The Annual Artistic & Business Intensive for Floral Professionals & Flower Lovers Eager To Learn | 22–24 April | 8:00AM-6:00PM JST | Online | Global Access
The Future of Flowers Starts Here
17 Structured Artistic Intensives
Featuring Demonstrators From Around the World
3 Flower Biz Accelerator Workshops
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“I’m Working So Hard - But I’m Making No Money.”
The Inconsistent Income Problem
With Flower Mentor Nadine Brown (The Ivy Institute)
Early-stage florists often:
- Say yes to everything
- Undercharge
- Have unpredictable bookings
- Feel busy but not profitable
In this session, you will:
• Calculate your realistic income target
• Identify your minimum booking threshold
• Design a simple offer ladder (3 clear services)
• Align your workload with your revenue goalsYou leave with a pricing and income structure that reduces chaos and guesswork.
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“How Do I Actually Get New Clients?”
The Lead Generation Problem
With Ash Wheelhouse (Academy Wildflower)
Posting alone is not a strategy. In this session, you will build:
• A simple sales lead funnel (Social → Inquiry → Booking)
• A repeatable cold outreach framework for venues, planners & collaborators
• A collaboration strategy to create referral flow
• A basic follow-up systemYou leave with a clear plan to generate new clients - not wait for them.
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“How Do I Stand Out in the Algorithm?”
The Signature Style & Personal Brand Problem
With Luen Free (Luens Flowers)
If your work feels beautiful but interchangeable, you compete on price. In this session, you will:
• Define 3 aesthetic anchor words
• Clarify your creative direction
• Refine your visual consistency
• Craft a simple personal branding statementYou leave with a clearer signature style and a stronger presence online.
Clear your calendar. Get ready to take your floral practice to the next level.
Who this conference is for
Full Schedule (listed in Japan Standard Time)
Hayley O'Byrne (Carmel Floral), Canada
"A Week in Spring"
Carmel Floral operates out of deep reverence for the living world, with a floral practice that is guided by a responsiveness to the ever-changing seasons as well as to the exquisite grace and prolificness of plants. By thoughtful design, living materials are introduced to each other and the viewer, in hopes of stoking inspiration and offering connection to the natural world.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to design with seasonal materials that reflect the moment in nature
• How to combine aged and fresh botanical elements in a single arrangement
• How to create floral compositions that express the quiet transition from winter to spring
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how to observe and work with the natural rhythm of the seasons, creating arrangements that feel grounded, poetic, and alive.
Melanie Stapleton (Cecilia Fox), New Zealand
"From Creation to Compost"
Melanie has been immersed in the flower world for more than 3 decades and holds a deep respect for the past, present, and future of our natural world which informs every element of her designs. Melanie and her florist, Cecilia Fox, create dreamscapes of nature in the form of botanical installations, seeking beauty in the unlikely and the untamed.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to approach creating botanical installations spontaneously with local materials
• How to source and design effectively using hyper-local and native materials
• How to build sustainability into your material choices and design process
You will leave this session knowing how to confidently design and communicate environmentally responsible work to your clients.
Polina Chentsova, Russia
“Spring Structure”
Polina Chentsova is a floral designer based in Moscow who has been working with flowers for over 13 years and grown an instagram following of over 120k followers. Beginning as a bouquet florist, she later moved into large-scale private and commercial events, and gradually moved toward a quieter more minimalistic style inspired by Ikebana. She has collaborated with brands including AD, Bvlgari, Chanel, Gucci, Miu Miu, COS, and Cartier.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to observe and work with the natural lines of spring flowers
• How to combine different seasonal materials into one clear structure
• How to create floral compositions that feel balanced, modern, and expressive
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how to work with form and structure in floral design, creating arrangements that highlight the natural beauty of each stem.
Makiko Morange, Japan / Hong Kong
“Beyond Minimalism: Advanced Sogetsu”
Makiko Morange is a Master Teacher of the Sogetsu School and Assistant Teacher at Sogetsu Headquarters, studying under Reiko Takenaka. Having lived and worked across Korea, Japan, France, and Belgium, she is inspired by the people and plants she encounters in each new place and approaches ikebana through the Sogetsu philosophy of “anytime, anywhere, anyone.” Morange Sensei teaches regularly in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and online, offering classes in Japanese, English, and French, while also arranging flowers for events and galleries.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How unconventional material, vessels, and plants can work together to create a strong visual story
• How to choose colours, seasonal flowers, and containers that enhance one another
• How Sogetsu ikebana can move beyond minimalist arrangements into more layered and expressive work
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of advanced Sogetsu ikebana - seeing how technique, colour, and personal expression can come together across multiple arrangements.
Rekha Reddy, India
“Destiny”
Rekha Reddy is an Ohara Ikebana Sub-Grandmaster based in Hyderabad, India, with more than 25 years of teaching experience. A former President of both the Ohara Chapter of Hyderabad and Ikebana International Hyderabad Chapter, she has demonstrated ikebana across India and internationally, and is passionate about promoting Japanese culture through flowers. Rekha is also the author and editor of several ikebana books and publications.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to work with locally sourced flowers and plants in an expressive way
• How the Ohara approach can bring structure, balance, and seasonality to an arrangement
• How to approach ikebana as a calming and meditative practice
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how ikebana can transform simple, local materials into arrangements that feel thoughtful, beautiful, and emotionally resonant.
Benedict Tsang, Japan
“Shinryoku: A Season of Fresh Green”
The ikebana journey of Benedict Tsang began in Kyoto, matured in Hong Kong, and now evolves in Tokyo. A Sogetsu-trained artist, his independent practice is centred around the studio he founded, Gontadou—an intimate space in Tokyo where international guests are invited to engage with ikebana as both a profound tradition and a contemporary form of expression. His work is defined by a strong command of line, used as a rhythmic extension of his sensibility to translate intangible feelings into living, improvised sculptures of fleeting emotion. Immersed in a climate shaped by distinct seasons, Benedict has increasingly turned his focus toward how these natural cycles inform his inner world—and, in turn, the ikebana he creates.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to work with fresh greenery as the main focus of an arrangement
• How to use different tones, textures, and forms of green to create depth and movement
• How to capture the feeling of seasonal transition through simple, expressive compositions
You will leave this session with a deeper appreciation for the role of greenery in floral design - feeling more confident to create arrangements that express freshness, rhythm, and the energy of the season.
Clément Bouteille, France
"The Planetary Garden: Composing with Wild and Cultivated Nature"
Clément Bouteille is a Paris-based floral designer who has been creating immersive botanical environments for the fashion and luxury industries, in France and internationally. Guided by a wild, exotic, and rustic aesthetic, he works primarily with seasonal blooms and foraged elements, embracing a sustainable and considered approach to floral design. Working in close collaboration with his sister, who oversees floral production, they form a complementary duo that balances artistic vision with technical precision. Together, they create poetic and contemporary floral work, driven by a shared passion for plants and the living world.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to combine wild and cultivated flora into one cohesive composition
• How to work with native and non-native plants in a natural, expressive way
• How to use spontaneity and movement to guide your floral designs
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how to create floral arrangements that reflect biodiversity and balance - designing compositions that feel organic, dynamic, and inspired by a shared global garden.
Auralynn Nguyen, United States
"Ikebana for the Future"
Auralynn Nguyen was introduced to Sogetsu ikebana in pursuit of gaining a higher understanding of Eastern art. Lured in by the philosophy that ikebana can be made "anywhere, anytime, and anyone", Auralynn has studied ikebana extensively in Tokyo. She participated in giving ikebana lessons in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) until 2021. Despite relocating to California, the democratic idea of an art medium with endless opportunities persists. Her current focus is on how to create ikebana that reflects on nature's past, present and future.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to create ikebana using local, native, and unconventional materials
• How to adapt traditional ikebana ideas to reflect your own environment and culture
• How to approach ikebana as an evolving art form that can respond to the future
You will leave this session with a broader understanding of what ikebana can become - feeling inspired to create work that is personal, experimental, and deeply connected to the world around you.
Jardine Hansen, Australia
"Botanical Delight"
Jardine’s ardent love of plants began in childhood and has deepened over time as she’s been immersed and awed by the natural world. Jardine lives in the Blue Mountains in Australia nestled in a beautiful cold climate garden surrounded by the bush. Jardine works on weddings and events in NSW and Tasmania under the name "Jardine Botanic" and when not working can be found bush walking or gardening.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to create a “rambling garden” effect within a structured urn arrangement
• How to use foam-free mechanics to build sustainable and stable designs
• How to introduce natural movement using floral and botanical elements
You will leave this session with a fresh approach to floral design - able to create expressive, garden-inspired arrangements that feel both abundant and refined, while working in harmony with natural form and sustainable techniques.
Kanya Nakai, Japan
"Tokyo Style Bouquets"
KANYA NAKAI is a florist and Obara ikebana master（師範) / as well as a teacher at Vantan flower school (Tokyo). Owner of STAYFLOWER, with multiple flower shops in Tokyo. Kanya changed his career from white collar worker to 'hands dirty' florist, seeking his own aesthetic in the floristy world.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to create bouquet styles that reflect the most current floral trends coming out of Tokyo
• How to combine ikebana-inspired balance and movement with fashion-forward bouquet design
• How to wrap and prepare bouquets for domestic shipping, using techniques that keep flowers secure and beautiful in transit
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of the bouquet styles shaping Tokyo floristry right now - creating work that feels contemporary and highly desirable. In Japan, flowers can be shipped and received almost anywhere in the country within just one day, making bouquet wrapping an essential and highly developed part of the design process.
Carolina Garcia, Germany
"Between Two Worlds – Ikebana, Mexican Soul & Contemporary Floral Art"
Carolina García is a Mexican floral artist based in Frankfurt am Main whose work bridges cultures through flowers. Rooted in her Latin American heritage and inspired by contemporary European design and Ikebana philosophy, she creates ethereal compositions defined by movement, space, and sensitivity. For Carolina, floral art is a ritual practice - a way of connecting people to beauty, memory, and emotion.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to draw on your personal and cultural influences to shape your floral style
• How to use structure and negative space to create clarity and intention in your designs
• How colour and symbolism can bring emotion and storytelling into your arrangements
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how floral art can reflect identity - allowing you to create meaningful, cross-cultural arrangements.
Nixon Tran, Vietnam
"Ikebana Through Time: Emptiness, Impermanence, and Revelation"
Nixon Tran works in the Sogetsu ikebana tradition, with attention to the relationship between flowers, space, and stillness. His path began in San Francisco flower shops and deepened through study with Soho Sakai, leading to the founding of 'When Still' in Saigon as a space for practice, teaching, and exchange. His work centers on listening to the materials and using ikebana as a way to observe, learn, and build community across different backgrounds.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to use negative space (ma) to create clarity and balance
• How to approach the natural fading of flowers (shinaserubana) as part of the design process
• How subtle movement (mie-kakure) creates depth and interest
You will leave this session knowing how to apply the principles of ikebana in your own work - creating contemporary arrangements that honour tradition without simply copying what you see online.
Louise Worner, United States
Beyond the Vase: Exploring gravity and space through hanging Ikebana installations
Louise Worner commenced Sogetsu ikebana in Japan in 1998 under Master Instructor Yoka Hosono. She is a second generation ikebana artist, whose large-scale installations have appeared in boardrooms, museums, festivals, and performance spaces worldwide.
Of note are her installations for Enso House, London, Hotel Tótem Madrid, a stage design for Studio Ghibli singer/composer Youmi Kimura, and a perfume launch for Issey Miyake.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How hanging ikebana arrangements can move beyond the traditional vase into contemporary installation work
• How to use negative space (ma) and mechanics to create balance, tension, and movement
• How to work with gravity and suspension to build large-scale floral compositions
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how space, structure, and mechanics can transform an arrangement - allowing you to create more sculptural and expressive floral work.
Joe Rotella, United States
From Form to Feeling: The Ohara Approach to Ikebana
Joe Rotella is an Associate 2nd Term Master of the Ohara School of Ikebana and the founder of the Central Ohio Shibui Study Group. He has studied ikebana for over 30 years, with a focus on the Ohara School’s naturalistic approach to expressing landscape and seasonality.
He teaches regularly in Columbus, Ohio, where over the past two years he has conducted more than 1,000 individual lesson critiques - helping students learn to see, refine, and express nature through the Ohara School. Joe also presents workshops and lectures across the United States, known for making traditional principles accessible, engaging, and deeply relevant to contemporary practice.
His work is inspired by both Japanese and North American landscapes, emphasizing the quiet dialogue between structure, observation, and personal expression.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How the Ohara School approach moves from structured form to expressive design
• How to build a strong foundation through the Hana-isho Rising Form, focusing on balance and proportion
• How to expand this foundation into a seasonal Moribana arrangement that reflects a living landscape
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how technique can evolve into expressive, nature-inspired arrangements, creating a stronger connection between form and feeling.
Azzmin Frances, Australia
"Impermanence - Flowers as a Metaphor for Life!"
Azzmin Frances is a floral artist and founder of Braer, known for sculptural installations and immersive floral works for galleries, brands and events. Her practice is deeply informed by the art of Ikebana, which she has studied for many years, and by a commitment to working with local growers and seasonal materials. Through her work, she explores themes of impermanence, materiality and our relationship to the natural world.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How the principle of impermanence can guide the way we create, observe, and transform floral arrangements
• How to embrace disruption in the arranging process by gently breaking and rebuilding a composition
• How practising non-attachment allows you to respond intuitively to change in your materials
You will leave this session with a deeper appreciation for flowers as a metaphor for life - learning how to work with change, impermanence, and intuition to create arrangements that evolve rather than remain fixed.
Cynthia Fan, United Kingdom
"Learning From; Learning About Plants."
Cynthia Fan is an artist and researcher whose practice explores plant morphological development through a combination of scientific inquiry and visual expression. Her work investigates the relationships between plants, humans, and their environments, and takes shape in exhibitions, installations, writing, and curated projects. She has presented work internationally, contributed to Plant Magazine, and been artist-in-residence at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Her first book, 'Among Willows: Essays on plant form and family', will be published in May this year by Batis Books.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to approach plants as collaborators by observing their natural gestures, growth patterns, and life cycles
• How research and close observation can deepen your understanding of plant behaviour and inform your design choices
• How responding to what a plant “wants” - rather than imposing form - creates more thoughtful and alive arrangements
You will leave this session with a new way of working with plant material - learning how to observe, listen, and respond to each element so your arrangements emerge through dialogue with nature rather than control.
Caterina Tandello, Italy
"Imprint"
Caterina Tandello is a floral and visual designer based in Italy, working at the intersection of botany, art, and spatial design. After more than twenty years leading a communication studio in the luxury sector, her practice evolved into Fiorebrado.
Trained in art direction and visual culture, she studied at the Politecnico di Milano with Giovanni Anceschi within the intellectual lineage of the Ulm School of Design, where the principle of less is more shaped her language into a botanical understanding of essential form.
Fiorebrado - a name that in Italian evokes wild flowers - reflects this approach, rooted in natural materials and an aesthetic that feels natural, spontaneous, and revealed rather than imposed, informed by the rhythms and structures of the Alpine landscape where she lives.
In This Session, You Will Learn:
• How to work with branches and stems as sculptural forms waiting to be revealed
• How to combine fresh and dried botanicals to express growth, time, and transformation
• How to create arrangements that feel uncovered rather than imposed
You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of the latent energy held within botanical materials - approaching floral design as a process of revealing what is already there, much like Michelangelo’s idea that the sculpture already exists within the stone.
