Design of the Month Gallery
A monthly selection of what's been inspiring us lately
December 2023
A flowing garland from Sydney designer Linda Taneja, for Festive Thinking 2023. Inspired by the sickle shape - making wrapped fibrous forms, Linda used a single, long sickle as the core of her composition, and built a draping, one ended swag-style design over the top. Made with a wholly sustainable approach, the entire piece can be composted.
Buxus semperverins, eilucadendron,
Agapanthus praecox, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Xerochrysum
Design - Linda Taneja
Photography - Linda Taneja
November 2023
Example design created for Leaning Design Task in Design Directions.
One of my favourite ways of working, it teaches you a lot about visual balance and rhythm. Here I chose to work into a structure. Working into foam or directly into water would also give the same experience of experimenting with visual balance.
Phalaenopsis, Rose, Craspedia, Phylica, Leucadendron, Protea, Xanthorrhoea, Delonix, Alocasia
Design - Mark Pampling
Photography - Mark Pampling
October 2023
A compact and abundant composition created by Kerry Thomson for an Advanced Directions task which asked for a low, decorative parallel design with proportions directed horizontally, working in shallow depth.
[Botanicals to be advised]
Design - Kerry Thomson
Photography - Kerry Thomson
September 2023
A Heavenly Wedding
Created by Elisabeth (Lisa) Pålsson, Norway's representative in the 2023 World Cup. Here, Lisa holds the design, revealing the wound wire "tree" structure to which all the flowers are magnetically attached.
[Botanicals to be advised]
Design - Lisa Pålsson
Photography - Mark Pampling
August 2023
Glass and Grass - A Rhythmic composition by Priyah Shah in Designing to Win
Dramatic, sweeping use of grass was part of this interpretation the theme Glass and Grass. The choice the blue bottle brings glass into the spotlight, its colour subtly integrated into the rest of the composition with the use of blue aluminium wire spirals. The blue of the glass is also repeated in the petals of the Strelitzia flowers.
[Botanicals to be advised]
Design - Priyah Shah
Photography - Priyah Shah
July 2023
A low, decorative design with proportions directed horizontally, created by Annita Bokobli as a design task for Design Directions.
Hakea platysperma, Grass flowers, Hydrangea
Design - Annita Bokobli
Photography - Annita Bokobli
June 2023
Creating impact with minimal material variety can be difficult - particulary when working at scale or with small or thin materials. This design was created by Luke Simon as an Overlapping Design exercise in Design Solutions.
Xerochrysum, Schizachyrium Scoparium
Design - Luke Simon
Photography - Luke Simon
May 2023
Created by Michael Cordeiro for Wreath task in Design Solutions.
Loose silhouette and contemporary distribution of materials draw the eye in and stretch common understandings of what constitutes a wreath.
Bamboo sheaths, Rhapis Palm
Design - Michael Cordeiro
Photography - Michael Cordeiro
April 2023
Bridal design exercise from Design Solutions
Bridal designing offers the opportunity to work on a manageable scale, paying close attention to craftsmanship and detail. Achieving this with reduced material variety adds to the challenge.
Created entirely using two varieties of Phormium – from fresh, woven strips, through to dried, coloured florets and stem slices.
Phormium
Design - Sheryl Watkins
Photography - Sheryl Watkins
March 2023
Created by Duc Thuan Bui as an exercise in Parallel design in Design Directions; demonstrates that parallelism and creativity are not mutually exclusive.
This design incorporates two parallel systems of organising materials - a dominant system of vertical parallel lines formed by the longest stems in the composition, and a secondary system of diagonal parallel line generated by bending the tips of the Grass material consistently down to the right.
Gloriosa, Eucomis (Pineapple Lily), Caladium, Sedum
Design - Duc Thuan Bui
Photography - Duc Thuan Bui
February 2023
Wall wreath created by Yukina Sakabe as an exercise in creating a wreath with minimal material variety, in Design Solutions (formerly Design Discipline)
Rinko Ami is a Japanese basket weaving technique, also sometimes referred to as the Wheel Weaving technique or Bull's Eye Pattern. It is a type of circular plaiting, with the possibility to create a clockwise or anticlockwise rhythm. The construction does not employ any fastening, such as binding or gluing. The stems are interlocked such that they remain in place in the finished wreath.
Xanthorrhoea australis
Design - Yukina Sakabe
Photography - Yukina Sakabe
January 2023
Created by Laura Leong as an exercise in Design Directions
The exercise in, creating Long Designs, calls for a decorative or formal-linear vertical design with proportions directed downwards.
Passiflora (flowers and vine), Phalaenopsis
Design - Laura Leong
Photography - Laura Leong
One Container, Five Elements expanded my design processes and choices. Analysing the container and looking for a link to each of the five elements. Focusing on one element was a disciplined journey, one that became more complex the further I travelled along the path, albeit a rewarding journey. On reflection it allowed me to consider my choices and to give each element of design a voice in my arrangements. I likened it to a choir where one voice may lead but if the supporting harmonies are not in pitch the whole auditory experience is not quite right. I found myself falling to my favourite elements and constantly self-evaluating to see what was often needed, often editing rather than adding. During the group feedback sessions, I gained new eyes not only on my own work but that of my peers. Such a rewarding experience.
This course is totally fabulous, taking one container and working with that in totally different ways with the focus on each of the Elements of design really make you think. Using the container as a starting point for inspiration but then pushing it on alternative ways is most refreshing. Mark's feedback and guidance throughout is so clear and well thought out and is delivered both verbally and in writing. This course is a great opportunity to learn from a master... But it is also self lead in that you choose your own design and work to stretch yourself in what ever way you like. So good I am considering a second round using different container.
I was extremely fortunate to be gifted the opportunity to partake in one of Marks courses. While I found the course challenging, I have learnt enormously from those challenges. The One Container, Five Elements course certainly gave me a new awareness of all the elements of designs and to consider them all when designing. I would unreservedly recommend this course if you have a passion for ongoing learning in your floral design.
Having completed the one container five elements course I would highly recommend this type of online learning to others. I really enjoyed the assignments and it was great to have something specific to work on. Each assignment was clearly defined and the feedback provided on everyone's work was clear with exciting suggestions made by Mark on how to improve the design or how it could be developed to become a showstopper. Everyone was encouraged to work freely on their own design ideas and supported through the process. Having access to both written feedback and the recording of the call ensures that everyone can connect and learn. I can't wait to work out which course I should join next.
One Container - Five Ways - what a way to get me interested and what a way to really understand all the elements and how by focusing on each you can create such different designs! Thank you Mark - learning little and big things every time.