2024

Tuesday 16 January eBooks and instructional videos released Friday 2 February Submission #1 Due Tuesday 6 February First live design discussion Thursday 8 February Meeting notes and video released Friday 1 March Submission #2 Due (Designers)

Tuesday 5 March Live design discussion Thursday 7 March Meeting notes and video released Monday 11 March Competition Learnings eBook released Join now and get immediate access to all the program so far, and the live design forum, videos and eBooks.

 

2025

Course dates for 2025 are yet to be announced.

Times

All times listed are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT - Sydney). You can compare your local time zone to Sydney time  at flowerthinking.com/worldtime.

Stay Updated

If you'd like us to update you on new course dates and other developments in Designing to Win, you can register your interest here.

Designing to Win is a roadmap to more successful competing. It is delivered as a set of two instructional ebooks with companion videos, two online Design Forums and a compendium of two designs each from up to twenty designers, with detailed analysis and notes.

Designing to Win is delivered as a set of:

• two eBooks, Competition Essentials and Applied Interpretation (download and keep, release Tuesday 27 June);
• the companion videos to the above eBooks (stream for 3 months, release Tuesday 27 June);
• two live Design Forums (18 July, 8 August);
• two full set of notes from the Design Forums (download and keep, release 10 August);
• Competition Learnings, a compendium of all the designs from the Design Forums with detailed analysis and notes (download and keep, release Tuesday 27 June);

The first online meeting is a Design Forum in which Mark will analyse up to twenty designs that have been submitted to the theme "Glass and Grass".

The second online meeting is also a Design Forum in which Mark will analyse up to a further twenty designs that have been submitted and will highlight the learnings from the first to the second design.

Each online meeting is run once at a specified time, and is recorded at that time. You can join the live session or watch the recording at a later time. The recording is released as soon as possible after the live session (usually within 24-48 hours) and available for approximately one month after its release.

If you're joining as part of the Audience, there are no prescribed tasks for you to complete.

If you're joining as a Designer, you will be asked to create two items to the schedule, which will be published in the eBook, Applied Interpretation: Glass & Grass.

Your submissions are due to be submitted (in the form of a photograph) on Saturday 15 July and Saturday 5 August.

The material in Designing to Win is written for floral creatives interested in competing, whether as a novice or a seasoned competitor. Some practical experience in a relevant floral discipline is advisable but not strictly necessary.

Participants have a free choice of variety and quantity of materials. Horticultural materials should be prioritised in the practical tasks, and may be used fresh, dried and/or preserved. The use of artificial botanical materials is discouraged.

Material choice is always very important in the design process. The intention of the course is for participants to take a considered approach to selecting and using material. Other than complying with the schedule, participants have a free choice over the materials they incorporate into their designs.

Resourcefulness is encouraged, and items created do not necessarily require exotic, expensive or precious materials. Completing design submissions with readily available materials that meet the task requirements is very acceptable.

Materials can be used in any quantity. Design submissions do not need to be elaborate and abundant. A modest approach is very appropriate and can often result in better learning.

The creation of designs for each task involves the use of sundry components, various mechanics, containers, props and/or accessories. Participants also have free choice of the non-horticultural materials required to create their designs.

The course is delivered through Google Meet – a free and widely accessible meeting platform that allows for various forms of interaction and presentation styles.

All participants need to have access to a device that accommodates the Google Meet platform, e.g. laptop/PC with web cam/iPad/iPhone/etc., and an internet connection (at their own provision/expense). Participants may be required to download/install the Google Meet app to continue with the course. Flower Thinking will aim to support your use of the technology by answering as many connectivity questions as we are able. You may be required to outsource any additional support if we are unable to resolve certain technical issues. In advance of each online session, you will receive an email link to attend the meeting.

Our experience with the Google Meet platform has proved that it is simple, reliable and easy to access. Previous participants have reported that the supplied links and joining process were easy to follow. We will disseminate links to the recorded meeting sessions via email. The recordings will be available via a website/online portal (e.g. YouTube).

You are required to submit images of your designs by email to the facilitator by a specified time and date.

Images are to be in colour and of medium resolution. Suggested image file size is between 1MB to 3MB. You do not require professionally produced or curated photos. Clear images of the design against a plain background that accurately portray the important qualities of the design are best.

Flower Thinking provides/offers:

• Course coordination and instruction, along with accompanying guidelines, communication, support and documentation.
• Course facilitation.
• Oversight, professional guidance and encouragement from the course facilitator.
• Feedback about contributed designs and design evaluations.
• Task examples (images).

An open and flexible attitude to learning.

• A commitment to participate – to spend time on creating, photographing and submitting tasks.
• Own materials, tools and working facilities to create designs for tasks (own expense).
• Own equipment and technological connections to join meetings and share digital images/documents as required (own expense).
• Ability to take and share digital images of designs (e.g. camera, smart phone, help of a friend, etc.) (at own expense).
• Feedback (optional and appreciated) to Flower Thinking about the course format and content.

This course is an independent educational event and is not directly aligned to any specific training standards (in Australia or Internationally). Participants will receive recognition by Flower Thinking Pty Ltd of complete participation via a digital certificate.

While the course will be conducted at a high level of floral design, it does not involve any formal assessment or accreditation.

Online workshops are limited to a maximum of twelve participants. Places are assigned on a first come, first served basis. When all places are taken, subsequent registrations are placed on a waiting list and potential registrants are advised as soon as possible if a place becomes available.

* Flower Thinking reserves the right to adjust course capacity/participant numbers based on their sole assessment of the ability to deliver quality learning and interaction with the whole group.

This course is delivered in English. All communications for the course are presented and accepted in English.

Flower Thinking is based in Australia. All listed times and dates equate to Sydney time (Time Zone = AEST or EADT, standard or daylight saving time, as appropriate to the time of year).

All supporting documents, images and notes are shared via email and/or file sharing services (e.g. WeTransfer).

Enrolment and participation in the course will be taken as consent to share participants' names and course input (images, sketches, notes, etc.) with all members of the enrolled group. Participants’ private information is be not shared within or outside the group without express permission.

Enrolment in the course is taken as permission for Flower Thinking to use images of course designs and submissions for the purposes of:

• Marketing activities
• Social media postings
• Course notes

Flower Thinking will acknowledge designers/photographers wherever possible.

Participants who do not wish to have their submissions shared are required to submit this request in writing to Flower Thinking (contact details below).

Participants are encouraged to share their designs on social media, as desired. Using the following hashtag will enable all course participants to access each other's shared posts easily:

#floraldesigndirections

#designdirections

Following or searching the following hashtags on Instagram and Facebook will help provide you with images of designs produced for tasks in previous Flower Thinking courses that have also had a focus on the application of floral design principles:

#floraldesigndirections

#designdirections

Flower Thinking is based in Australia.

All listed times and dates equate to Sydney time (Time Zone = AEST or AEDT, standard or daylight saving time, as appropriate to the time of year).

We find this website useful for checking the time in different timezones:

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

The platform that we use for course email communications requires recipients to be subscribed to our mailing list.

If you're not already subscribed, could you please subscribe to our list here.

You can always unsubscribe when the course is complete, if you want to.

If you remain subscribed, you will receive one newsletter from us per month, usually on the 15th.

Design Directions is led by Mark Pampling*:

www.markpampling.com

www.instagram.com/markpampling

Mark is a Master Florist, International Floral Designer and Demonstrator, World Champion competitor in Floral Design competitions and a teacher with extensive experience in floristry and floral design education. He is frequently published in International flower magazines and has contributed to several books.

Mark is a Floral Fundamentals Ambassador, an Interflora Judge (National and International) and he is well versed in all aspects of most parts of the flower world, such as retail floristry, floral art/flower arranging and exhibition events.

* Flower Thinking reserves the right to change the Course Facilitator if required due to unforeseen circumstances and/or to include additional Facilitators for the purposes of enhanced discussion, training and/or accommodating course capacity.

Our refund policy can be viewed at https://flowerthinking.com/policies/refund-policy

Our terms of service are at https://flowerthinking.com/policies/terms-of-service

I'm very happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

The best way to reach me is through the Contact Us form on this website, or via email at business@flowerthinking.com