CAN YOU IMAGINE ?

Can you imagine seeing designers from all over the world executing their best designs to create 5 beautiful arrangements in under 4 hours time?
Can you imagine a room filled with all the latest and greatest floral related materials?
Can you imagine sitting and watching the world’s top designers willing and able to share their inspirations and creativity?
Can you imagine seeing students from all over the US compete for cash and prizes?
Can you imagine seeing some pretty incredible fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July?
If you can imagine any or all of these events, then you will want to plan to be in San Francisco for AIFD’s IMAGINE! Imagine is a collaboration of dreams, creating and sharing the wonderful world of floral. It will take place at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel starting July 2nd and finishing on July 8th. These action packed days are filled with activities, testing, and design inspired programs that are sure to touch your heart and fill your head with inspirations and memories to last a lifetime.
The week begins with those candidates that have preregistered to participate in PFDE, which is a design opportunity for testing to become AIFD. It is an intense 4 hours of designing by those candidates who are seeking the prestigious accreditation and becoming a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers. This organization which has about 1,200 members worldwide has a testing process that allows those interested candidates to create 5 designs in specific categories within the 4 hour time window. The designs are then evaluated by a team of 7 evaluators and scored accordingly. Those who score 4.0 or more out of 5.0 are then extended an invitation to join AIFD the following year upon completing the proper paperwork. It is a very exciting time to see all those candidates sharing their best ideas for all to enjoy!
Sunday and Monday are filled with Committee meetings and the presenters are busy in the design rooms preparing for their stage programs that begin on Tuesday. It is amazing to watch such phenomenal talent take flowers and all kinds of floral and non-floral materials to create the concepts that shape the world of design!
While they are busy preparing their programs, the students from colleges with SAIFD chapters are creating their entries to be judged to see where they position themselves against the other students. Cash and prizes are awarded to those who place in the top positions.
Monday has one of the best attended activities that everyone awaits from year to year. It is the AIFD Partners Expo and Book Fair. Flowers, products, books, and services are all on display for all to come and see what and who is shaping the floral world. Be sure to stop by the table featuring the fabulous product from Florabundance designed by the talented Michael Quesada AIFD from Santa Barbara. Lots of other tables will feature vases, ribbons, Fitz Design ideas, and educational opportunities for consideration.
After the Partners Expo wraps up, it is time to revisit the 1960’s and attend the opening reception that will be filled with fun, friends and of course, flowers in your hair! This is the beginning of 3 days of action packed programs, luncheons, and dinners that will saturate your mind and inspire you to heights never thought possible! The symposium concludes with the Leadership Gala honoring the out-going president Sharon McGukin AIFD and welcoming the incoming president, Tom Bowling AIFD. It will be a night to remember as Michelle Perry-White and a cast of designers from around the globe transform the ballroom into a floral fantasy that has never been seen before!
Symposium is an opportunity to invest in you as a professional floral designer and event designer. This opportunity only happens once a year and should be taken advantage of whenever possible. Whether you attend for a single day or the entire symposium, it is well worth the time, effort and money to attend and be a part of the greatest opportunity in the floral industry.
Can you imagine this opportunity? YES you can! Visit AIFD.org for more symposium information.