Introduction
Designing, creating, crafting, and fabricating functional art is a practice that has roots in the ancient goldsmith and metalwork arts. Today, it represents a billion-dollar industry. You may have dreams of becoming a famous jewelry designer, but before being carried away by the idea that your jewelry will grace the slender necks or ear lobes of a red-carpet celebrity, there are a range of skills of which a designer needs to be successful.
Creating jewelry requires more than just sketching ideas on a pad of paper or stringing together a few beads. Designing jewelry requires experience in forming metal through soldering and casting, for instance. Experience in metalworking will come in handy as well, possessing the ability to shape metal. A jewelry designer must also have experience working with a range of materials and will need experience in how the design pieces work on a body before launching into a full-fledged business.
Steps
Step One:
Consider pursuing a degree in jewelry design, or at the very least take a few classes on some of the more basic fundamentals. There are numerous programs offered throughout the country, which include both classroom and online instruction. Some entry level courses cover topics such as an introduction to metals, melting, creating chains, ring sizing, finishing jewelry in preparation for polishing, and jewelry repair. These types of courses provide an aspiring jewelry designer with techniques that he or she will be faced with while working in the jewelry industry.
Step Two
With a basic knowledge of jewelry work, it's also advisable to gain actual design experience. One way to approach this is by taking courses which will provide an assortment of jewelry pieces to a personal portfolio. This is where you can take some of your best ideas and test them, from concept to creation. The best type of educational programs will offer guidance through the process, while also coaching students to achieve their own creations. Highlights might include stone setting, metal work, casting, and gaining understanding about precious and non-precious materials.
Step Three
Aspiring designers will also need to learn wax design and casting, which will aide them in taking their creation from an idea to reality. Also very important is experience in stone setting, such as the use of burs and tools for individual projects. Being willing to get your hands dirty is a prerequisite for a designer.
Step Four
As you gain knowledge and experience, take the time to consider what you'd eventually like to be doing in the industry. For instance, a bench jeweler is one way to get into making jewelry but may require a trade school or apprenticing under a jeweler. This route is a good way to get your foot in the door, but is considered more of a "trade" role. Another approach is to attend a design school to earn a degree. For the individual with a mind for creation and business, beginning your career repairing jewelry in a jewelry shop will provide a steady income and may be the way to learn the trade and plan your future as a business owner. Working in a store will provide experience in the day to day affairs of a small business.
Tips
Investing time to take a few instructional classes is a safe way to learn if your dreams of jewelry are really just that – dreams or reality. Sometimes in trying something new you discover it's not something you can imagine yourself doing everyday. Perhaps it will become more of a hobby. On the other hand, you may discover it's exactly what you want to do. If so, apply yourself, learn all you can, and who knows – your designs may indeed bring beauty and joy to all who behold them someday – including a red-carpet celebrity.
jewelry designers new york, jewelry designers new york city, jewelry designers nyc, jewelry designers san francisco, swarovski crystal wedding jewelry, jewelry designing, jewelry designing course, jewelry designing jobs, jewelry designing software, jewelry designing supplies
Designing, creating, crafting, and fabricating functional art is a practice that has roots in the ancient goldsmith and metalwork arts. Today, it represents a billion-dollar industry. You may have dreams of becoming a famous jewelry designer, but before being carried away by the idea that your jewelry will grace the slender necks or ear lobes of a red-carpet celebrity, there are a range of skills of which a designer needs to be successful.
Creating jewelry requires more than just sketching ideas on a pad of paper or stringing together a few beads. Designing jewelry requires experience in forming metal through soldering and casting, for instance. Experience in metalworking will come in handy as well, possessing the ability to shape metal. A jewelry designer must also have experience working with a range of materials and will need experience in how the design pieces work on a body before launching into a full-fledged business.
Steps
Step One:
Consider pursuing a degree in jewelry design, or at the very least take a few classes on some of the more basic fundamentals. There are numerous programs offered throughout the country, which include both classroom and online instruction. Some entry level courses cover topics such as an introduction to metals, melting, creating chains, ring sizing, finishing jewelry in preparation for polishing, and jewelry repair. These types of courses provide an aspiring jewelry designer with techniques that he or she will be faced with while working in the jewelry industry.
Step Two
With a basic knowledge of jewelry work, it's also advisable to gain actual design experience. One way to approach this is by taking courses which will provide an assortment of jewelry pieces to a personal portfolio. This is where you can take some of your best ideas and test them, from concept to creation. The best type of educational programs will offer guidance through the process, while also coaching students to achieve their own creations. Highlights might include stone setting, metal work, casting, and gaining understanding about precious and non-precious materials.
Step Three
Aspiring designers will also need to learn wax design and casting, which will aide them in taking their creation from an idea to reality. Also very important is experience in stone setting, such as the use of burs and tools for individual projects. Being willing to get your hands dirty is a prerequisite for a designer.
Step Four
As you gain knowledge and experience, take the time to consider what you'd eventually like to be doing in the industry. For instance, a bench jeweler is one way to get into making jewelry but may require a trade school or apprenticing under a jeweler. This route is a good way to get your foot in the door, but is considered more of a "trade" role. Another approach is to attend a design school to earn a degree. For the individual with a mind for creation and business, beginning your career repairing jewelry in a jewelry shop will provide a steady income and may be the way to learn the trade and plan your future as a business owner. Working in a store will provide experience in the day to day affairs of a small business.
Tips
Investing time to take a few instructional classes is a safe way to learn if your dreams of jewelry are really just that – dreams or reality. Sometimes in trying something new you discover it's not something you can imagine yourself doing everyday. Perhaps it will become more of a hobby. On the other hand, you may discover it's exactly what you want to do. If so, apply yourself, learn all you can, and who knows – your designs may indeed bring beauty and joy to all who behold them someday – including a red-carpet celebrity.
jewelry designers new york, jewelry designers new york city, jewelry designers nyc, jewelry designers san francisco, swarovski crystal wedding jewelry, jewelry designing, jewelry designing course, jewelry designing jobs, jewelry designing software, jewelry designing supplies
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