When designers take their places for the Society of American Florists’ 55th annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition in August, past winner Kelsey Thompson, AIFD, hopes to see some new competitors — especially first-time competitors.
“This would be a great first floral design competition for someone,” says Thompson, owner of Bloom Floral & Home Studio in Algona, Iowa. “There are so many people in the room who are from all over the place, and it’s a cool atmosphere.”
Thompson, the 2022 Sylvia Cup winner and 2023 runner up, will observe the competition this year, making room for new floral designers to try their hand at the two-hour design challenge, held in conjunction with SAF Miami 2024, SAF’s annual convention Aug. 6-9. Known for its surprise theme and long-standing tradition, the Sylvia Cup is the industry’s longest-running floral design competition in the nation and brings not only prestige but also camaraderie.
The surprise theme gives new competitors a platform from which to build a design, and the chatty vibe from observers walking around the room makes it a casual setting. Combined, the experiences is more relaxed, Thompson says.
That isn’t to say it’s without stress.
“It exposes you to working with distractions,” says last year’s winner, Michael Smith, AAF, AIFD, FDI, FSMD of Artistic Designs Unlimited in Marianna, Florida. “There is noise. Music. People walking around the room, looking. All that can distract you.”
But if a designer can focus, and keep concentration the work, and not on other, anyone can succeed, Smith says, comparing it to working in a shop, when a designer has to “lock down and pay attention to what are doing.”
in Algona, Iowa, won the 2022 competition.
Artistic Designs Unlimited in Marianna, Florida, won the 2023 competition.
His key to winning? Stick to what you know by keeping designs “simple, clean and neat, and following the principles and elements of design,” Smith says. And listen to the rules. He’s convinced one of the reasons he won last year is because he closely followed the instructions from the judges.
Even for those who don’t walk away with a trophy and prize money (the first place winner receives $3,000, second place $500 and third place $250, sponsored by Smithers-Oasis), Smith says just competing is rewarding. Every designer is given the exact same flowers, foliage, and design supplies, enabling competitors to test their technical skills, flex their creativity muscles, and open themselves up to feedback.
“It’s a great way to learn about yourself and skill set levels, and it’s a good way to challenge yourself,” he says.
Thompson says competing allows her to test ideas that are different from her everyday designing. And sometimes those ideas end up translating later into work she can bring to her customers.
“You get to see new stuff, test products you wouldn’t necessarily have in your shop, and try new things,” Thompson says. “That’s the fun of competitions.”
Finally, with few nearby floral design competitions, Thompson says the Sylvia Cup is an opportunity to join a competition while already planning to attend the SAF national convention without having to travel separately. Smith echoed this sentiment noting that for a lot of retail florists the Sylvia Cup may offer a chance to compete that doesn’t happen often nearby.
“It’s hard to put yourself out there to be evaluated and critiqued, but in doing it you learn about yourself as a designer and you open yourself up to other opportunities and exposure within the industry,” he says. “At worst you learn from the experience.”
To learn more about the Aug. 7 competition and to register to compete, click here.
Sarah Sampson is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.