Shawna YamamotoPhoto: Courtesy of ENSO Creative
How she got her start: Yamamoto has been working in the event industry for 11 years—and kicked off her career with humble beginnings. "I literally started out of my garage," she says. "I knew at that time that I wanted to have a more artistic approach to floral design using structures and non-floral elements. As the years went by, more and more people would challenge me with coming up with ideas that were new and different, and I've always been up to the challenge."
What innovation means to her: "Always creating new things or reinventing old things," she says. "I believe that if you are comfortable, then you are not trying hard enough. When you're uncomfortable is when you're learning and growing."
Yamamoto says that innovation is becoming increasingly important to her as her career advances. "I don't want to be one of those designers that are easily recognized due to redundancy," she explains. "[I want to] always be coming up with something different." 
The team created a ski lift photo moment for a Spotify holiday party.Photo: Courtesy of ENSO Creative
What sets her work apart: Yamamoto describes her company as a "one-stop shop" when it comes to fabrication and floral design. "We are often the finishers; the final set dressings are done by us," she explains. "We tend to work with partners that trust us to 'just make it all look finished.' If you use someone different for fabrication, rentals, flooring, and florals, there tends to be a gap in the design or finish. I believe we help avoid that."
"We are often the finishers; the final set dressings are done by us," she says.Photo: Courtesy of ENSO Creative
Career highlights: "Producing a five-day, multi-event wedding all the way in Athens, Greece," Yamamoto remembers. "There is always so much to learn designing destinations, but designing in a foreign country has all sorts of hurdles. Executing a successful event was just exhilarating."
Her favorite thing about the event industry: "Besides all the relationships that I build, it would be that I am able to create art on a daily basis," she says. "That is wonderful."
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