Floral Design

Program Outline

Your Floral Design program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step toward the techniques and skills you’ll need as a professional florist.

Here's how it works
Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have the study materials and software needed for your coursework.

You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor (Pentium® III preferred), using Microsoft® Windows® Vista or later. You will also need Internet access.

Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

PEP013: Introduction to Floral Design

This course serves as an introduction to the floral design profession. Topics include historical floral design concepts and their impact on modern design, employment opportunities for floral designers, characteristics of professional designers, individual flowers and their characteristics, design categories, and foliage varieties.

PEP020: Design Tools and Basics

Design Tools and Basics discusses the procedures for creating arrangements using various tools and techniques. Topics include flower care and handling procedures, tools and wiring techniques, seasonal flower availability, creating bows, and designing appropriate arrangements for hospitals, funerals, and table centerpieces.

Learning Aid: Bow Package 1

PEP025: Design Techniques

This course will introduce the principles and elements of design that guide floral designers in their work. Topics include scale and proportion, balance, lines, positive and negative space, color theory, and traditional and contemporary designs.

Learning Aid: Color wheel

PEP028: Design Styles

This course serves as an introduction to the major floral design styles. Topics include a discussion of Ikebana, Western line, Hogarth, formal linear, crescent, Mille de fleur, Biedermeier, parallel systems, vegetative, landscape, abstract, waterfall, and hand-tied styles.

Learning Aid: Floral designer’s kit

PEP029: Weddings and Solemn Occasions

This course explains how to design appropriate arrangements for weddings and funerals. Topics include an explanation of the floral designer’s role in weddings and funerals, wedding budgets and pricing, color themes and design styles for weddings, coordinating wedding flowers and fabrics, bouquet styles, wedding ceremony and reception arrangements, corsages, and funeral sprays and arrangements.

Learning Aids:
Boutonniere and corsage kit
Bow Package 2
Wedding order forms

PEP030: Plants and Artificial Flowers

This course discusses both the increasing popularity of growing indoor plants and using artificial and dried flowers and foliage in your arrangements. Topics include the proper care of potted plants, decorating commercial interiors, terrariums, bottle gardens, dish gardens, bulb gardens, plant baskets, cacti and other succulents, plant infestations, types of artificial flowers and foliage, storing artificial and dried materials, and necessary tools and supplies for artificial and dried arrangements.

PEP032: Holidays

This course will prepare you to create fresh and artificial arrangements for major and minor holidays, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Halloween, and Independence Day.

Learning Aid: Christmas wreath kit

PEP035: The Business of Floral Design

The final course in the program explains how to establish, manage, market, and merchandise your floral design business. Topics include selecting a good location, analyzing competitors, securing funds, managing everyday expenses, establishing good employer-employee relations, working with floral suppliers, using delivery services, establishing excellent customer service and product standards, and common merchandizing methods.

 

Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.