Our story
Flatzone Herbarium Studio began as a kitchen-table practice during winter pressing sessions. What started with simple field walks grew into a course library dedicated to a calm, respectful craft. Today we teach learners across continents to build collections that honor place and season.
We focus on techniques that age gracefully: breathable stacks, conservation-grade papers, reversible adhesives, and metadata with purpose. Our classes blend botanical literacy with design sense so each sheet feels composed rather than crowded.
Mission
Teach mindful herbarium design that balances scientific clarity with aesthetic restraint. We celebrate slow craft, ecological ethics, and the quiet joy of making durable work.
- • Evidence-first techniques
- • Respect for local regulations
- • Accessibility in language and materials
Values
Stewardship, curiosity, and calm workmanship guide our choices. We prefer reversible methods and clear documentation over shortcuts.
Team
Mara Ellis
Lead Conservator
Former herbarium technician with a focus on low-temperature drying and mount longevity.
Jon Park
Design Director
Guides page composition and typography, balancing label density with spacious layouts.
Risa Okoye
Field Instructor
Teaches responsible collecting and note-taking for accurate specimen metadata.
Studio timeline
- 2019 — Kitchen-table experiments with airflow and blotters.
- 2021 — First cohort launches; emphasis on reversible mounting.
- 2024 — Design track adds spacing and labeling systems.
- 2026 — Flatzone Herbarium Studio expands with Digital editions.