Jewelry is a symbol of one’s own style, and a piece can often tell a story. A custom ring, for example, might be a reminder of an event or a significant date, while a necklace can connect a wearer with family and friends. It’s a form of personalization that’s becoming increasingly popular in today’s market. To design a successful piece of jewelry, you need to have an eye for fashion, art, and metalwork as well as manual dexterity and CAD skills. The best jewelry designers can also visualize their finished products, which means that they are able to translate their creative vision into something tangible that someone will actually wear.
In addition to the tools and materials needed for making jewelry, jewelry designers must have a keen sense of proportion, visual weight, and emphasis. A disproportionately large or small component can throw off the balance of a piece, and it’s important to keep in mind that jewelry is typically worn close to the body, so it needs to feel comfortable. A successful piece of jewelry also tends to include contrasting elements, whether it’s a bright, bold color or a smooth versus rough texture.
When creating a collection of jewelry, it’s important to remember that people often buy items in sets or groups to create a cohesive look. To ensure that your collection tells a clear, concise, and consistent story, make sure that you have a common theme or aesthetic running through each piece. This could be a certain shape, a color palette, or even an element like a spiral that ties each piece together.
The Jewelry and Metal Arts program at FIT is closely tied to the industry, with a faculty of experts who bring first-hand knowledge of today’s market into the classroom as mentors. They help students cultivate their unique creative voice and prepare to join one of the most dynamic professions in the world. Students learn to use 2D graphic design applications for the design process, 3D engineering applications for design verification, CAD modeling, gemology, and jewelry production.
A degree in jewelry design is an excellent option for those with a combination of creativity and technical skills, and who want to enter the field as jewelry makers or jewelers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job outlook for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers will be 11 percent through 2022. In this career, you can expect to earn between $20,000 and $50,000 per year. To succeed in the jewelry business, you should be able to work quickly and efficiently, have good math skills, and be able to visualize your finished product. You will also need to be able to communicate effectively with customers.
