On Friday March 1 and Saturday March 2 the Great Lake Floral Association hosted their prestigious Designer of the Year competition in conjunction with the Great Lakes Floral and Event Expo.
Results
High School Division
Theme: A Welcoming Exchange
International Day of Friendship is designated for us to be thankful for our relationships worldwide, as they promote and encourage peace, happiness, and unity. Create a beautiful hand-tied bouquet for your friend.
- You may use your choice of fresh flowers/foliage and design enhancing decor (including ribbon, wire, beads, etc...).
- You must include the design principle of rhythm (specifically repetition).
- Provide a 5x7 frame identifying where your international friend is from (frame does not need to be included in cost card).
- No props unless it is included in the design and must be included in the cost card.
- Maximum wholesale value is $35.
- Display space is limited to 18"w x 30"d.
- Entry must be secure enough to withstand touching and handling by judges.
- A 6-inch cylinder vase (with water) will be provided to display your design.
Winner
Jade Kirkland
1st Runner-Up
Annabella DeBoe
2nd Runner-Up
Allison McConnell
College/Professional Novice Division
Theme: The Blumen Bouquet
Create a romantic European hand tied bouquet in an armature that would be an appropriate gift for a first date who does not like roses.
- The armature can be made with willow, midollino and/or decorative wire.
- Any combination of fresh flowers (except roses)/foliage may be used.
- No silk/artificial flowers allowed.
- Design enhancing decor such as wire, ribbons, feathers, etc... is allowed.
- No props unless it is part of the design and must be included on the cost card.
- Design space is limited to 24"w x 30"d, with no height restrictions.
- A 7-inch cylinder vase will be supplied (with water) to hold your bouquet.
- Maximum wholesale value is $50.
- Entry must be secure enough to withstand touching and handling by judges.
Winner
Thomas Brewer Brown
1st Runner-Up
Kylee Mumford
2nd Runner-Up
Abby Thumm
Professional Division Theme 1
Tribal Flora Spirit
Create a floral African mask to be worn as an entertaining theatrical device for a tribal dance
performance. Bold, colorful, and visually exciting is the focus using any combination of artificial, fresh or dried flowers and/or foliage and design enhancing decor such as paint, mosses, feather, beads, etc...
- No props unless it is included in the design and must be included in the cost card.
- Maximum wholesale value is $50.
- Display space is limited to 30"w x 30"d with no height restrictions.
- Entry must be secure enough to withstand touching and handling by judges.
- A FloraCraft Styrofoam head will be supplied to display your mask on.
Winner
Amber Kirkland | CF, CFD
1st Runner-Up
Jennifer Butcher | AIFD, CFD
2nd Runner-Up
Kate Holden
Professional Division Theme 2
The Cultural Gateway
Design an international botanical piece for a Midwest front entrance/door using permanent and/or dried floral. Your design must include at least 1 flower that is *native to the region chosen and should be the focal point of your design.
- This must fit a standard door of 36"w x 80"h and fit within those parameters.
- Provide an 8x10 frame that identifies the country/or region for your inspiration and the *native flower(s) you chose as your focal point.
- No fresh and no props allowed.
- Design enhancing decor such as mosses, ribbon, etc... is allowed.
- A 54” easel stand will be provided to display your design.
- The maximum wholesale value is $65.
- Entry must be secure enough to withstand touching and handling by judges. (note: frame does not need to be included in the cost card).
Winner
Amber Kirkland | CF, CFD
1st Runner-Up
Kate Holden
2nd Runner-Up
Jennifer Butcher | AIFD, CFD
Professional Division Theme 3
A Holiday Down Under
Create an authentic floral centerpiece celebrating Christmas in Australia. You must include but are not limited to a selection of fresh flowers and foliage that are native to Australia and include the design element of texture.
- Only LED candles/votives will be allowed should you choose to use them.
- No props allowed unless it is included in the design and must be included in the cost card.
- Design enhancing decor such as mosses, ribbon, etc... is allowed.
- The maximum wholesale value is $55.
- Display space is limited to 30"w x 30"d with no height restrictions.
- Entry must be secure enough to withstand touching and handling by judges.
Winner
Amber Kirkland | CF, CFD
1st Runner-Up
Madi Brooks | CF
2nd Runner-Up
Kate Holden
Academy Division
Theme: An International Fete
Create a stunning table scape celebrating an international feast of your choice. You may use any combination of fresh, dried, permanent botanicals and/or plants to construct your vision.
- Design enhancing decor such as moss, wire, ribbons, pods, etc... will be allowed.
- You may use 1 decorative vessel of your choice to design in (should you chose to do so) and does not need to be included on the cost card.
- All other containers used for design must be included on cost card.
- You must provide linen appropriate for the occasion and a minimal of 1 place setting for your round table (a 60" table will be provided).
- Minimal props will be allowed provided they do not overpower the focal point of your table scape.
- Emphasis of decor should be the flowers/design, with minimal credit to the props.
- Judging will be based on overall presentation of table scape.
- Please include an 8x10 frame that identifies the country/region and the occasion of your feast.
- Display space is limited to the tabletop only with no height restriction.
- Maximum wholesale value may not exceed $100.00.
- You do not need to include your decorative vessel, linen, place setting(s) or frame in the cost card.
Winner
Edward Smith
1st Runner-Up
Brenda Hankis
2nd Runner-Up
Jerold Baker | CF
The Chuck Bannow Award
The Chuck Bannow award is an award given to the entry judged as “Best Overall” from the four first place winners in the professional division categories in the contest.
Charles “Chuck” Bannow devoted his life to teaching and enrichment of the floral industry. The award that carries his name will be given to the entry that best represents the elements of design, professional execution of mechanics as well as creativity, with particular emphasis on originality and innovation.
The 2024 winner of the Chuck Bannow Award was Amber Kirkland CF, CFD of The Velvet Touch in Metro Detroit – an upscale flower shop and event studio.
Sponsors
The competition was sponsored by CalFlowers, FloraCraft and the Great Lakes Floral Foundation. It is the support of these companies that make the competition possible.
FloristWare provided the GLFA with our floral design contest evaluation software to help making judging faster and provide real time results.