Only calculating… remain to Register - Connections '26
Three days working directly with Gregor, applying the Linking framework from structured versus held through to basketry and abstraction.
A Three Day In-Person Floral Design Workshop with Gregor Lersch
Uncover new styles and innovations by connecting and exploring various combinations of floral design concepts.
This workshop explores Gregor Lersch's framework of Linking: the deliberate connection of established styles, Design Categories and techniques to generate original design outcomes. In doing so, you'll deepen your understanding of foundational principles, integrating existing knowledge with fresh perspectives, new pathways and emerging possibilities.
Day One: Structured vs. Held - Reimagining the Arrangement and the Hand-tied. An "arrangement" and a "hand-tied bouquet" are frequently seen as individual categories in floral design. Looking for ways to connect their foundational qualities will stretch the boundaries of both and produce exciting new design leads, perhaps ones that are hard to label, yet which offer excitement and inspiration for further exploration.
Day Two: Organic vs. Absolute - Connecting Australian Botanicals and Geometry. Often sculptural and rich with texture, indigenous Australian botanicals also commonly share organic, wistful or irregular growth patterns. Circles, squares and many triangular shapes all share symmetry, central axes and closed silhouettes. Connecting the two concepts demands respect for the qualities of each, while finding a way to bring a new identity to their combination.
Day Three: Linking Basket vs. Abstraction - Linking Tradition and Abstraction. Baskets, used to collect, contain and present flowers throughout time, often bountifully. Abstraction uses design elements to express an idea or feeling, without representing something familiar. Connecting these two sources of inspiration and creativity is sure to reap surprising results and propel us into thinking about what a basket is or can be, and how adopting principles of abstraction might transform our work.
Find your own unique design voice, combine singular concepts and originate new and forward thinking hybrid floral styles.
Gregor Lersch is one of the most influential contemporary floral designers in the world. A German Master Florist, educator, and author, he is best known for developing a clear theoretical framework for modern floral design, especially his work around design categories and linking theory.
Linking, one of Gregor Lersch's most important contributions to the field, is about the ability to consciously connect two different floral categories, understand design categories independently and to create designs which transcend both concepts to a new entity, rather than blending styles.
In Gregor's framework of Grading, categories dissolve into each other. In Linking, however, each idea remains readable, and new possibilities emerge. Gregor's Linking theory provides a new vocabulary, framework and design discipline for creating innovative new concepts with clarity.
Grow your understanding of floral design by connecting your current knowledge with deeper insights, fresh pathways and potential new directions. Examine the various components of the creative process and their interrelationships, refining your own approach to design and creativity and take them to the next level. Connect with like minds from all parts of the flower world, floral friends old and new.
Venue: Bankstown Sports Club, 6 Mona Street, Bankstown. The workshop is held in the Boggabilla Room, Level 1. Two minutes' walk from Bankstown Railway Station, with free onsite parking (entrance on Mona Street).
Accommodation: the Mercure Sydney Bankstown is adjacent to the venue, at the same Mona Street entrance. Rooms can be booked directly through the hotel. Other accommodation options are available nearby via booking.com, stayz.com.au and airbnb.com.au. We recommend finalising accommodation plans early.
What's included: flowers and other horticultural materials, props, containers and sundries for each day. Welcome tea and coffee each morning before the workshop, plus morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea each day. The designs you create are yours to take home.
What to bring: your essential floristry hand tools, such as scissors, snips, secateurs, knives and pliers.
Workshop timetable: Saturday 15 August, 08:30 Registration and Welcome, 09:00 Day One - Structured vs. Held, 17:00 Finish. Sunday 16 August, 09:00 Day Two - Organic vs. Absolute, 17:00 Finish. Monday 17 August, 09:00 Day Three - Basket vs. Abstraction, 17:00 End of Session. Breaks for morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch each day.
Mark Pampling, our event host and organiser, has been designing, competing, teaching and judging for three decades and is known for his detailed yet clear, linear style as well as his patient and inclusive way of sharing his knowledge.
New From Known - Single Day
Join for a single day, or select several. Each selected day is added to your cart separately.
Day One, Saturday 15 August: Structured vs. Held - Reimagining the Arrangement and the Hand-tied.
An "arrangement" and a "hand-tied bouquet" are frequently seen as individual categories in floral design. Looking for ways to connect their foundational qualities stretches the boundaries of both and produces exciting new design leads, ones that may be hard to label, yet offer excitement and inspiration for further exploration.
Day Two, Sunday 16 August: Organic vs. Absolute - Connecting Australian Botanicals and Geometry.
Often sculptural and rich with texture, indigenous Australian botanicals commonly share organic, wistful or irregular growth patterns. Circles, squares and many triangular shapes share symmetry, central axes and closed silhouettes. Connecting the two concepts demands respect for the qualities of each, while finding a way to bring a new identity to their combination.
Day Three, Monday 17 August: Linking Basket vs. Abstraction - Linking Tradition and Abstraction.
Baskets have been used to collect, contain and present flowers throughout time, often bountifully. Abstraction uses design elements to express an idea or feeling, without representing something familiar. Connecting these two sources of inspiration is sure to reap surprising results and propel your thinking on what a basket is or can be, and how adopting principles of abstraction might transform your work.
Gregor's structured approach to creativity, from his design schema through to live demonstration and an analysis of visual balance in real time.
A One Day Floral Design Symposium Examining the Inner Workings of the Creative Process
Where do ideas come from?
Through theory, demonstration and dialog, Gregor reveals the inner process and structure of creativity, expanding on his design schema, demonstrating the journey from inspiration to resolved design, and analysing visual balance in real time.
A day to bridge design principles with the creative process and elevate your design thinking.
- Session One - Where Ideas Begin. Explore creativity as a structured, learnable process rather than an instinctual one. Gain clarity on the different origins of ideas and how they interconnect, as well as tools for consciously generating, analysing and strengthening original design concepts.
- Session Two - Theory into Practice. Observe theory translated into live practice as Gregor creates several designs from unprepared materials, each piece beginning from a different source of inspiration, demonstrating how ideas evolve into resolved compositions. Witness decision-making, structural development and refinement in real time.
- Session Three - Visual Balance. Examine visual balance as a universal and foundational principle. Through demonstration and analysis, Gregor unpacks symmetry, asymmetry, axis placement, visual weight and proportion. Gain clarity on how structure and distribution create stability, tension and coherence within contemporary compositions.
- Session Four - Design Conversation. The day concludes with an interactive conversation, inviting questions on creativity, theory, contemporary trends and professional practice. This open forum provides direct access to Gregor's international experience, offering clarification, deeper insight and thoughtful discussion to consolidate learning from the day's sessions.
Central to Gregor Lersch's teachings is the idea that creativity is not accidental, but systematic. In his influential book Sources of Creativity - Ways to Inspirations, for example, Lersch identifies distinct origins of creative ideas and demonstrates how understanding their interrelationships enables designers to work more consciously and effectively.
Venue: Bankstown Sports Club, 6 Mona Street, Bankstown. The seminar is held in the Boggabilla Room, Level 1. Two minutes' walk from Bankstown Railway Station, with free onsite parking (entrance on Mona Street).
Accommodation: the Mercure Sydney Bankstown is adjacent to the venue, at the same Mona Street entrance. Rooms can be booked directly through the hotel. Other accommodation options are available nearby via booking.com, stayz.com.au and airbnb.com.au. We recommend finalising accommodation plans soon.
Timetable, Friday 14 August 2026: 08:30 Registration and refreshments; 09:00 Welcome; 09:10 Where Ideas Begin; 10:30 Break; 11:00 Theory Into Practice; 12:30 Lunch; 13:30 Visual Balance; 15:00 Break; 15:30 Question and Answer Forum; 16:15 Finish and viewing of designs.
Inclusions: welcome refreshments, lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea. A digital certificate of participation is provided to each attendee.
Mark Pampling, our event host and organiser, has been designing, competing, teaching and judging for three decades and is known for his detailed yet clear, linear style as well as his patient and inclusive way of sharing his knowledge.
Sketching Day
Available exclusively to full 3-day workshop registrants. Select Full Workshop above, or have it already in your cart, and this unlocks automatically.
An exclusive event limited to 12 New From Known Workshop participants.
Explore sketching as a powerful thinking and communication tool, refine your ideas on paper, and transform drawings into resolved floral designs.
A focused, practical and deeply developmental day.
From Line to Design is offered only to registrants in the New From Known Workshop. You must be enrolled in New From Known to be eligible to join.
You don't need to be an accomplished artist or proficient draftsperson to enjoy this day. If you create with flowers and you can doodle, you are ready.
The day will be divided into sketching tools and techniques, practice and some hands-on designing (to be sketched). It will also be structured to include and support all abilities and levels of confidence.
Tools and Techniques. Gregor will explain how he sketches, why he sketches and what tools he uses.
Guided Sketching Exercises. Practical exercises involving sketching design elements and pre-made designs.
Create Designs From Sketches. Turn sketched ideas into reality, demonstrating the value of sketching as a communication tool.
Sketch to Communicate. Witness the power of a simple sketch and what it can communicate to a designer.
As well as being known for his sketching abilities and how he applies them in his designing, Gregor is renowned for his generous and inclusive way of teaching.
Venue: Bankstown Sports Club, 6 Mona Street, Bankstown. Held in the Boggabilla Room, Level 1. Two minutes' walk from Bankstown Railway Station, with free onsite parking (entrance on Mona Street).
Timetable, Thursday 13 August 2026: 08:30 Registration and refreshments; 09:00 Tools and Techniques; Guided Sketching Exercises; Create Designs From Sketches; Sketch to Communicate; 16:15 Finish.
Inclusions: all drawing and sketching materials, botanicals and sundries. Welcome refreshments, lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea. A printed certificate of participation for each attendee.
Mark Pampling, our event host and organiser, has been designing, competing, teaching and judging for three decades and is known for his detailed yet clear, linear style as well as his patient and inclusive way of sharing his knowledge.