Every year at our Symposium, attendees are treated to presentations, demonstrations and workshops by the best of the best in the world! This year, when we gather in Chicago, it’ll be no different. Get a preview of what’s to come from these dedicated designers and educators, before we see them in action. Follow along as we release these Designer Highlights over the coming weeks.

Corey Harbour AIFD CFD

Corey is presenting the AIFD lecture session entitled #FantasticFreshFlowers on Saturday July 1^st, at 1pm.

All are welcome to attend this lecture and demonstration presentation. In today’s ecommerce driven world, keeping SEO and current design trends at the forefront of our minds is crucial to success. Corey will show us his take on #fantasticfreshflowers, and how to put a spin on fresh, new designs.

Past Lessons: Corey is heading into this presentation keeping two things at the forefront of his mind; the importance of time management and fresh ideas! He shared that he is most excited about getting back in front of people in a live environment. He’ ready to show off some new items and to spread some knowledge!

Preview: This presentation will be bursting with top of the line floral, amazing containers and will incorporate on-trend faux florals to boost our educational boundaries. Corey encourages us to join in, to take a deep dive into a category within our expertise, to learn all about it. Take this chance to fine tune, expand, elevate, and dig for new growth.

Partner Plug: Diamond Elite partner Syndicate Sales is sponsoring this program. We can’t wait to see what Corey does with their #fantasticproduct!

Best Ways to Follow Corey & Syndicate:

Facebook @Corey Harbour

Facebook @Syndicate Sales Instagram @SyndicateSales

Jodi Duncan AIFD CFD & Gretchen Sell

Jodi and Gretchen are presenting the Main Stage program Color’s Emotional Scale on the Main Stage, Wednesday July 5^th at 9am.

We asked Jodi what she was most looking forward to and she said, “Reuniting with one of the smartest and most talented people I know. My professional collaboration with Design Master and Gretchen over the years has been a career highlight. It’s no secret they were a favorite client of mine! The conversations and explorations of color we have had together have been powerful. Now our thoughts will be made public. We essentially decided to let the AIFD audience eavesdrop on what we have been talking about over the years.”

Past Lessons: Neither of these ladies shy from the stage! Gretchen has graced the symposium stage 3 times and received the Award of Merit from AIFD in 2019. This will be Jodi’s first time presenting on the main stage, but she has been presenting design shows and workshops for nearly 20 years. As a TED talk speaker, Jodi is always excited for opportunities to entertain and educate.

Preview: Jodi says, “We will be exploring colors and the effect of that balance in our lives. There is an emotional response to color that runs deeper that the platitudes we have heard all our lives. This is a deep dive into color theory, how we frame color, and how the power of that context impacts design and environment. The takeaway is for the audience to uncover how color elevates their business, brand, vibe and life.”

“Do NOT stay out and party all night on the 4th. Get into the audience for the first program on the final day of symposium. You will have major FOMO missing Color’s Emotional Scale!”

Partner Plug: “I am excited to collaborate with Gretchen. My former affiliation with Design Master spanned many years. My affection for, and knowledge of, the dynamic capabilities of Design Master is not a secret. To get a can in my hand is such a thrill. Using DM is always a powerful creative exploration of color. To control color with DM is a such a rush. I never grow weary of it or take it for granted. From solving problems with correcting color….or creating it, from covering flaws to elevating the essence of a flower or other surface, there is nothing like Design Master. And there is nothing like the satisfaction that comes from creatively and responsibly transforming the surface of flowers (or anything else!) for the better,” says Jodi.

Best Ways to Follow Jodi, Gretchen & Design Master:

Facebook @Jodi Duncan or @Jodi Duncan Designs Instagram: @JodiDuncan TikTok: @TheHungryFlorist

Design Master on Facebook and Instagram

Inspiration Found Here:

Elly Lin

Elly Lin is an acclaimed international designer, and she will be presenting the Main Stage program The Essence of Flower on Wednesday July 5 at 2:30pm.

Elly is being jointly sponsored by Diamond Elite Partner FTD and our partner in Educational Funding, The AIFD Foundation.

Preview: Plants for most people only mean the gorgeous flower, but disregard the simple beauty of the plant itself. The designs Elly shares will reconstruct the most original beauty of the plants, to show the veins of the leaf, stems and another look of the flower, and to create the vitality of the plant.

Beside the primitive material – the plant, Elly also uses the primitive technique – weaving, tying and gluing to give the plant a new substantiation, to convey the emother of the plants – sometimes beautiful, sometimes restrained, sometimes cute, and sometimes plain.