2025 Design Contest
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Design Contest Registration
Division Descriptions
Open to any student currently enrolled in high school, who has NOT worked “professionally” as a floral designer. Student must prove current student status. One entry per student.
College student currently enrolled in horticulture/floriculture program or enrichment, design school or university floriculture program, or an individual with less than three years’ experience employed at a floral entity.
Open to any floral professional with three years or more experience in the industry. Contestants may enter one, two or three categories. To be eligible for the prestigious GLFA Designer of the Year run-off, contestants MUST be entered in all three professional categories.
This division is only open to those who are recognized as Academy Designers. The academy division honors and recognizes those individuals who have consistently achieved high ratings and placements during the GLFA design contest.
Those who achieve this distinction are encouraged to continue to showcase their talents through the Academy Division competition. The criteria for the Academy requires that a designer has earned a minimum of 50 points through competition in GLFA sponsored design contests.
Points are awarded on the following basis:
10 points for Chuck Bannow Award
10 points for a first place award in a professional category
7 points for a second place award in a professional category
5 points for a third place award in a professional category
Further, 20 of the 50 points must be from First Place Awards (Chuck Bannow Award counts as First Place award). When the required points are achieved, designers are recognized during the GLFA, Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo, as well as in the Professional Florist magazine.
Academy Designers will have their names inscribed on a traveling award plaque that will be proudly displayed during all Academy competitions and exhibitions. Congratulations to all who have achieved this distinctive recognition! Continued encouragement to
all that strive for it!
Please make sure to download the Design Contest Pack above for full details and contest information including; division qualification, wholesale price list guidelines, cost card, rules & regulations and more.
GLFA Designer
of the Year
The winner receives $300.00 cash prize, recognition plaque and the coveted title of “GLFA Designer of the Year.” They will also be the featured designer for the “Design spotlight” section in The Professional Florist Magazine.
In order to attain “GLFA Designer of the Year” status, you must enter all four Professional Division categories. Five individuals with the highest cumulative points from the four design categories will be selected as finalists earning the chance to compete in a Spontaneous Surprise Package competition.
Names of the five finalists with highest cumulative points from will be posted at the GLFA registration desk in alphabetical order upon completion of the design contest judging. The five finalists will have one half hour starting promptly at 10:00AM. Saturday, March 2, 2024 on the Main Stage to create a Spontaneous Surprise Package design.
The design contest committee will select all the materials in advance. Finalists are responsible for their own tools, knives, wire cutters, tape, wire, etc.
Contestants will be asked to leave the contest area during judging. The finalist with the highest total points earned during the Spontaneous Surprise Package competition will be the single winner. The winner will be announced at the Recognition Banquet on Saturday night in the DeVos Place Steelcase Ballroom B.
Chuck Bannow Award
This a “Best Overall” award from the four first place winners in the professional division categories in the contest.
It is NOT a design contest category for entry, but an award given to the best professional division entry.
Charles “Chuck” Bannow devoted his life to teaching and enrichment of the floral industry, this award carries his name. All designs will be evaluated based on the elements of design, professional execution of design mechanics as well as creativity, with particular emphasis on originality and innovation.