16 Principles of Floral Design Experienced designers with strong communication skills and an understanding of the entire fl oriculture industry are good candidates for product development positions. They can combine their creativity with the practical aspects needed in an accessory to design a stylish and useful item for production. Designers in this capacity must have fl exible schedules for travel and a good eye for design. Most product developers work for the companies that manufacture the accessory items. However, some wholesale fl orists hire product developers to produce their own product lines. Independent manufacturers of silk or artifi cial items also need experienced artists for production of their goods. An individual who possesses a strong understanding of color may fi nd the product development track interesting. As the popularity of interior colors changes, so do the colors of decorative materials being used by consumers. The Color Marketing Group (CMG) is a nonprofi t association that creates color forecast information for professionals who design and market color. The group also provides information about trends in interior colors for manufacturers. Items such as silk fl owers, containers, and even decorations for holiday trees, garlands, and themes change with the forecast of trendy new colors. Education and Research If you have a strong background in fl oral design and enjoy teaching others how to do things, you might enjoy employment as a teacher. Floral design is often offered at high schools in either the agriculture department or the fi ne arts department. Beyond high school, fl oral design educators are employed at community colleges and are involved in two-year associate and four-year bachelor’s degree programs at many universities. Do you like to study how things work or how people respond to various situations? If so, you may be surprised to fi nd that you can combine your interest in fl oral design with a research position. Many types of research are conducted in fl oriculture. A degree in a higher education specialty is generally required for research positions, most of which are available through universities. For example, a research program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, studied the effect of fl owers on people’s moods. In a 10-month study, researchers found a defi nite link between the presence of fl owers and happy emotions. People feel more satisfi ed and less anxious after receiving fl owers. The study indicated that the mood-enhancing effect of receiving fl owers is not just a quick sensation. It lasts long enough that study participants reported that they enjoy life more. Therefore, it seems reasonable that fl owers can be used as behavioral therapy to help people with chronic depression or anxiety. Other universities have research programs devoted to developing sturdier plants that are resistant to pests and diseases and can withstand a wider range of temperatures, Figure 1-15. For example, the Flower Bulb Research Program at Cornell University has an ongoing research program dedicated to analyzing new tulip varieties. The plants are evaluated and the results are published to help wholesalers and retailers know which varieties are best for their businesses and customers. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.