Hitomi Gilliam AIFD
About Hitomi
Hitomi’s passion is ‘Sharing Everything She Knows About Flowers’ through presenting and teaching. Her career began as Farmer/Florist in 1978 when she was a greenhouse grower/landscape designer/turned retail florist. Her teaching career began after winning Great American Design Competition in 1987 and solidified after authoring 2 books: ‘Fundamental Theories of Design’ & ‘Design Compendium’ in 1997 & 1999. She has travelled extensively over the past 30+ years throughout North America and around the world lecturing and hosting design workshops at Art Museums, Botanical Gardens, Garden Clubs, and for industry sponsors. She founded DESIGN358, an Education-based event company with her son, Colin Gilliam, in 2008. Their focus now is in virtual programming of floral education. She is very active on her YouTube channel and she most recently launched her Patreon Page with additional virtual experiences. She has authored 8 books in total, including ‘Fresh Look at Judging Floral Design’ a thorough updated examination of the ‘Elements & Principles’ for all serious students of Design.
She is the 5th recipient of AIFD’s coveted Design Influence Award (1998).
Hitomi also received the American Horticultural Society’s ‘Frances Jones Poeltker Award’ (2006) and won Gold Honors & Best of Show at Singapore Garden Festival ‘Windows to the World’ International Floral Competition in 2008 representing Canada. She is a 10 time Center Stage Presenter at AIFD National Symposium and was the Featured Artist at ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Art Exhibit at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in NYC (2018)
Hitomi was honored to serve as one of 3 judges for 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade Floats in Pasadena, CA.
Teaching Style
Hitomi uses versatile teaching methods. She is a seasoned stage lecturer and presenter who has taught both symposium style and demonstration workshops. Hitomi has conducted academic structured certification classes on theory, elements & principles, creativity, etc. Her workshop styles vary from demo/hands-on to more immersive learning experiences with individuals or in groups depending on the topic. Her students and audiences come from all throughout commercial floristry and her teaching covers a diverse range of ideas and styles of design including creative botanical art, wedding and event design, and large installations. Hitomi is well-versed in a diverse range of mechanics, methods, and techniques. She teaches to explain both the WHYs and HOWs of floral design.
Design Aesthetic
Hitomi can teach almost every style in existence, from historical point of view as well as the most up-to-date sensibilities and aesthetics. Her teaching is based on adhering to the Laws of Nature rather than the Rules of Man. For the most part, the teaching is explained through what we know through nature. She prefers design styles and aesthetics that are organic & natural. The design techniques and methods and all structure building aspects are viewed through the lens of ART. Hitomi is always in pursuit of new ways of designing aesthetically and mechanically. Workmanship in design and Craftsmanship in structure building are a very important part of her teaching. She is well-versed in a variety of styles: Garden style (wedding), Graphic Modern style (corporate), Organic Formal Linear style (Ikebana influence, less is more), Minimalist, and FlowerXArt (botanical art).
