A structured, parallel framework, fluid lines and a mix of blooms from different seasons and climates are combined into our May Design of the Month. Each component is expertly considered and arranged to form a harmonious composition - a design the French creator, Frédéric Dupré, calls a mechanical bouquet.

Frédéric presented this design example, and the overall mechanical bouquet concept at Flower Thinking’s Sydney workshop last month. The underlying framework is built of foam core panels, a connecting branch and wire feet. The bouquet is full of interesting contrast - fresh and dry, straight and curved, hard and soft, vibrant and earthy, and more. It can be challenging to mix delicate spring flowers with hardy Australia natives (there’s a Banksia nestled in the midst) however Frédéric has more than met the challenge and created a cohesive composition with immediate impact and distinct style.

Channelling energy along defined paths, or working within parameters, is often a good way to focus attention and learn more. Design Directions does exactly that - it uses the energetic flow of various proportions (upwards, downward, horizontally, diagonally) combined with a different design formats (parallel, formal-linear, radial, etc.) as a platform to grow your understanding of design.

While the program channels some thoughts, it also offers creative choices in other areas, and works with each participant’s level of experience - there’s no requirement to be an expert to join. Participants don’t finish the course as experts, but they do become more confident, objective designers - ready to face further challenges and find their own areas for improvement.

Our Design Directions course starts again soon (2nd June). The convenient online format involves five practical tasks, made in your own creative space and submitted electronically, and six accompanying online meetings that can be joined live or watched as a recording later.

Here’s a collection of design examples that I have made in previous Design Directions, that illustrate the journey the program can take you on:

The program allows you to work at your own level, with skills you already have and with materials that are readily or easily available.

Similar to our other online courses, when you participate in Design Directions, you’ll:

I have written and launched a new instructional eBook - Elevating Interest - it’s based on a design concept that I have presented in various workshops around the world in the last few years (you might have been there?). It’s a hugely versatile concept, that involves creating decorative panels and elevating them with simple, bound wire legs and feet.

In the book I’ve presented two versions - a horizontal design with a long rectangular panel, and a vertical design with a more dimensional, trapezoid panel. The approach is the same, with very different results - demonstrating just some of the directions you might take the concept for yourself. The book gives you all the details, ingredient suggestions and guidance that you need to create your own version.

You can access the eBook here: