The American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) is a trade association representing floral designers who pass a certification test after years of study and then pay annual dues to keep their certification current. The association has been active for over 50 years and is the leader in floral design trends in the United States. Each year they hold a conference and put out new workshops and teaching materials.
Revised for Modern Designs
In 2022, it revised its extensive textbook guide to terms and techniques and issued the third edition. While this AIFD book isn’t entirely new, it is up-to-date with the latest in floral architecture, trends, and terms. The collaborators from AIFD who re-edited the book got together to showcase the changes in a Zoom call I watched and it was so intriguing, I ordered The AIFD® Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, and Traditions.
I’ve been a mostly self-taught floral designer for over 20 years, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t accumulated a vast library of floral design books at home and the studio. This book is a required text if you take any of the in-person or online courses from AIFD. It can be pricey, but you can find used copies for about half the original price even though this book came out in 2022.
From the Publisher
“The 3rd edition of the AIFD Guide to Floral Design is the floral designer’s ultimate reference guide. Everything from plant physiology to design elements to cut flower care and handling is covered in this meticulously compiled compendium. Don’t expect a lot of pretty pictures, do expect the most complete collection of floral design information available in one book. This book is a must for every serious floral designer.”
About AIFD
“Established in 1965, the American Institute of Floral Designers is, today, the floral industry’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to establishing, maintaining and recognizing the highest standard of professional floral design. AIFD and its worldwide accredited members are in the forefront of the industry in presenting educational design programs and in designing flowers for such renowned events as the Tournament of Roses Parade, Academy Awards and Presidential Inaugurations. They are an extraordinary group of talented artists.”
Many people ask if you need to be “AIFD certified” to become a floral designer and the short answer is, “No.” But, we do recommend taking a variety of in-person classes and online classes to help round out your skills. Classes we recommend including our workshops and online courses include:
Phil Rulloda
Floral Design Institute
Francoise Weeks
Sue McLeary
