A jewelry designer creates original and functional articles of jewellery with a range of materials including precious gems and metal. These professional designers have a deep knowledge of materials, fabrication techniques, composition, wearability and market trends, among others. The primary incentives for Jewelery Design include the desire to meet consumers’ desires and needs while maximizing the artistic potential of the material at hand. Other motivators might include riding the wave of current fashion and market trends or creating pieces that are inspired by a designer’s own inspiration and passion.
To successfully design jewelry, a strong understanding of basic principles like balance, proportion, contrast, unity, and movement is important. The application of these fundamentals ensures that the final piece captivates and delights the wearer. Our jewelry designers are masters of these fundamentals, and they combine them to craft unique jewelry that resonates with their clients.
Balance is the distribution of a composition’s visual weight across its form. Symmetry creates a feeling of harmony and equilibrium by mirroring elements on both sides, but asymmetry can also achieve balance through clever use of form and visual mass compensations. For example, an off-center gemstone can be balanced by the shape of the surrounding metalwork. When a jewelry piece is well-balanced, the eye travels fluidly over the entire composition.
Proportion refers to the size of a component in relation to its neighbors. Using varying scales, textures, and colors can create a dynamic rhythm that draws the eye through the composition. Alternating textured and plain bands, for example, can create a contrasting sequence that adds interest and depth to the piece. Strategically placed asymmetry can also draw the eye toward a focal point and create a sense of drama.
Contrast is the difference between two components. For example, pairing a rough stone with smooth metal creates textural contrast. Using different colors and tones can also create contrast. For example, combining vibrant stones with cool metals produces a striking combination. Strategically used contrast attracts the eye, emphasizes focal points, and adds drama to a jewelry composition.
Flow refers to the way that different elements of a design move together and interact with one another. For example, a necklace may consist of a chain that links pendants, beads, and stones in an interconnected series. When these components are carefully arranged, they create an organized and fluid flow that flows gracefully from one end of the composition to the other. This kind of careful arrangement demonstrates mastery of the flow principle and is a mark of a skilled jewelry designer.
Many jewelry designers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to help them visualize and create their designs. CAD programs have many benefits, such as the ability to easily adjust dimensions and produce photo-like renders of the finished product. Some CAD programs are free to download, while others require a subscription fee. These paid programs offer more advanced features and are designed to meet the specific needs of jewelry designers, such as curve and point editing, generating arrays for stones, and production of STL files for 3D printing.
