Final Personal Development 2

Finished Final Collection. The smaller pieces are rings, where as the larger piece is a bracelet.

Silver plated frames with filled coloured resin.

Personal Development 2.

I am currently working on the second part of my Personal Development. I have developed my previous work by exploring architecture from a more detailed view.

I am creating a collection that consists of 3 rings and 2 bracelets, they will be produced out of silver and coloured with resin.

Card Maquettes of final Collection.

4×4 Exhibition.

During the first week of term we were asked to create a 4cm by 4cm container that will be exhibited at the end of the week within the School of Jewellery.

Silver Plated with pierced pattern.

Personal Development 1.

The final project of my second year was the beginning of a series of related projects that are to continue into our third year. We were asked to create a series of designs and test pieces that were inspired by our chosen inspiration. I am thoroughly intrigued by Architecture and the continuous innovative design development. I began capturing images of exterior and interior of buildings that interested me whether because of its external pattern or its carved ceilings.

 This led me onto selecting a couple of images, experimenting and developing them. This aided me when it came to the design process, where I created models and drawings.

I did a variety of test pieces where I looked into patterns and materials. I experimented different methods and techniques with Resin and also ways that I can incorporate colour.

Myth and Meaning.

I began my second term with a conceptual project, where we were asked to explore different myths and to develop our research to create a narrative.  After researching into several definitions of myths, I found that there was a central theme of ‘repetition,’ so I continued my investigations by looking at myths that revolved around repetition, such as reincarnation and déjà vu. During the researching period of this project I began to highlight selected words that were of significance. ‘Time’ was the word that came up often so I used this theme as a final myth proposal.

My next tasks were to design and make a wearable piece of jewellery based on my chosen myth using my background and contextual research. During my idea generation stage of my project I used my investigational images for inspiration to produce drawings and models. Gradually I began to use my drawings and models to create wearable designs. My main focus was on the continual motion of time and my representation of this was a series of multiple circles randomly connected. This reflects my theme of time because in the final piece it is not possible to distinguish the beginning and the end.

I wanted to incorporate a function into my piece, so I decided that I would have a necklace come out of an image so while it is sat within the image it is unnoticeable until you pull it out.

 

Inital design drawing.

When I had finalised my outcome, I produced my design on CAD which then went onto being laser cut and engraved out of clear acrylic. I added a coloured backing onto my piece to make it more visually pleasing. 

 

Final Outcome.

Engraved and Laser Cut clear acrylic riveted onto a colour acrylic backing.

This year at university is about exploring different techniques and materials that we have not used before.  Acrylic is a material which, like metal you use heat to achieve flexibility, however once it’s cooled it cannot be manipulated so it is difficult to achieve the desired accurate shapes.  Although I was pleased with the outcome I had produced for this project,  I feel acrylic is a material that is difficult to work with because its not as easy to get the same perfect finish as you can with metal.  However, acrylic may play a smaller part in future pieces.

 

Images of neckpiece out of its position and on the body.

What is a Badge?

This was a week-long project in which we had to create a series of badges inspired by a list of representational themes. I chose to combine two of the themes; Fashion and Logos/Advertising. After going through the design and experimental process, my final outcome consisted of a wardrobe of badges which include different garments, such as tops, trousers, socks, skirts and dresses. The garments relate fully to my fashion theme and they are a great way of representing the logo and advertising with the branded prints. The designed garments were drawn onto CorelDraw and then laser cut of out calico fabric which I had printed popular brand logos like Coca Cola in a pop art style.

 

Garments in Pop Art style prints on calico fabric, hung on strainless steel hangers.

The wardrobe was made out of clear acrylic and the coat hangers on which the mini garments hung I made out of stainless steel wire. These badges are ideal for wearing through buttoned clothing and knitwear.

 

Final garments all hung on a clear acrylic wardrobe.

This piece is particularly different as it has more of a kitsch style to it, unlike my usual work which is made up of geometric and simplified pieces as well as a change from my usual materials of metal and resin. However it was good to explore new materials so I am able incorporate them where needed into my future collections.

Aura34.

As part of my second year selling project, we were asked to produce and create a company to help fund and sell our individual jewellery collections. Aura34 was our company name, influenced by the moods and colours which we wanted to include within our collections. We added the number 34 as there were 34 people on the course which gave a connection to each person in the class.

I created a collection which included pendants, earrings and pins. All my pieces were silver plated and filled partly with coloured resin. To maximise our sales we thought we needed a broad target market with a wide variety of consumers. We were each allocated a particular market to focus on.  I focused my designs on young, professional females, aged between 22 and 35. I came up with 3 key inspirational words to base my designs on; young, modern and sophisticated.

  

Pendant and Pin from my collection.

Inspiration for my designs came from capturing images of various architectural buildings and exploring a variety of materials. I began with capturing architectural buildings that were of a personal interest such as the Bullring and Millennium Point buildings in Birmingham. They both have modern and structural twists to their designs, which make them more appealing. I then drew shapes from the images and used those shapes to create units for my designs.  My final outcome came from the inspiration of the inverted circles from the Selfridges building in the Bull Ring.  The separation divide I included within the circle was to give it more of a structural feel, giving it the appearance of being supported.

  

Selfridges Bullring Building.

Our launch evening took place at The Vaults in Birmingham in November 2009. It was a very successful evening and we sold over 88 pieces. We went on to sell at other venues such as St Paul’s Gallery and The Jewellery Quarter Museum.

Brilliantly Birmingham.

My course included a performance to open the jewellery festival ‘Brilliantly Birmingham.’  As it was the festival’s 10^th anniversary, the launch evening was held at Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery rather than the usual venue at the School of Jewellery.

We were all required to produce a large scale wearable piece specifically related to the designer Mikaela Lyons whose collection was chosen to represent the event. We also had to showcase our pieces while participating in a performance within the Industrial Gallery to music by Benny Goodman.

We were all given individual letters and our piece was to be based on that letter, all of them spelled out the words…” Happy Birthday Brilliantly Birmingham.” My letter was H and I created this using foam and acetate materials. I mainly used the colour orange but I also added elements of silver to give it more of an eclectic look all of which relate to the chosen designer, as she includes a bold colour palette with prominent use of the colour orange.

Even though we were all jewellery designers and not dancers we all managed to produce a terrific and successful outcome on the night. We also had lots of fun which was a bonus!

Images from the evening of ‘Brilliantly Birmingham’s’ launch evening.  The right image showing myself modelling my showcase ‘H’ piece.

Goldsmith’s Fair.

Goldsmiths Fair is also annually held in London at the same time as Origin but within the Goldsmith’s Hall. It has precious metal jewellery and silverware, which are available for purchase. I first visited the exhibition in October 2009.  It has a very different feeling and setting to Origin but like Origin I wasn’t disappointed with the quality and creativity of the designers’ work. I attended both weeks 1 and 2 and both were equally exciting. Grace Girvan was a designer who stood out in week 2 because of her choice and use of materials and simple contemporary designs which is similar the work I enjoy producing. She uses precious metals as well as resin. Resin is a material I very much enjoy using because I like the quality finish it gives when set and the colours you can achieve.

Sea Green Pebble necklace by Grace Girvan

Origin Craft Fair.

Origin Craft Fair is annually held within London’s Somerset House usually in October. Origin is a selling event which hosts many areas of contemporary design, from jewellery and glassware to textiles and furniture. I have visited this event for each of the last three years and every time it has been as good as, if not better, than the last. It always has new and exciting designs and innovative creations. At the last event, I especially liked the cleverness of Michael Berger’s jewellery; he produces movement jewellery, where individual elements of his pieces can rotate freely. I do hope that I will be able to have the chance to showcase my work at this exciting event.

Kinetic Ring by Michael Berger