Jewelery Design is a dream career option for those who have a creative bent of mind and have a passion for jewellery. This is a field that requires special professional training and education and a strong portfolio to get started in it. Many reputed fashion and design studies institutions across the world offer degree courses in jewelry designing to prepare students for this challenging and rewarding career path.
A jeweler is a master craftsman who uses a combination of creativity and technical skills to produce beautiful works of art from precious metals and gemstones. This professional is fully responsible for every stage of the creation process from concept development to production and manufacture of the final product. The jeweller’s specialized expertise includes not only the technical ability to handle materials, but also a comprehensive understanding of market trends and customer preferences.
The jewellery crafting process begins with a sketch, either digital or on paper. This helps in defining the layers and structure of the work before making any adjustments or sculpting the piece. Once the pattern is drawn it is then transferred to a wax model which is later used for casting of the finished jewellery piece. Jewellery designers also help in selecting stones and metals for the project by carrying out extensive research.
During the early days of civilization, jewellery designs were limited in scope and mostly consisted of rings, necklaces and earrings. However, with the passing of time ornaments for almost all parts of the body were crafted. For the head, jewellery craftsmen made crowns and diadems, tiaras, hairpins, combs, and other decorative ornaments. For the neck and torso, they created necklaces, fibulae (ancient safety pins), brooches, pectorals, stomachers, and belts. For the arms, legs and feet, they fashioned armlets, ankle bracelets and rings.
The inspirations for jewellery designs vary from the need to impress others to express reverence, loyalty or remembrance. There are also those who design jewellery purely for its beauty. These artisans have the choice of embracing current trends or to follow their own souls and let the beauty of a gem dictate its design.
Some of the most basic principles that a jewellery designer must keep in mind are balance, proportion and contrast. Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight within a piece. This can be achieved through symmetry or asymmetry. Proper proportion means ensuring that no one element dominates the overall look of a jewellery piece. Contrast, on the other hand, involves using differences in color, texture and shape to create a striking appearance.
The jewelry design program at FIT is led by faculty members who are industry experts. They bring first-hand knowledge of today’s jewellery market into the classroom, and serve as mentors for their students. They provide expert guidance and support as students navigate this highly competitive and specialized field. The prestigious and respected program offers a wide range of courses from advanced manufacturing techniques to 3D modeling software for jewelry design.
