The jewelry industry is not just about the beauty of a piece of shiny metal or precious stones. It is also about the personal expression of a wearer’s individuality, feelings and values. Jewelry designers express these through the creative use of materials and concepts to shape one-of-a-kind creations that are a true delight to the eye.
A jewelery Design can be as simple as a necklace with a pendant, or as complex as an intricately designed bracelet. Jewelry is a very versatile medium that can be used to communicate anything, and designers are constantly challenged to push the limits of this medium.
Whether it is a pendant, rings, earrings or bracelets, the first step in the designing process of any piece of jewelry is to draw an initial depiction of the design. The initial sketch is the foundation of the final piece and allows the designer to see how the various elements will come together to create a harmonious whole. Proper proportions are important, as well as contrast between smooth and rough surfaces, and contrasting colors.
The sketch will help the jewelry designer determine if the concept is feasible, and how much time it will take to build the final product. This information will also influence the choice of materials and tools to be used in the process. The design process can be a lot of fun, but it is also important to keep in mind the budget and time frame of the project.
FIT’s program is very connected to the industry and our faculty members are experts who bring their knowledge of today’s market into the classroom as mentors for students. They are there to cultivate each student’s unique voice in the field and guide them to finding their niche in this dynamic and specialized profession.
In addition to providing professional training in the use of advanced technologies, FIT offers students a unique opportunity to work with leading artists and artisans who are renowned in their field. They have extensive experience in a variety of techniques and approaches, including traditional silversmithing skills as well as modern laser, kinetic, mixed media and electronics applications.
There are many 3D CAD software programs available that can be used for jewelry design. While some have specific features geared towards the jewelry design, others are general purpose modeling environments. The best of these is probably SolidWorks, which has an extensive set of modeling tools and a powerful scripting language for automating repetitive tasks. However, SolidWorks is not built for organic modeling and it will require patience to learn how to use it effectively for jewelry designs.
Another option is Jewelry CAD Dream, which has a very intuitive user interface. It is relatively easy to use and provides a comprehensive library of jewelry-specific components and shapes. It is a good alternative for beginners who are not yet comfortable with more advanced software, such as Maya. The more advanced 3D CAD software, such as Maya and Blender, have the ability to perform organic modeling, but they will also require a considerable amount of patience to master.
