What to expect
An intimate, in-person gathering designed for florists who are drawn to:
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open process and thoughtful experimentation
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designing alongside peers in a shared, exploratory environment
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working with seasonal materials guided by intention, texture, movement, and curiosity
Rather than a traditional step-by-step workshop, the Design Lab is structured around exploration, dialogue, and creating alongside peers. Set on a working farm, the day centers on hands-on making, observation, and conversation, with an emphasis on process over prescribed outcomes.
Before the lab
Registered participants will receive a detailed welcome guide in advance of the experience. This will include the flow of the day, practical notes, and a seasonal mood board reflecting the materials and creative direction guiding the lab.
Details are intentionally shared closer to the date to allow the experience to remain responsive to seasonality while providing enough clarity to arrive prepared and grounded.
Why a design lab?
Creative growth doesn’t happen through replication alone. It develops through inquiry, experimentation, and shared process.
The Florist Collective was created as a space for florists to explore ideas together, test approaches, and engage deeply with materials, mechanics, and intention.
Rather than instruction-led learning, the Design Lab is shaped through dialogue, observation, and active making. Perspectives expand through working alongside peers, and process is valued as much as the final form — because how we arrive matters just as much as what we create.
In practice, the day is intentionally structured to reflect the rhythm of real event work, balancing independent design with collaborative installation and shared problem-solving.
Professional Growth Through Practice
While exploratory in nature, the Design Lab is grounded in the kinds of design decisions that arise when working with materials in real time — interpreting form, adjusting proportion, responding to mechanics, and refining placement as ideas evolve.
Rather than following a fixed recipe, participants are encouraged to think actively through their work, developing stronger design reasoning that can translate across many areas of floral practice, including event, studio, and installation work.
The intention is to strengthen creative judgement, adaptability, and confidence in responding to materials and structure — skills that support both independent design and collaborative environments alike.
What's included
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Seasonal floral materials sourced from the farm and trusted suppliers
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Use of vessels and foam-free mechanics
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Guided creative prompts and peer dialogue throughout the day
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Professional portfolio photography, including individual portraits and styled detail images
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Light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
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Take-home floral work and select mechanics/vessels used throughout the day
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A detailed mood board and welcome guide shared prior to the Design Lab
How the Day Moves
The day begins with individual design work, allowing participants to interpret the materials through their own lens before gradually building toward collaborative work that reflects the rhythm of a real event environment.
Throughout the day, participants will move through:
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Individual bouquet and centerpiece creation
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Refinement, editing, and proportion adjustments
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A collaborative ceremony installation with individually interpreted sections
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Dedicated styling and portfolio photography time
Guidance will be available throughout the day for those who want it, alongside space to step back, reassess, and refine — much like the rhythm of live event work.
Registration Now Open
The September 26 Design Lab is currently open for registration.
Creative Ownership & Photography
Participants will create their own bouquet and centerpiece designs throughout the day.
The ceremony installation will be collaborative, with each participant contributing a distinct section while working collectively toward a larger shared structure. As with live event work, collaborative pieces may evolve through group adjustments, refinement, and styling as the installation develops.
Dedicated time will be set aside to:
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Style and photograph individual work
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Capture portfolio-focused detail imagery
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Document behind-the-scenes moments throughout the day
Edited images will be shared after the Design Lab for portfolio and social media use. Participants who prefer not to appear in public-facing imagery beyond documentation of their work may indicate this in advance, and these preferences will be respected.
Who this is for
The Florist Collective: A Design Lab is for florists and designers who are drawn to thoughtful, hands-on exploration, material awareness, seasonal materials, and designing alongside peers in a collaborative environment. This experience is especially suited to those looking to deepen their creative thinking through observation, experimentation, dialogue, and hands-on practice.
This lab may be a strong fit if you:
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Want to expand your artistic eye through observation and exchange
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Value both independent design and collaborative building
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Are interested in process, mechanics, and material exploration
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Are seeking portfolio-worthy work in a natural setting
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Are looking for a thoughtful creative reset or seasonal shift in perspective
Participants should feel open to collaborative process, shared dialogue, and the evolving nature of working within a group creative environment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior experience to attend?
The Design Lab welcomes florists at a range of experience levels. While the experience is not structured as a fundamentals or step-by-step workshop, participants do not need to consider themselves “advanced” to attend. Curiosity, openness to experimentation, and a willingness to engage in both independent and collaborative creative process are what matter most.
Is this a traditional step-by-step workshop?
The Design Lab is structured differently from a traditional step-by-step workshop. Rather than recreating a fixed recipe or identical finished pieces, the day centers on observation, experimentation, collaborative process, and working intuitively with seasonal materials in real time.
What is included in the registration?
Your registration includes all seasonal florals, a personal mechanics kit (including items such as a pin frog, chicken wire, and a vessel to design in and take home), breakfast and lunch, and professional photography documenting the day and your work.
What should I bring?
Please bring your favourite tools/snips, comfortable footwear suitable for uneven farm terrain, and clothing appropriate for the weather. You may also wish to bring a water bottle, a portable coffee mug, and anything that helps you feel comfortable and grounded while designing. Professional photos will be taken, so consider attire you feel good being photographed in.
How does registration and payment work?
After submitting the registration form, a Square invoice and service agreement will be emailed within 24 hours. Registration is confirmed once the signed agreement and deposit or full payment have been received. Remaining balances are due 21 days prior to the Design Lab.
What happens if the weather changes?
The lab will take place inside the barn at Yakashiro Farm, providing a comfortable and sheltered working space for the day. We will also have a guided walk and tour of the farm itself to observe the seasonal landscape and materials in context while remaining mindful of weather and ground conditions.
Will we be photographed during the lab?
Professional photography will be present throughout the Design Lab to document the process, setting, and floral work created during the day. Edited images will be shared with participants afterward for portfolio and social media use and may also be used for future promotional materials related to the Design Lab. Participants who prefer not to appear in public-facing imagery beyond documentation of their work may indicate this in advance, and these preferences will be respected.
Who is this lab best suited for?
This experience is well suited to florists, freelancers, studio owners, and designers who are drawn to thoughtful, hands-on exploration and working alongside peers in a collaborative environment. It is especially suited to those interested in deepening their approach to seasonality, mechanics, sourcing, and creative thinking through observation, experimentation, and active making. The Design Lab may also appeal to those seeking a creative reset, a fresh perspective, or an opportunity to approach floral design in a more open and exploratory way.
When does registration close?
Registration closes September 5, 2026, or once capacity has been reached.
