I think the term "designer florist" is used too much where it shouldn't be!!!!!

My opinion of a "designer florist" if there is such a thing, are people who create bespoke designs and those who are the forefront of their profession with techniques and flowers. They can set/predict trends and don't follow them.

Floral art and floral design cannot be taught, I believe everyone can be taught the basics, however it is the individual's creative talent and eye for detail which makes a normal florist into a "floral artist" You can't learn this at college, however you can be taught the basics of floristry and build upon this. If you can afford to go on a course in a high end flower school in London you will see the difference between the two, however if you are confident in your own ability, and can "create" then I think the floristry industry needs you!

Those people at the forefront of their profession continue to evolve and embrace new ideas, examples of these are Jane Packer, Paula Pryke, Rob Van Helten, Mathew Dickinson etc etc. There are plenty of "high end florists" who charge a premium, not only for their designs, but their quality of flowers and eye for detail.

I find that there is a lack of independant florists with an eye for detail and too many florists who simply bang the flowers in some paper with a ribbon on and call it art.

You can have a good quality florist who is good at their job, but an increasing number of people will pay the bit extra for creativeness and quality of product. You can still still create art for ?15 an item/bouquet in my opinion, however this isn't readily available, and I am unsure if the general public actually understand and appreciate real floral art, as opposed to what they can buy from M&S/Interflora.

Just my opinion though