How to Become a Floral Designer in Iowa

Like most creative fields, floral designing also demands artistic capabilities and a drive to create new things over any formal education. For this reason, focusing on design, cultivating your own sense of style, and having creation and management skills will prove more worthwhile. Before getting started, knowing about the common roles and responsibilities of a floral designer is important. Often, the end product of a floral designer’s work gets the most highlight and therefore overshadows the backroom tasks.

Besides design, you will also be taking care of different types of flowers, ordering suppliers, and collaborating with clients. Coming to clients, your communication and listening skills can make or break the overall job success you have. All these things at the backend often get ignored by beginners and therefore cause problems later on. Enrolling in an introductory course or workshop can help you understand the traditional aspects of a floral design business that often go undetected under a self-learning plan.

Requirements for Becoming a Floral Designer in Iowa

When thinking about requirements, there are two important categories to consider. Firstly, there are the requirements set by the state which can include a license or nationally-accredited certification. Secondly, there will be the requirements set by the employer, which can be harder to fulfill. Currently, Iowa does not have certification or licensure requirements. However, if you want to become a nationally certified floral designer, you will be required to enroll in an AIFD-Approved program.

It’s important to remember that the program is optional and not needed for most entry-level and intermediate positions. Most individuals are able to land a decent, entry-level job with just a high school diploma and some relevant experience. You should still enroll in workshops and courses to gain basic design knowledge and hands-on experience in designing professional bouquets. With such programs, you can learn about blending different colors together, arranging bouquets, and managing a floral shop. Along with helping you boost up your resume, these will also help you carry out your roles as a floral designer more smoothly later on.

Floral Design Classes in Iowa

Finding the perfect floral design course in Iowa that matches your needs can be difficult, especially when you are just starting out. Here is a list of top floral design courses currently being offered in Iowa.

Kirkwood Community College
At Kirkwood, you can learn everything about floral design and plant care with its associate degree in landscape horticulture. It takes two years to complete, and you can enroll in other certification-based programs and diplomas as well. With its Associate degree, you will be able to secure more advanced positions in floristry and also become skilled in related fields of landscaping and nursery production.

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Reiman Gardens
The Reiman Gardens holds its workshops and demonstrations at Iowa State University. You can choose from multiple different workshops that teach about different aspects of floral design. Along with this, it also offers day-long courses that are designed for beginners and cover topics related to design creation and flower care.

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Pepperharrow Farm
Pepperharrow farm offers single and two-day classes that cover a short introduction to floral design basics and arrangement techniques.

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