Issue 3: Floral Narratives - Design and Interpretation
Floral design transcends mere aesthetics—it is a narrative, an experience woven through color, texture, and movement. This season, we were honoured to collaborate with distinguished brands, to craft arrangements that homage to tradition and to push the boundaries of creativity. Each bloom plays a part, supplementing and complementing the whole, while each composition stirs emotion, leaving an experience that lingers even after the moment.
Lunar New Year 2025
A Fresh Start
January 2025 marked the arrival of one of the most vibrant and joyous seasons of the year—Lunar New Year. As families gathered to celebrate new beginnings, we had the privilege of collaborating with our esteemed brand partners to elevate the festive spirit in meaningful and memorable ways.
From exclusive seasonal offerings to immersive experiences, our shared efforts were designed to bring warmth, excitement, and prosperity to this special time of year. Every detail was thoughtfully curated—not only to honor tradition but to create lasting moments of joy beyond the festivities.
In this edition, we take you behind the scenes to explore the inspirations and creative considerations that shaped our approach. From color palettes to floral selections, each element was chosen with intention, seamlessly aligning with the festive atmosphere and our clients’ vision.
To bring clarity to our creative direction, we distilled our approach into three overarching themes, each playing a key role in shaping the experience.
Dynamism, Allusion, and Maximization
Dynamism
From the bold energy of our Lunar New Year arrangements to the untamed vibrancy of Van Cleef & Arpels' Treasure Island collection and the timeless elegance of the Les Jardins Secrets boutique, each piece was meticulously crafted to embody the unique essence of the spaces they adorned. Here, we invite you to journey through our recent works, exploring the thoughtful design process behind and how we reimagined and expressed inspiration with every bloom.
For OCBC’s annual Lunar New Year floral display, we chose to depart from the familiar pastel and romantic palettes. In this interpretation, our design philosophy was to infuse the celebration with a bolder, more dynamic energy—one that symbolized prosperity and blessings through a rich, vibrant tapestry of color. By embracing bold, intense reds, fiery oranges, bright yellows, deep blues, and regal purples, we created an analogous color scheme that not only fostered harmony but allowed each hue to evoke its own powerful emotion.
These vibrant choices were deliberate, each shade symbolising the season’s energy, joy, and abundance. The bold reds and oranges stood for luck, wealth, and vitality, while the yellows and blues infused a sense of hope and prosperity, spinning a visual narrative of celebration.
Beyond color, we sought to challenge conventional floral arrangements by introducing less traditional, yet strikingly beautiful blooms. King Protea, Pin Cushions, and Banksia became the focal point of our design, each flower chosen not only for its unique form but for its symbolism.
The bold, sculptural presence of the King Protea, the intricate geometry of the Pin Cushions, and the striking beauty of the Banksia flowers added both texture and depth, inviting the viewer to engage more deeply with the arrangement. These elements transformed the display into more than just a visual experience—they became a tactile journey, offering a richer, more nuanced appreciation of nature’s beauty.
Allusion
Fleeting and darting through the spring blooms, the diorama butterflies on Van Cleef & Arpels’ red packets became our muse for this arrangement. Their seemingly lifelike motion—graceful yet ephemeral—was the essence we sought to capture in our Lunar New Year florals for their clients.
To echo this delicate flight, we extended fine, airy lines with James Story orchids and sprightly ilex berries, tracing the soft movement of wings in midair. Layers of texture followed suit, with pincushions, roses, and peonies unfolding from a grounded core—an ode to the moment of weightlessness before ascent.
Finally, cymbidium orchids, their veined patterns melting into soft pink hues from a rich, dusky center, lent an added sense of fluidity, as if caught in a gentle breeze. Through this composition, we translated the quiet poetry of butterflies into a floral illustration, where motion and stillness exist in perfect harmony.
Maximising
This floral arrangement for Buccellati took a distinct departure from our other Lunar New Year designs, embracing the essence of prosperity and abundance that defines the season. Instead of the light, airy compositions that often characterize our work, we pursued a more condensed yet equally expressive approach—one that exudes richness without excess, structure without rigidity.
Compact yet brimming with life, this design played with texture and rhythm, striking a delicate balance between intention and spontaneity. Rather than relying on blooms of similar forms, we curated a selection of rounded flowers with varying shapes and textures, layering them at different heights to create depth and dimension. This interplay of elements ensured a composition that felt lush and opulent while maintaining a sense of intrigue and movement.
To enhance the tactile richness, we wove in unexpected details—subtle shifts in color, the velvety softness of petals against the crispness of foliage, and the quiet shimmer of golden accents that echoed Buccellati’s signature craftsmanship. The result was an arrangement that not only captured the festive spirit but also invited a deeper appreciation—an artful study in contrast, harmony, and the beauty of intentional design.
But that’s not all—this period, we embarked on a series of exciting projects, each brimming with creativity and festive charm
Treasure Island Collection: A Wild, Tropical Escape
Inspired by Van Cleef & Arpels’ collection, our Treasure Island series captures the lush vibrancy of tropical landscapes. This collaboration was designed to complement the brand’s storytelling, with floral arrangements accompanying invites and thank-you notes—each composition reflecting the collection’s sense of adventure and discovery.
At the heart of this design philosophy is the raw, expressive beauty of tropical flora. The bold silhouettes and striking colors of birds of paradise and heliconias create a structured yet dynamic base, evoking the energy of an untouched paradise. These sculptural blooms set the tone—confident, angular, and brimming with life. To introduce depth and contrast, we paired coral spray roses with peach anthuriums, playing with texture and shape to reflect the layered richness of island landscapes. Their interplay mirrors the diversity of the tropics, where lush vegetation and vivid florals thrive in perfect harmony.
Fritillarias and anethums extend beyond the core of the arrangement, adding movement and negative space—an intentional choice to evoke the open horizons and breezy serenity of a coastal retreat.
To deepen the composition, magnolia leaves—with their glossy green surface and rich, golden-brown underside—were woven in, adding a subtle contrast that calls to mind the gentle sway of palm trees in the breeze.
Every element, from structure to palette, is designed to feel immersive, echoing the spontaneity and untamed beauty of the tropics. The result is an arrangement that is more than just a visual statement; it’s an experience—one that transports, captivates, and celebrates nature at its most extravagant.
Les Jardins Secrets: A Composition of Contrast and Flow
Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels is both a boutique and an exhibition space— ‘a secret garden’ that enchants visitors with patrimonial pieces and rare treasures from private collections. Rooted in the philosophy of discovery and storytelling, the space invites guests to explore the rich world of VCA’s craftsmanship and heritage. We sought to reflect the space’s romantic and opulent essence, evoking elegance, intrigue, and its robust history.
In our interpretation of the space, we crafted a composition that balances structure and movement, depth and lightness—an organic yet refined interpretation of a secret garden. Jasmine and spirea form the foundation, their trailing forms introducing airiness and gentle motion. These elements break up the structure, preventing the arrangement from feeling static and instead allowing it to breathe with an effortless, natural flow.
At the heart of the arrangement, coral spray roses and burgundy ranunculus emerge from a base of white syringa and green sedum, creating a texturally and visually rich focal point. The roses’ warmth contrasts with the ranunculus’ depth - their darker tones introducing dimension and strength, and the white syringa and green sedums softly bridges and harmonizes the contrasts, ensuring cohesion.
Cymbidium orchids and delphiniums extend from the back, their structured forms adding height and a quiet grandeur. The orchids bring richness and weight, while the deep violet of the delphiniums elongates the composition, enhancing the sense of movement. Framing the composition, they allowed the more delicate florals to take center stage.
Through contrast, layering, and intentional placement, this arrangement embodies quiet sophistication—a balance of refinement and ease. Each bloom plays a role in guiding the eye through the composition, creating a harmonious rhythm.
In each of these projects, our floral designs went beyond mere decoration, delving deeply into the essence of the themes they represent. By making intentional choices and reinterpreting the inspiration, we ensured that every arrangement was grounded in meaning. From bold color palettes and dynamic forms to delicate movements and intricate textures, each piece was guided by a well-defined design philosophy. Whether celebrating the energy of Lunar New Year, the untamed beauty of Treasure Island, or the refined elegance of Les Jardins Secrets, these floral narratives reflect our commitment to creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of the unique spirit behind each collaboration. We look forward to continuing this journey of inspiration and innovation in the seasons to come.