Foraged & Found

Fall Season Online Design Competition

Are you interested in challenging your technical & creative design skills? If so, our ‘Foraged & Found for FALL’ online design competition is a wonderful opportunity to express yourself!

Top 6 Gallery 2022 Spring Contest

!st place: Leigh Grossman (Also People's Pick!)

!st place: Leigh Grossman (Also People's Pick!)

2nd place: Trish Nishikawa

2nd place: Trish Nishikawa

3rd place: Ellie Grande AIFD

3rd place: Ellie Grande AIFD

Greg Lum AIFD, EMC

Greg Lum AIFD, EMC

Judy Janzen

Judy Janzen

Grace Spencer King

Grace Spencer King

‘Foraged & Found’ and created by YOU!

This competition is OPEN TO ALL! You are not required to be a member of AIFD to participate - we welcome new and seasoned professionals, students, hobbyists & all floral enthusiasts! We would love to see what inspires YOUR floral creativity. For the winners of our competition, we have some fabulous prize packages generously donated by respected industry leaders, as well as opportunities for some fantastic exposure.

*Please read ALL the contest rules and guidelines below BEFORE tapping the button to ENTER*

AIFD is a nonprofit organization. With the funds raised through events such as this, we are able to create and assist with more educational events and opportunities for those interested in the profession of floral design. Education and continuing education are vital for the advancement of the Floral Industry.

Guidelines for ‘Foraged & Found’ for FALL

 

Theme:

“Foraged & Found for FALL”

A composition suitable as a tabletop, wall hanging or suspended arrangement. Your design can be any floral composition that shows your expression of the Autumn season.

Entry Fee:

One entry per person with a $25 (USD) submission cost. All monies collected are for fundraising purposes that benefit scholarships and educational events organized by the Northwest AIFD Chapter. Payments and submissions are to be submitted via our webpage: www.nwaifdfloristry.com.

Photos, form and entry fees will be accepted up until 11:59pm(PST), Wednesday, October 25th.

No exceptions will be made after the submission deadline. The contest opens 4 weeks prior from Wednesday, September 27th, 2023.

TO ENTER: tap the “Enter Today” button below. This will take you to the entry fee submission page where you will UPLOAD PHOTOS of your design & provide your personal info. This page will be disabled once the deadline to submit arrives.

*ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED 12pm (noon), Wednesday, November 1st, 2023. 

 

Design Specifics:

Create a design using at least one foraged nature-made item and/or one repurposed found item. All flowers, foliage & other botanical materials are considered separate from your chosen object. Any and/or all flowers and foliage can be foraged, found, grown, or purchased. 

*PLEASE ONLY USE ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE FOUND OR FORAGED WITH PERMISSION TO DO SO. DO NOT GATHER, FORAGE, STEAL, OR CUT WITHOUT A PROPERTY OWNER’S CONSENT.

We encourage the use of natural, sustainable materials as much as possible, as well as eco-conscious mechanics.

Submissions:

We are asking you to submit up to (5) photographs of your design. Tips for photo submissions: 

  • Be sure it is adequately lit (natural light is best)

  • The design should be the main focus in whichever setting is complimentary

  • Photos to include should be an overall FRONT view, overall BACK view and up to 3 other detail shots (that may include attention to mechanics used and or artistic craftsmanship)

  • Please rename your files following the example below, before uploading (ie: SallySmith1, SallySmith2, SallySmith3…etc.)

  • ***DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON THE ACTUAL PHOTOS - IT’S BLIND JUDGING!!

Cost of Materials:

Anything you purchase to create your design should not exceed $200.00 wholesale. 30% of the materials you choose must be fresh or live plant products. Please refrain from using any faux botanicals. Contestants are responsible for acquiring their own materials. Design dimensions should not exceed 3’ Wide x 3’ Tall x 3’ deep

Judging:

 Entries will be blindly judged by three qualified floral design professionals. The TOP 9 scoring designs will be announced at 7:00pm, Saturday, October 28th. There will be 1st, 2nd & 3rd Prize winners, as well as a “People’s Pick” via an online platform link.

Prizes Awarded:

Prizes awarded will be for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as well as for ‘People’s Pick’.

Prize packages are valued at:

1st place: $550+

2nd place: $350+

3rd place: $200+

People’s Pick: $100+

The Top 9 scoring entries will be eligible to win the ‘People’s Pick’ award. Images of our Top 9 will be featured on our NW AIFD Facebook and Instagram feeds. The public will be able to vote via an online voting platform.

 

IMPORTANT *** Please do not share your entered designs publicly until after the TOP 9 are announced (Saturday, October 28th, 7:00pm) or you may face disqualification, as all designs are to be blind judged.

Judges & moderators are not eligible to enter ‘Foraged & Found’ for Fall. All others are highly encouraged!

All entrants agree that submitted designs may be used by the NW AIFD Regional Chapter in our social feeds and our website.

Whatever you create should tell a unique story.

Judging Criteria

 

  • A score of 1-10 Points may be given in each of the 8 category criteria listed below by each of the 3 judges. The highest point scores across the 3 judges will become the top 9 contestants. Prize packages will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd highest scores and ‘People’s Pick’ will be voted on from the top 9 placements.

  • The arrangement should evoke an emotion reminiscent of the Fall season for this competition. It should showcase the foraged and/or found item and be suitable as a tabletop arrangement, a wall hanging or a suspended design

  • Professional application of mechanics - devices and techniques that help to secure materials and create stability in a design, normally concealed, but may be deliberately exposed for artistic effect. The use of sustainable mechanics will be given special attention.

  • Area(s) of greatest visual impact to which draws the eye most naturally.

  • Balance should be physically and visually stabilized by placement of flowers, foliage, and other materials. Proportion relates to the comparative size of various components in relationship to other elements within the design.

  • The creative use of line within the form should create tension and interest within the arrangement. Rhythm is necessary for the visual flow of all components in relationship to each other. Form refers to the overall shape of the arrangement created.

  • Harmony in floral design refers to the aesthetic quality created by the placement of materials. Unity is the cohesive relationship of the materials and elements to each other.

  • The creative uses of color and texture in relationship to the overall appeal created by the arrangement. Texture should create tactile and visual interest within the design.

  • The overall impression of sense of beauty, creativity, and the originality inspired by the completed arrangement.

 

So, now that you have all the specific details, we hope you will join in on the FUN. The most important factor for your creativity to work for you is to find joy in the process! Now, if you are ready to take the plunge, click the button below. You will be able to fill out your entry form, upload your photos, and pay your entry fee all in one place at the same time safely and securely. Just be sure to get it all submitted by Wednesday, October 25, before midnight!