They are up-and-coming floral designers, successful business owners, college students and teachers. Some are regulars on the design competition circuit; others are first timers. And two are eager for a design competition theme that captures the phenomenon behind the box office hit, “Barbie” with all its pink glam and glitter.
They are the 25 designers who are competing in the 54th annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition at SAF Phoenix 2023, the Society of American Florists’ 138th annual convention Sept. 6-9.
The competition is a way for the designers to test their creativity under pressure and receive valuable feedback to improve their skills and grow in their careers.
“Education, communication, passion and industry involvement are key to being a successful floral designer,” says Michael Smith, AIFD, CFD, FDI, FSMD, of Artistic Designs Unlimited Inc. in Marianna, Florida, and one of the contestants.
Another contestant, Kristi Berry, AIFD, CFD, of Dahlia a Florist in Greenville, South Carolina, advises anyone interested in design to invest in themselves. “Life will throw you curveballs, but floral design will always be here for you,” she says.
When this year’s contestants arrive at the country’s longest-running, live floral design competition on Sept. 9, they will have their tools, creativity and knowledge of form, foliage and blooms. Each will receive the same stems provided by Certified American Grown and identical hardware from Smithers-Oasis. What they won’t know — and can’t prepare for — is the surprise theme, revealed at the start of the competition. They’ll have two hours to create several pieces for different categories.
The winner is announced during the Stars of the Industry Awards Recognition, and receives $3,000. The first and second runner up receive $500, and $250 respectively.
Meet this year’s contestants.
Abel Gonzalez Menico, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, TMF
Casa Granada Floral, Le Feria, Texas
Favorite Flower: Bird of Paradise. It resembles my spirit animal, a hummingbird.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Dominance and/or emphasis. Who wouldn’t want to be the focal center of attention?
Surprise Theme Dream: The switch! After designing a piece we switch with other contestants and use their bucket of leftovers and what they were saving. How would that be for a shocker?
When I’m not designing, I’m…preparing for homecoming season.
Amanda Nicolai, AIFD, CFD, ICPF, ICD
Countryside Flower Shop Nursery and Garden Center, Woodstock, Illinois
Favorite Flower: Lily Grass
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Texture. Just like us, we can’t all be the same or the world would be boring.
Surprise Theme Dream: To create a structure using only the flower stems.
When I’m not designing, I’m…fishing with my family.
Anahit Hakobyan, AIFD, EMC
Viva La Flora Designs, Ellicott City, Maryland
Favorite Flower: White daisy. It reminds me of my childhood.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Repetition. It allows you to create movement, rhythm, texture; a focal area and impact.
Surprise Theme Dream: Fashion
When I’m not designing, I’m…dancing, hiking, cooking and traveling.
Andrew Stinson, AIFD, CFD
WAS Design Works, Columbia, South Carolina
Favorite Flower: ‘Casa Blanca’ lily
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line makes a design pop and texture adds interest.
Surprise Theme Dream: It’s already been done — The Wizard of Oz.
When I’m not designing, I’m…singing, dancing, preforming, shopping and sleeping.
Courtney Turner, AIFD, EMC, ICPF
A Thymeless Bloom, Marengo, Illinois
Favorite Flower: I don’t have one and appreciate any quality bloom.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Texture and color because they tell us a story and draw us in.
Surprise Theme Dream: Something European
When I’m not designing, I’m…gardening, baking and volunteering.
Doug Bates, AIFD
Designs by Vogt’s, Sturgis, Michigan
Favorite Flower: Boronia
Surprise Theme Dream: A personalized bereavement piece.
When I’m not designing, I’m…reading, playing with my dog and hanging out with my children.
Gina Thresher, AIFD, EMC
From the Ground Up Floral, Seattle
Favorite Flower: Garden roses
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Color
Surprise Theme Dream: An evening garden party, or Midsummer’s Night Dream.
When I’m not designing, I’m…on YouTube, podcasting, on social media, and growing flowers in my garden.
Jadyn Brooks
Silsbee, Texas
Favorite Flower: Anthurium
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Texture because it elevates any design.
Surprise Theme Dream: Barbie
When I’m not designing, I’m…attending college and spending time with my dogs Beau and Tuck.
Jesus Rivera, CFD
Freelance designer, Modesto, California
Favorite Flower: Tropical flowers
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Shapes and lines
Surprise Theme Dream: Tropical Nouveau
When I’m not designing, I’m…working out and enjoying my dogs.
Jodi Kennedy, AIFD
Wild Blossom Design, Anchorage, Alaska
Favorite Flower: Dahlias
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line, especially a beautifully placed dynamic line.
Surprise Theme Dream: Tropical Nouveau
When I’m not designing, I’m…caring for my cut flower garden, hosting friends and family, and golfing.
Jolene Powell, AIFD, CFD, FSMD
Floral Expressions with Jolene, Elkton, Virginia
Favorite Flower: Peach roses and seeded eucalyptus
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Color. It makes the first impression.
Surprise Theme Dream: Under the Sea
When I’m not designing, I’m…spending time with my husband and four kids.
Judy Jazen, CFD, CCF
Chase Flower Shop, Freson, California
Favorite Flower: Roses. They show Fibonacci pattern so clearly.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line, because it is like journeying through the art.
Surprise Theme Dream: Defying gravity
When I’m not designing, I’m…hiking with my Dutch Shepherd.
Kathleen Castagnoli, AIFD, CCF
Kat’s Floral Design LLC, Huntington Beach, California
Favorite Flower: ‘Green Trick’ dianthus
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Color. I love to mix unexpected colors and see different palettes.
Surprise Theme Dream: Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
When I’m not designing, I’m…binging my favorite shows, hanging out with my wife, and watching our son play ice hockey.
Katie Robison, AIFD, CFD
Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho
Favorite Flower: Rose
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Harmony and/or unity. If you have that right, everything else falls into place.
Surprise Theme Dream: Fantasy
When I’m not designing, I’m…teaching floral design and spending time with my husband and two daughters.
Kevin Smoak
Tiger Lily Florist, Charleston, South Carolina
Favorite Flower: Orchids
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Texture. It can change a basic design into something special.
Surprise Theme Dream: Fantasy
When I’m not designing I’m…at the beach and reading.
Kristi Berry, AIFD, CFD
Dahlia a Florist, Greenville, South Carolina
Favorite Flower: It depends what the bloom is next to. I love contrast.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Space. Negative space can say so much in a design.
Surprise Theme Dream: Choose a Disney princess
When I’m not designing, I’m…being an awesome bonus mom to two daughters and traveling in our Airstream.
Martha Aaron, AIFD
Mountain High Flowers, Sedona, Arizona
Favorite Flower: Daffodils
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line. I love mixing dynamic and static lines together.
Surprise Theme Dream: Make a creative halo or headdress
When I’m not designing, I’m…hanging out with my family and playing with my 2-year-old.
Michael Smith, AIFD, CFD, FDI, FSMD
Artistic Designs Unlimited Inc., Marianna, Florida
Favorite Flower: ‘Dancing Lady’ orchids
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line, and using it to move the eye through a design.
Surprise Theme Dream: English tea party.
When I’m not designing, I’m…taking care of my older parents and being crafty, including sewing and cooking.
Olga Savchenko, CFD
Dragonfly Floristic, Cupertino, California
Favorite Flower: Carnation, peony and dahlia
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Balance and color
When I’m not designing, I’m…spending time with my family.
Patience Pickner, AAF, AIFD, PFCI
The Picket Fence, Chamberlain, South Dakota
Favorite Flower: Impossible to pick!
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Color
Surprise Theme Dream: Anything romantic or organic
When I’m not designing, I’m…spending time with family on the river.
Pattie Wallander, AIFD, CFD, ICPF
Wallander’s Flowers and Events, Herando, Mississippi
Favorite Flower: Aralia
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line, because it can lead anywhere.
Surprise Theme Dream: Over the top. Glitter is a plus.
When I’m not designing, I’m…thinking about flowers and spending time with family.
Renee Potter, AIFD, AzMF
Fred’s Flowers, Tempe, Arizona
Favorite Flower: The imperfect ones
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Color
Surprise Theme Dream: Under the Sea
When I’m not designing, I’m…spending time with my family.
Robbyn Repp, AAF, CFD
Petal to the Metal Flowers, North Bend, OR
Favorite Flower: Pin cushion and Gloriosa lily
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Asymmetrical balance
Surprise Theme Dream: Driftwood and Day of the Dead
When I’m not designing, I’m…riding my motorcycle.
Sam Chiem, AIFD
Floral Chateaux, San Diego
Favorite Flower: If I had to choose, an orchid.
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Line is what we use to create a visual pathway for the eye through our composition.
Surprise Theme Dream: Lord of the Rings!
When I’m not designing, I’m…running an interior design business, a salon business and raising my three kids.
Stacie Russell
All A’Bloom Floral & Gifts, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Favorite Flower: Lemon Basil
Key Floral Design Principle or Element: Asymmetrical balance
Surprise Theme Dream: Barbie
When I’m not designing, I’m…spending time with my family and cheering on our Kansas City Chiefs!
Sarah Sampson is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
