What Exactly Does a Floral Designer Do?

Careers in art and design are growing in the U.S., offering a lot of great opportunities to those interested in working in a creative field. If you’re trying to figure out what kind of creative career you want, and floral design is one consideration, it’s important to learn more about this job. What does a floral designer do on a daily basis? Where do they work? These are the kinds of things you need to know to make the right choice for your future.

What is a Floral Designer?

A floral designer is a creative professional who selects and arranges flowers, bouquets, decorations, displays, corsages and other products using fresh flowers and foliage. They work with customers to select appropriate flowers and arrangements for different types of events and situations. Some floral designers own their own businesses or floral shops, while others work for larger companies, in shops, for florists or in wholesale settings.

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Typical Duties of a Floral Designer

Exactly what a floral designer will do on a daily basis depends on the job. But, most floral designers are responsible for a set of duties related to choosing and arranging flowers and helping customers. A typical day for a floral designer may include any or all of the following:

Purchasing flowers from a floral wholesale facility
Consulting with customers on the type of arrangement needed for an event or occasion, such as weddings, funerals, prom night, or dinner parties
Organizing bouquets, arrangements and displays and making sure they are delivered to the right location and on time
Making arrangements
Helping customers choose flowers and arrangements based on budget
Small business tasks, such as answering the phone, scheduling appointments, taking inventory and making deliveries

In order to complete these tasks, floral designers have to be knowledgeable. They must understand flowers, when they are available, how long they will stay fresh and how much they cost. Florists may need to make bouquets on the fly for clients and also plan well in advance for large events. They may deliver arrangements themselves or hire drivers. Some florists set up their displays and tear them down at the end of events.

Other Jobs and Duties of Floral Designers

The above daily tasks are typical for a florist working in his or her own shop or working for a chain or larger florist company. Most floral designers work as florists, but there are some alternatives. For instance, you may be hired to work for a wholesaler that orders flowers from farms and sells them to florists and others. You may work for a non-floral company, such as a hotel chain, to ensure buildings always have fresh flower arrangements, or for a wedding planning company focusing on making arrangements and bouquets for events.

To become a floral designer you don’t have to meet any state or national education requirements, but you do need to have a creative flair and a passion for flowers and design. Training and certification will help you get into this field, so consider looking into local educational programs or finding a florist willing to take you on as an apprentice.

When you have learned how to work with flowers, you can seek certification through the American Institute of Floral Design so that you will have the credentials you need to make a career out of working with people and flowers.