Jewelery Design is the process of imagining and bringing to life unique pieces of jewelry. Jewelry designers often use their creative freedom to produce unique pieces that evoke emotion and inspire personal connections. Whether it’s a simple pair of earrings or an intricately designed necklace, each piece has the potential to become a family heirloom. Regardless of the complexity or the inspiration behind the design, successful jewelry designs are driven by a few key principles.
Design is all about the relationship between form, line, texture, color and other elements in a piece. It is how these elements come together to create a cohesive and harmonious composition. Achieving a balance between these elements is the first step to creating a successful jewelry design. Symmetry promotes balance by mirroring the same design elements on both sides of a jewelry piece, yet asymmetry can also achieve this through visual mass compensation or smart placement of the design.
Unity is the overall feeling of cohesion in a jewelry design. Unity can be achieved by using consistent colors, textures and shapes to create a cohesive scale. It can also be accomplished by using repetition and progression to create a flowing rhythm. For example, alternating plain and textured bands can create a flowing pattern that draws the eye across the piece.
Often the gems themselves determine how a piece of jewelry will be designed. For instance, a rare gemstone can inspire a design that allows its shape and character to take center stage. In some cases, the design is dictated by the shape of the gemstone and the artisan’s choice to style it into a ring, pendant, necklace or brooch.
Most professional jewelry designers begin their designs with a detailed drawing or concept sketch. Some also utilize CAD software to help develop the piece. Regardless of the technique, most jewelry artisans continue to refine their original ideas throughout the creation process. This is especially true when working with free-form stones and asymmetrical designs where the natural form of the gem will often dictate the final design.
In addition to gaining professional experience by interning or finding a job with a local jeweler, another great way to prepare for a career in jewelry design is to take online and in-person courses, such as those offered by FIT’s Jewelry Design program. The expert faculty at FIT’s School of Art and Design bring their extensive knowledge of today’s market into the classroom to ensure students have the tools they need to find success as jewelry designers.
