Jewellery Design: Working Through the Process

When & Where

14 May 2023 - 21 May 2023 ( 10 hours, 2 weeks )
Day Time, Sunday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Louise Seijen Ten Hoorn
Course Code W22JWYA04A
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Try out a range of fun and experimental methods to develop ideas for your jewellery designs. Create paper models, prototypes, sketches and plan drawings of your designs. Research a theme and find out what inspires you. This is an ideal course for those who have been making metal jewellery, and now want to learn to design and develop their own unique style. You will also learn about fittings and finding and how your designs sit on the body. No prior drawing or design experience is needed. All levels welcome.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Use a range of creative methods to unlock ideas and overcome a designer’s block
Find the design method that suits you (for example, sketching, model making, working directly with materials)
Create models and test pieces in paper, clay and wire
Make simple sketches
Start designing a collection
Design jewellery that sits well and feels good on the body, in relation to proportion size, weight and shape.

Cost

Full fee

£110

Concession fee

£85

This course may be available for free

Class format and activities

On the first day we will work through a range of simple and fast paced creative exercises to help unlock initial ideas such as brain storming, discovering & manipulating forms using shadows, mirrors and abstracting. We will invite the unexpected by incorporating unusual materials. We will derive initial ideas for jewellery from the outcomes of these exercises and visualise them through sketching or modelmaking (whichever suits your work best). On day two you will learn about the all-important practical aspects of jewellery; maximum thickness of a ring, the length of an ear post, the weight of jewellery, the positioning of jump rings and so on. We will look at variations on these practical aspects such interesting clasps, fun earrings design such as “back and front earrings”, snuggies, ear climbers, cuffs - and creative ways of settings stones. You will discover the theme or concept in your work and build on this throughout the day. At the end of day two you will have plan sketches or maquettes of your designs.

Entry requirements

All levels welcome. You may have been learning jewellery making technical skills and now want to shift the focus onto developing unique jewellery designs.

What you need to know before you enrol

You will be taught through short presentations and demonstrations, followed by practical tasks and hands on activities. There will be plenty of peer and group discussions which will help you get the most out of your ideas.

What you need

Tools and materials will be provided. You are encouraged to bring printed images or physical objects that inspire you. If you already know that you love working directly with materials, feel free to bring these with you. For example: found objects, wood, textile etc.

What you can do next

You may want to start developing your designs in the jewellery studio with the help of a professional tutor. Morley offers practical onsite Jewellery classes for students at all levels of experience.