Jewelry designers rely on a broad set of skills to turn a design idea into a finished piece. The first step in the process is to create a drawing or a painting called a rendering. Traditionally, these sketches were done by hand but nowadays a designer is more likely to use a computer aided design program to create the rendering. Whether it’s a quick “counter sketch” or a full blown digital design, the result is the same: a rendering that gives the client a sense of what the final product will look like.
Many jewelers take inspiration from nature to create their designs. They can also find inspiration from other art forms such as painting, sculpture and even architecture. Taking the time to carefully examine a piece of nature and notice the colors, shapes and textures can be a great source of creativity for jewelry makers. For example, the intricate patterns of a tree’s bark can inspire a jewelry maker to create an ornate ring or necklace. Or, the angular lines of an architectural structure may be used to create a bracelet with a geometric pattern.
A wide variety of jewelry design software programs are available to help with the creation of a digital model. These programs range from simple solid modeling tools to complex digital sculpting and 3D print preparation applications. For those interested in a quick and easy approach, solid modelers are a good choice. These systems are fully parametric and have a history tree to allow for modification of features over time. They are compatible with many 3D renderers and can export to CAD programs for further modification.
Alternatively, jewelry designers can use digital sculpting programs such as ZBrush to create a detailed model of their design. These programs can then be used to texture and paint a 3D model ready for printing. This is a more advanced process but it can give the jewelry maker a much more realistic sense of what the final product will be.
Once a model has been created, the jewelry designer can begin to experiment with different sizes and shapes of gems and other metalwork to see what looks best with their design. This is an important part of the design process because even small changes can make a piece of jewelry look completely different from the original concept.
Jewelry designers can also find inspiration by following industry blogs and websites. These sites can be a great place to discover new ideas and innovations that will keep a jeweler ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of fashion jewelry. Keeping up with current trends is important, but it’s just as important to design pieces that are timeless and classic in their appeal. If a jewelry artist wants to make a name for themselves, they must be able to stand out from the crowd of fashion followers and follow their own path in style and design. This will require creativity and dedication to the art of jewelry design.
