Hitomi Gilliam
Hitomi’s biggest passion is ‘Sharing Everything She Knows about Flowers’ through presenting and teaching. She began her career as a farmer/florist, a greenhouse grower and landscape designer, turned retail florist for first half of her working life. She focused her attention to teaching and became a floral educator, presenting design programs and workshops extensively throughout North America and around the world for the past 25 years. She has been a much sought-after presenter for art museums and botanical gardens, garden clubs and industry sponsors over the years.
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. Her YouTube channel is very active, and most recently, she launched her Patreon Page with additional virtual educational offering.
Hitomi is an author of eight books. The ‘FRESH LOOK AT JUDGING,’ co-authored with Kathy Whalen, has garnered accolades for thorough updated examination of the Elements and Principles of Design and its application to the Judging and Evaluating Processes for Floral Design.
She is a recipient of AIFD Design Influence Award, a coveted award as an influencer (1998),
received the American Horticultural Society’s ‘Frances Jones Poeltker Award’ (2006), is the
recipient of Gold Honors ‘Best of Show’ at Singapore Garden Festival ‘Windows to the World’ International Floral Exhibit representing Canada (2008) and is a
10-time Center Stage Presenters at AIFD National Symposiums.
Additionally, she was featured artist at ‘Les Fleurs Sauvages’ Art Exhibit at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City (2018) and has been honored to serve as one of the three judges for 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade Floats in Pasadena, California.
Follow her on social media @hitomigilliam and at hitomigilliam.com. If you’re interested in learning more from Hitomi, visit her YouTube Channel for more video tutorials or consider joining her Patreon Page where Patrons receive perks like monthly Virtual Workshops, 'Creative Edge’ Virtual Meet-Ups, exclusive educational content and much more!
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