A common FAQ - I can draw, can I be a jewellery designer?
Nope! That’s a hard No from me!
Don’t get me wrong, Drawing is helpful tool in the design process but you need to understand so many more things to be able to design jewellery properly.
I’ve seen many so-called designers send drawings to a jeweller or manufacture from a drawing with absolutely no understanding of how the object will be made or function and this causes big problems. Jewellery design is a very technical and considered form of design (a perfect balance of engineering and artistic creation) where the structure and material choice needs to be considered. The item is personal and every piece made needs to tell a story, function (be wearable) and last so every decision is important.
Let me explain a bit more.
Understanding manufacturing is vital when designing jewellery. Here's why:
Technical Feasibility: Designers need to understand manufacturing techniques to ensure successful realisation of their designs. Knowledge of materials behavior during production is essential. If a draw looks great on paper but cant physically be made using the tools or techniques available then there will be a problem. And it is not considered a design, its just a drawing. Over promising or misleading clients with drawings that are not considered leads to multiple and long lasting issues.
Material Selection: Different materials have unique properties, aiding in wise choices. For example, gold alloys vary in hardness, color, and durability/ Gemstones have a different refraction of light and hardness in relation to wearability. An understanding of materials communicated in drawings is really important. A considered design will include materials that are suitable for the client needs and lifestyle.
Cost Efficiency: Considering manufacturing constraints reduces waste, reduces labor, and optimizes production, impacting cost-effectiveness. Often a client will outline a budget and that budget can be spent many different ways with a variety of different outcomes. Understanding your client’s priority in relation to budget and understanding how to effectively quote manufacturing choices and spend the budget is really important for a successful design.
Client communication: Smooth transition from design to reality is supported by understanding and correctly communicating technical details like tolerances and finishing techniques. Outlining expectations to a client is often done through a considered and correct drawing. This ensures the clients understands what will be made and how their choices all work together.
Quality Assurance: Anticipating design wearability and longevity to avoid flaws through understanding manufacturing processes is key. This is a big one! the last thing you want is an unhappy client because they were promised something that is not actually structurally sound or something that won’t last being worn.
So, to round this out:
Design and manufacturing go hand in hand. Well-informed designers create not just beautiful but also durable pieces. Drawing a picture is not designing if manufacturing and all of the other factors have not being considered. A drawing without an understand of the factors mentioned above can affect client relationships, business reputations and will affect the jewellery industry as a whole. Whether it's a pendant, ring, earrings, brooch, bangle or anything else wearable the manufacturing capabilities/ possibilities turn visions into reality.