Hitomi Gilliam AIFD 

Freelance Designer
Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Hitomi Gilliam is a much in demand floral educator with 28 years of retail experience.  She devotes all her time now to education – she is committed to teaching, to raise the level of professionalism and creativity within the floral industry.  She loves to share all her accumulated knowledge and skills to help florists become the best they can be – progressive and current!!

Hitomi is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and is one of only nine recipients of AIFD’s prestigious Award of Design Influence.  She actively posts on Instagram (approaching 25K followers) with inspirations, design ideas, tips and tricks as Hitomi Gilliam. She is also active on Facebook as Hitomi Gilliam and Hitomi Gilliam AIFD offering design advice.  Her YouTube channel offers many free video tutorials for lots of useful techniques and tips for florists.  She is a distinguished educator and lecturer world-wide and has given presentations and workshops at many notable venues, art museums and botanical gardens.

In 2006, Hitomi was the recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s Frances Poetker Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions as a designer, author and lecturer to the art and science of American horticulture.  In 2008, she won ‘Gold’ and ‘Best in Show’ by invitation only, international entry at Singapore Garden Festival. On New Year’s Day 2020, she was honored to be one of the 3 judges for the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Hitomi is a member of Teleflora’s prestigious team of Education Specialists.