Meet Tim Devlin

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tim Devlin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tim below.

Tim, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I find myself asking this question often. Back when I was in school, my professors were never sure what to make of my work. They would say things like, “you don’t draw like everyone else, do you?”. While the 20-year-old version of myself wasn’t sure what to make of that, the version of me now sees this as the strength of the business. Why should everyone in the studio draw in the same style?

There are so many talented florists and landscape architects creating beautiful work that in order to stand out and sign clients, I have to lean into the only one-in-the-room energy. We listen to the client’s needs and turn them into deliverables that they cannot find elsewhere.

The most successful and creative projects we delivered were where I stayed true to the creative vision and trusted my instinct. It is a really incredible feeling when a project is delivered the way it was envisioned. These are the projects when the floral product holds up, the plant counts are just right, and the client is happy. While it’s easy to get caught up in trends and design with the popular plant species du jour, the challenge is finding yourself in the trend and making it your own.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I started Blooma Daga in 2022 to foster creativity and authentic originality in botanical design. Blooma Daga provides landscape architectural design services, wedding + event florals, floral installations, and holiday design. What makes us unique is that we provide several services under one roof. While these areas may seem unrelated at first glance, working with natural materials is the common thread that weaves between them all. I always like to say that if you can design a garden, you can design a bouquet. The principles of design and composition remain, but the scale changes.

The name Blooma Daga is Swedish(ish) for “Flower Day”. My Swedish ancestry and love of all things Scandinavian are a big part of my design inspiration. Coming up with a name for the business was one of the most challenging parts of the launch. A name is everything; it is the first impression that people will remember. I wanted the name to be slightly mysterious and a way to engage with people about what we are all about. When introducing our company name to people, I often say think Häagen-Dazs. The name translates to nothing, but you know the product is delicious.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

LISTEN – Stop and listen to yourself, your clients, and the market.

NEVER BURN A BRIDGE – While living and working in a major city, I am constantly reminded of what a small world it is. I run into people I have worked with in the past all of the time. You never have to show your full hand, but engaging with your peers and maintaining relationships go a long way, even if you don’t see eye to eye with someone. Negativity is a complete waste of everyone’s time

PREPARE – There are so many variables in our industry, from supply chain to weather to logistics. Take time to pack extra materials and allow for the maximum amount of time possible on install day. Go in with a plan and be ready to pivot as the day unfolds.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

We are always looking for new collaborations and projects. Architects, designers, set designers, event planners, production companies, realtors, and anyone interested in learning more is always welcome to connect. We would love to meet you!

While Los Angeles is home, we will travel for the right types of projects.

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