Designing jewellery requires you to combine creativity, spatial awareness, and a sense of form. Learning the process of designing jewellery is not easy. With some practice, however, it will become much easier for you. Read on for advice on learning how to design jewellery.
Train Your Eye
The best designers all have one trait in common – they observe everything!
Study the shapes of the designs you like. What do they have in common? Try not to look at these pieces in terms of drawing/sketching or colour, think about shape, scale, balance, rhythm, contrast and composition. If you understand the principles of design, this will help you to make better and more informed choices about the way in which shapes interact with one another and the effect that the smallest adjustment can have on a design as a whole.
Look at jewellery and other objects – the built environment, nature, furniture, fabrics, everyday items.
Consider the following:
- The silhouette or overall shape of the item
- The proportion or scale of different elements that make up the piece
- The way in which textures have been used – both in combination and in contrast to each other
- Structural contrast between elements
Practice Sketching Regularly
You don’t need to be a skilled artist in order to be a great designer. Being able to draw or sketch your ideas is just a means of communication and to help explore and understand what you are trying to achieve.
To begin with try sketching the most basic shapes – circles, triangles, squares – for different items, e.g. rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets. This will help you to build your confidence and overcome your fears. You are just trying to make a note of your idea and it doesn’t need to be a work of art!
As your confidence grows, add in details to your drawing and try to capture your ideas accurately – proportions, scale, colour and texture, etc. You can even add in a gemstone or embellishment to see how it would look within your design.
Develop Ideas Through Experimentation
Don’t be afraid to play with your design ideas and draw lots of different versions of the same concept. Your initial idea is unlikely to be the final outcome, so work through each element of your design, trying different shapes, compositions, textures or embellishments. Explore all of your ideas to find the solution that best describes the core concept or tells the story of the piece.
For example, sketch your design from different perspectives – front, side, top, bottom, etc. and try drawing it with and without a central embellishment. Or sketch the shape of the item with different profiles, curves or proportions, etc.
Build Your Skills Step by Step
When you have explored a range of different versions of the concept, think about whether your design is balanced. Have you included too much or too little detail?
Simpler versions can sometimes make for a stronger design, so consider taking away elements rather than introducing new ones. You might find that an alternative version you have sketched is stronger and better communicates the idea or concept. The key is to develop your ideas until they are as clear and succinct as possible.
Learning how to design jewellery isn’t something that happens overnight. It will take time and regular practice. The tips above are just a guide to help you get started.