By Janet Gallagher AIFD CFD
The AIFD Education Committee is excited to provide concepts and examples of the terminology provided in the Third Edition of The AIFD Guide to Floral Design: Terms, Techniques, & Traditions. Please see examples of two (2) of the principles below, Contrast and Rhythm.
Every month in Focal Points, the committee will share more examples to expand on new terminology. If you would like to purchase the latest (Third Edition) of the Guide, please visit here: The AIFD Guide to Floral Design – Schifferbooks.
Ancillary Concepts; def = [pages 106 & 116] provide developmental support to specific primary principles.
| Primary Principle | Ancillary Concept(s) |
| Balance | Physical Balance Visual Balance |
| Proportion | Scale |
| Dominance | Accent Emphasis Focal Area |
| Contrast | Variation Opposition Tension |
| Rhythm | Depth Repetition Transition |
| Harmony | Compatibility Satisfying Aesthetics |
| Unity | Cohesiveness |
Example #1. The principle of CONTRAST uses the ancillary concepts of variation, opposition, and tension as different strengths of CONTRAST, i.e. variation is mild contrast, opposition is strong contrast, and tension is very strong contrast.
Example #2. The principle of RHYTHM uses the ancillary concepts of depth, repetition, and transition as methods to create and/or enhance Rhythm.
