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‘I always wanted a creative profession where I could work with people and realise projects,’ says Jennifer. Her journey into the world of floristry began around twenty years ago during an inspiring visit to the master exhibition at Franz Josef Wein's Academy for Natural Design in Zwettl. ‘This experience was the deciding factor for me. It motivated me to develop as a designer and find my own style.’

After completing her master craftsman training, it was a challenge for Jennifer to find her place in the floristry industry. Her participation in DMF 2024 was an important step in her quest for further self-realisation. ‘I had already taken part in a few competitions. After the national championship, Berlin quickly came my way.’

One of the highlights of the DMF for Jennifer was working with her assistant Gregor. ‘It was valuable to exchange ideas and refine the creations together.’

Nature plays a crucial role in Jennifer's creative process. ‘Nature represents change, hope and the future. It is a constant source of inspiration,’ she explains. According to Jennifer, the connection between humans and nature is deeply rooted. ‘I try to reflect the purity and honesty of nature in my work.’

Jennifer's creations during the DMF were highly symbolic and carefully thought out. Her Peace Prayer bouquet, for example, used off-white instead of pure white, as she felt that the world was not yet at complete peace. ‘The round bouquet shape symbolised the divine, while the square vessel represented the secular. All the florals were connected by a simple thread,’ she explains. ’The florals were the main protagonists. They showed transience, but also life. They all interacted harmoniously without taking away from each other's impact and expressiveness.’

Her bar and table decorations on the theme of multicultural gatherings were also deeply symbolic. ‘I used a yin-yang symbol in the centre, with flowers that connected all the different elements. This represents harmony and unity between cultures.’

Jennifer also combined the natural world with urban elements and used plants for the room decorations, as this is the most sustainable method. ‘I combined the colours of the Bikini shopping centre in Berlin with forest-like elements, using colourful polyester threads to reflect the historical background of the place.’

One of the most challenging parts of the DMF was the surprise task, where Jennifer created a cape as part of the modern body decorations. ‘In a short space of time, it was important to be creative and spontaneous, and that made it exciting,’ she says. For her, the focus was on speed and emphasising the creative spontaneity of a florist.

Jennifer Mühlbauer's story is one of perseverance, constant self-development and a deep connection with nature. Her achievements during the DMF 2024 show that mastery is not just about technical ability, but also about personal development and creativity.