We have an incredible team here at Element Design, and each person brings a wide array of skills and talents to the table. While many of us have learned about flowers, greenery, and the material we work with through our time at Element, our Quality Lead came to us with a vast knowledge of the nature that makes up our frames and resin pieces. Safran, originally from Connecticut, joined our team in 2022 and has become who we all go to with any and all of our flower questions. 

Safran has worn several hats in his time with Element, most notably being our Quality Lead. He has seen every single one of your flowers, carefully preparing the pressed blooms for the designers. He presses flowers, leads the other members of the quality team to success, and makes sure that each product has flowers that hold up to our standards. 

How did you get into botany?

As a child I lived with my grandfather, who had come through the Great Depression and so grew and canned a lot of our food. My grandfather’s garden was a magical, edible wonder that I was endlessly fascinated by. I would spend hours scrambling up trees for cherries, plums, apples, and mulberries, and he would give me a penny for every weed I pulled (a nickel each for dandelions.) He would patiently explain to me the “why”s of what we were doing, but I always had more questions! 

I would spend hours reading through gardening guides and plant identification books at our local library, and then trying to ID every plant around my neighborhood, even the seaweeds that would wash up on the beaches. 

By the time I was figuring out whether or not I wanted to go to college, plant science seemed like the perfect course of study for me, although back then I must confess I wanted to go into landscape design (alas, not in my wheelhouse).

What types of education did you have? 

I am grateful to have been taught by both my grandfather and my aunt, when it comes to home gardening and farming. In terms of formal education, I went to a university  in upstate NY for a bachelor’s degree in plant science. Education doesn’t have to stop there, though. I am still a voracious reader and I am grateful that I am in a position where I am able to learn more about my preferred subject every day. Often, I see bridal bouquets with flowers I had never seen used in bouquets before. I get to research these flowers and have learned so much over my time at Element.

What is your favorite part of your day at Element?

I think my favorite part of the day is whenever someone brings me some random plant to identify. There are so many flowers that we see every day that are commonplace, so when someone’s arrangement includes a bloom that is out of the ordinary it excites me. I especially love when brides include eccentric or symbolic flowers in their bouquets. I’m a romantic at heart.

What makes working at Element so special? 

For me, I love working in a collaborative environment; getting to support our artists with the work that I do behind the scenes. I enjoy the sentimentality of preserving flowers that are so meaningful to our clients. It is very different to other jobs that I’ve held in that everyone here truly cares about the work that we are doing. We understand the importance and legacy of the pieces that we are creating, and it is amazing to me that we have become a part of so many people’s lives and homes. 

Do you have a favorite flower?

My favorite flower is Fritillaria Meleagris, snake’s head fritillary. It’s super cute and whimsical; although I have a giant soft spot for spring bulbs in general. 

Which products make for your favorite way to showcase flowers? 

I am partial to our serving trays. They’re so romantic! If I were to get married, I think it would be so sweet to have flowers from the wedding preserved in one. What do they say about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach? Definitely true for me. Breakfast in bed served on a tray literally made of our wedding flowers? Oh My God! Are you kidding me? How cute is that?! 

We love having Safran on the team, and love learning from him. It was wonderful to hear all about his passions, and how much he loves the work we get to do! Safran is just one of our many talented team members, and we hope that we can take some time to highlight others as the months go by! 

If you want to see your beautiful, special flowers saved for a lifetime by our talented artisans, connect with us and place your order today!

Written By: Phaedra, An Element Designer