Floral Design
DELIVERY
Day
START
Fall Semester
CAMPUS
Brooklyn Park Campus
OVERVIEW
Flowers are widely used for personal enjoyment and as expressions of admiration, sympathy, gratitude, or congratulations. Florists are responsible for preparing arrangements and blooming plants following design trends and using the most up-to-date techniques to make flowers last longer. The knowledge of the care, handling, and communicating of information of green plants is important. It is up to the professional florist to assist the customer in selecting the appropriate colors and types of flowers and plants to express the desired sentiment.
Floral Design Careers looks at all aspects of working in or running a flower shop. We offer classes in basic fresh flower design, contemporary design, funeral, and wedding design. Classes also explore entrepreneurship in the industry, customer service, care and handling of fresh cut flowers and foliages, and additional pertinent topics. We offer a diploma as a Professional Floral Designer. There is also an AAS option in Floral Design and Greenhouse Production.
For the students who are more career-minded, or wish to start their own floral shop, there is a diploma as a Professional Floral Designer, which includes an internship and general education credits. There are many flower shops in Minnesota that are owned or managed by graduates of the floral program at HTC.
LABS AND CLASSROOMS
The Floral Department at HTC has two separate workrooms that are exclusively used by floral students. The Floral Gallery is the on campus flower shop that sells flowers to students, staff , and the general public. The Floral Gallery is open Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. during the school year. We are not open during summer semester or during school breaks. We are equipped with three separate floral coolers.
SUPPLIES/TOOLS
Textbook: The Art of Floral Design, by Norah T. Hunter
Students must buy their own tools. Required tools are available at the bookstore. They include: floral knife, bunch cutter, wire cutter, floral shears, and ribbon scissors. Students should also bring a notebook and pen or pencil to class everyday.
Optional tools include: needle nose pliers, bolt and box cutter, and calculator.
Supplies for daily projects are provided in class - many of the daily fresh floral arrangements are put in the cooler overnight.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
An appreciation of flowers, creativity, and the desire to learn are essential to beginning training as a floral designer. A man or woman, young or old, who has creativity and the will to succeed, can train to become a florist. There are some personal qualities that are very important to make a successful florist that include the ability to work well with others, the desire to be part of a team, good communication skills, the ability to be a self-starter, willingness to take direction from others, and manual dexterity.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
JOB OUTLOOK
Training in the operations of a flower shop, along with the development of floral design skills, is a start to a career in the floral industry. Floral designers utilize many elements and principles to create floral arrangements. Understanding these elements and principles is essential to construct stunning creations in many styles using various techniques. Keeping abreast of industry trends and new products is of the utmost importance. Making flowers and plants last as long as possible requires knowledge about their proper care and handling. The ability to communicate with customers is important for the florist to help select the colors, variety of flower, and style of arrangements to fit their needs. The knowledge that a florist presents to a customer can raise customer satisfaction, creating return customers. Many shops like to hire HTC graduates. It provides them with the opportunity to have an individual who is already trained in floral design. This significantly decreases the amount of time business owners have to spend training employees. This, along with happy customers, ultimately leads to more profitable flower shops. Employment opportunities are good for well-trained individuals in many aspects of the industry.
GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT
Gainful Employment Information
POTENTIAL JOB TITLES Floral Designer, Professional Florist, Wedding Designer, Merchandiser, Wholesale Salesperson and more
SALARY Varies with position, experience, and skill level
INSTRUCTORS
Tiffany Hammond, AIFD, CFD
763-488-2407
Joanne Sarkilahti, College Lab Assistant
763-488-2538
The Floral Gallery
763-488-2531
ADVISORY COMMITTEE/PARTNERSHIPS
Board Members:
Jackie Bockwitz - Forever Floral
Bill Heisserer - Lakeland Floral Supply
Tim Holt - Bachmans Florist
Nikki Grund - Chanhassen Floral
John Malikowski - Blooming Creations
Tammy Waalk - Lindskoog Florist
Jake Ziebarth - Len Busch Roses
ACCREDITATION/AFFILIATIONS
The program has active memberships with the Society of American Florists and Minnesota State Florist's Association.
ARTICULATIONS
The Floral Department at HTC has two separate workrooms that are exclusively used by floral students. The Floral Gallery is the on campus flower shop that sells flowers to students, staff , and the general public. The Floral Gallery is open Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. during the school year. We are not open during summer semester or during school breaks. We are equipped with three separate floral coolers.
SUPPLIES/TOOLS
Textbook: The Art of Floral Design, by Norah T. Hunter
Students must buy their own tools. Required tools are available at the bookstore. They include: floral knife, bunch cutter, wire cutter, floral shears, and ribbon scissors. Students should also bring a notebook and pen or pencil to class everyday.
Optional tools include: needle nose pliers, bolt and box cutter, and calculator.
Supplies for daily projects are provided in class - many of the daily fresh floral arrangements are put in the cooler overnight.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
An appreciation of flowers, creativity, and the desire to learn are essential to beginning training as a floral designer. A man or woman, young or old, who has creativity and the will to succeed, can train to become a florist. There are some personal qualities that are very important to make a successful florist that include the ability to work well with others, the desire to be part of a team, good communication skills, the ability to be a self-starter, willingness to take direction from others, and manual dexterity.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
JOB OUTLOOK
Training in the operations of a flower shop, along with the development of floral design skills, is a start to a career in the floral industry. Floral designers utilize many elements and principles to create floral arrangements. Understanding these elements and principles is essential to construct stunning creations in many styles using various techniques. Keeping abreast of industry trends and new products is of the utmost importance. Making flowers and plants last as long as possible requires knowledge about their proper care and handling. The ability to communicate with customers is important for the florist to help select the colors, variety of flower, and style of arrangements to fit their needs. The knowledge that a florist presents to a customer can raise customer satisfaction, creating return customers. Many shops like to hire HTC graduates. It provides them with the opportunity to have an individual who is already trained in floral design. This significantly decreases the amount of time business owners have to spend training employees. This, along with happy customers, ultimately leads to more profitable flower shops. Employment opportunities are good for well-trained individuals in many aspects of the industry.
GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT
Gainful Employment Information
POTENTIAL JOB TITLES Floral Designer, Professional Florist, Wedding Designer, Merchandiser, Wholesale Salesperson and more
SALARY Varies with position, experience, and skill level
INSTRUCTORS
Tiffany Hammond, AIFD, CFD
763-488-2407
Joanne Sarkilahti, College Lab Assistant
763-488-2538
The Floral Gallery
763-488-2531
ADVISORY COMMITTEE/PARTNERSHIPS
Board Members:
Jackie Bockwitz - Forever Floral
Bill Heisserer - Lakeland Floral Supply
Tim Holt - Bachmans Florist
Nikki Grund - Chanhassen Floral
John Malikowski - Blooming Creations
Tammy Waalk - Lindskoog Florist
Jake Ziebarth - Len Busch Roses
ACCREDITATION/AFFILIATIONS
The program has active memberships with the Society of American Florists and Minnesota State Florist's Association.
ARTICULATIONS
