April 11, 2026
Yakashiro Farm | Fraser Valley, BC
A peer-to-peer design lab for florists centered on shared exploration, experimentation, and intentional floral design.
Registration is now closed.
Thank you to everyone joining us on April 11, 2026.
If you’d like to be the first to hear about future design labs, early access registration, and upcoming workshops:
The Florist Collective: a Design Lab
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
This is not a traditional workshop, but a space for exploration, dialogue, and creating - together. 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 that reflects the materials and creative direction guiding the lab.
Details are shared intentionally closer to the date to allow the experience to remain responsive to seasonality, while offering enough clarity to arrive prepared and grounded.
Why a design lab?
Creative growth doesn’t happen through replication alone. It happens through inquiry, experimentation, and shared process.
The Florist Collective was created as a design lab, not to teach a fixed outcome, but to hold space. A space where florists explore ideas together, test approaches, and engage deeply with materials, mechanics, and intention.
Rather than instruction-led learning, the lab is shaped by dialogue and observation. Knowledge moves across the room. Perspectives expand. Process is valued as much as the final form - because how we arrive matters just as much as what we create.
What this looks like in practice is a day intentionally structured to mirror real event work, with space for both independent design and collaborative building.
Professional Growth Through Practice
While the lab is exploratory in nature, it is grounded in the kinds of design decisions that arise whenever we work with materials in real time, interpreting form, adjusting proportion, responding to mechanics, and refining placement as ideas evolve.
Participants are invited to think through their work actively rather than follow a fixed recipe, developing a stronger sense of design reasoning that can translate across many types of floral practice, including but not limited to event work.
The intention is to strengthen creative judgement, adaptability, and confidence in responding to materials and structuren - skills that support both independent studio design and collaborative installation 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 photography (individual portraits + styled detail images)
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Light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
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Take-home primary floral creations
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A detailed mood board and schedule will be shared with confirmed participants prior to the lab.
How the Day Moves
We begin with individual design, allowing you to interpret the materials through your own lens and gradually build toward collaborative work that mirrors the flow of a real event setting.
The day will move intentionally through:
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Individual bouquet and centerpiece creation
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Refinement and proportion adjustments
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A collaborative ceremony installation (with individual sections)
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Dedicated styling and photography time
There is guidance throughout for those who want it, along with moments to step back, reassess, and refine, just as you would during live event work.
Creative Ownership & Photography
Participants will design their own bouquet and centerpieces.
The ceremony installation will be collaborative, each participant taking ownership of a distinct section while contributing to a larger finished structure.
Dedicated time will be set aside to:
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Style and photograph individual work
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Capture detail images for portfolio use
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Document behind-the-scenes moments throughout the day
Edited images will be shared post-event for portfolio and social media use.
Who this is for
The Florist Collective: A Design Lab is designed for practicing floral designers who are comfortable working independently and are drawn to process-driven exploration alongside peers. This includes florists who are already designing on their own and are looking to deepen their creative and critical thinking, whether or not they regularly work in large-scale event environments.
This lab is a great fit if you:
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Want to expand your artistic eye through observation and exchange
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Value both independent work and collaborative building
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Are seeking portfolio-worthy work in a natural setting
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Are looking for a thoughtful creative refresh as you move into a new season of floral work
If this feels aligned with where you are in your creative practice, whether you primarily design independently or are beginning to step into more collaborative work, we would love to gather with you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior experience to attend?
The lab is open to florists at various stages of their journey. While it is not a fundamentals or beginner-focused workshop, you don’t need to consider yourself “advanced” to attend. Curiosity, openness to experimentation, and a willingness to design alongside peers are what matter most.
Is this a traditional step-by-step workshop?
No. This is a design lab, not a replication-style workshop. The day centers on exploration, shared process, and thoughtful experimentation with seasonal materials, rather than following a fixed formula or producing identical finished pieces.
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 secure Square payment link and service agreement will be emailed within 24 hours. Your spot is secured once the deposit or full payment is completed and the signed agreement is received.
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 to document the process, setting, and work created throughout the day. Images will be shared with participants after the lab and may be used for portfolio and promotional purposes. Participants who prefer not to be photographed beyond images of their own work can indicate this in advance, and this will be respected.
Who is this lab best suited for?
This experience is ideal for working florists, freelancers, and studio owners who are drawn to thoughtful, process-driven design. It is particularly suited to those interested in deepening their approach to seasonality, mechanics, sourcing, and creative dialogue in a small, peer-focused setting. It is also well suited to those seeking a creative reset or refresh, and a chance to explore different ways of approaching design.
When does registration close?
Last day of registration is March 21, 2026
