Many people who dream of becoming jewelry designers don’t fully realize how detailed and systematic the design process actually is. What you see as a simple necklace or a ring is really the product of several steps that have gone through. From a fleeting thought, a sketch, a drawing and a physical item that you have to see it yourself. Knowing the process behind the jewelry design is key to being a good designer as well as being creative.
It all begins with a concept. You will start with a very rough and abstract concept. This concept can be anything from the natural world, architecture, a feeling or any shape that you see. You will draw many concepts and try to get an idea of proportions and forms rather than detail. This is where you begin to discover.
As soon as you have your idea of the proportions, form and shape of the piece of jewelry and it begins to gain definition and clarity. It now is beginning to become a real idea in its own right that can be translated onto paper. This is where you begin to design the piece of jewelry and you will have a better idea of what this piece will look like on the body and will be able to judge how this idea will hold up. If it isn’t wearable it has no value.
Now that the piece has been conceptualized, you will begin to determine what materials are needed, how the gemstones are set and if the piece is feasible and if any structural adjustments need to be made. You might find something that is beautiful, but fragile, and you may find that you will have to adjust your structure. It is here where you will begin to really design and it is a matter of solving a problem without ruining the idea.
It was also found that digital tools can be very powerful in this stage of the design. 3D modeling allows you to check on the proportions, the play of light, and the look of the finished product before you do anything to make the piece. This allows you to work with less errors, but more freedom. It also means that the piece can be evaluated much more closely before production even begins.
Now that the concept is in its finished form, you move to the production. At this point, your design and the craftsman will come together to complete the physical product by using such techniques as casting, setting, polishing, assembly. The piece may still be tweaked for its comfort or durability. It is here that your vision and his expertise come together to create a finished product.
This process, however, is also an important discipline as you are not just creative, but you have to understand what you need to do with it in order to work with that idea and the boundaries. The best jewelry designers are the ones who can seamlessly move between the imagination and the reality of their idea without losing the essence of their piece.