or counterbalancing in asymmetrical designs
Lighter colors should be used towards the top and sides; Darker ones towards the bottom and center

18. 2. Designers use three main techniques to help achieve balance:
A) visual weight= a flower’s perceived lightness or heaviness based on its shape, color and pattern
Varying visual weight helps achieve the counterbalancing in asymmetrical arrangements
Light colors towards top and sides; Darker towards bottom and center
B) centering= the technique of placing dominant plant material along a design’s central vertical axis

19. C) counterbalancing= means balancing plant materials on one side of a design with visually equal materials on the opposite side
It is essential in asymmetrical work
Can be used to avoid strict mirror imaging in symmetrical work

20. How Is Rhythm Created in a Floral Design?
Creating a pathway for the eye to follow is the purpose of rhythm
An arrangement with good rhythm will cause the viewer to look at the entire piece
Two types:
A) regular, repeated rhythm – present when materials are repeated at regular intervals from top to bottom in the arrangement

21. There are five ways to achieve both free and regular rhythm
B) free, variable rhythm- is an unstructured style with subtle flowing movements created with unstructured materials
There are five ways to achieve both free and regular rhythm

22. Ways of Creating Rhythm
Radiation
Stems radiate out naturally from the container; looks like spokes on a wheel
Repetition
Repeating design elements throughout an arrangement including, but not limited to color, shape, space & lines
Transition
Change from one material to another; should be smooth & gradual, such as in color changes
Variety
Diverse assortment of differing components in a design; focuses attention & stimulates interest
Contrast
Describes objects that have striking differences beyond mere variety or diversity, taking variety to a higher degree

23. What Is Dominance and How Is Focal Point Used to Create It?
The use of dominance suggests to the viewer what is important in a design
Interest and attention are captured when one feature dominates and others are secondary
Can be achieved by:
1) using dominant plant material
2) using an emphasized design element
3) using a distinct style of design

24. Focal point is the center of interest
4) using a theme
5) using a focal point
Focal point is the center of interest
Not all arrangements have a focal point
For example, round arrangements
There are several ways to create a focal point

25. Ways of Creating a Focal Point
Use of large flowers there
Ex. Football mum
Use of special form flowers
Ex. Orchid
Employing dark shades
Vary concentration of plant material
Use of framing methods
Ex. Curved lines as in crescent shape
Use of strong color contrasts
Radiation of plant material to a particular area
Use of accessories

26. Summary What is floral design? Name the four major design principles.
What is focal point?
Explain the proportional rule of “1 ½ to 2 times.”
Where should heavy colors go? Light colors?
How is physical balance different from visual balance?
What is the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance?

27. Summary Continued Describe how radiation can create rhythm.
What is usually repeated in a design to create rhythm?
What is dominance? And how can it be achieved?
Name two ways of creating a focal point.