27 February 2017
The London Flower School opened its doors this month. As we left our beautiful building, the evening before the first floristry short course, we looked back from the doorway completely amazed at what we had achieved.
Our aim was always to create a different type of floristry school – a ‘safe space’ where we could inspire students to think differently about floristry. To be creative and find their own unique style.
We emphasise the importance of creativity at the London Flower School. Wagner and I were both drawn to the floristry profession for different reasons, but our vision for the school has always been alike. We would encourage our students to look at things differently, from a different perspective.
Interestingly, a journalist recently asked us how we help nurture creativity in our students.The question asked was whether creativity was innate or can it be taught. I thought about this carefully, because I myself do not come from a creative background. I am however, a qualified teacher, and I do believe that an environment that enables students to feel secure in their learning, and encourages them to experiment and move beyond their ‘comfort zone’ under the guidance of excellent teaching, is the ideal creative and learning environment. We believe we have achieved this at the London Flower School.
Another question asked by the same journalist, was what keeps us both motivated to continue working in the floristry industry and specifically in floristry education. As I have stated above, Wagner and I were drawn to floristry for different reasons, although both equally valid. For me, I am motivated, as I was in my teaching career, by providing our floristry students with the best opportunity to learn. Wagner however, answered this very differently. He is a graphic designer and artist, as well as a florist, by training. He uses floristry as a media to express messages that he finds relevant. What keeps him motivated to continue working in the floristry industry is the endless possibilities of this means of expression, and in floristry education specifically, is his passion for passing on his motivation. Hear him talk more about this in our video above.
Video credits: Marissa Keating, Michael Thomas Jones and Dale Berning Sawa.