The middle class opulence

Thesis Project by A. Carolina Torres - Master in Jewelry Design - IED Roma

Academic year

2024/2025

A collection that questions the idea of luxury, reframing middle-class aesthetics through an ironic and contemporary lens.

The Middle Class Opulence explores the meaning of luxury in contemporary society through the aesthetic and cultural codes of the middle class. The project investigates the relationship between aspiration and everyday life, translating these references into a jewelry proposal.

Starting from the analysis of objects and symbols linked to the bourgeois domestic sphere, the student reworks these codes, transforming them into design elements.

The pieces developed, including rings, necklaces, and earrings, are defined by a focused exploration of volumes, surfaces, and finishes. The design approach combines formal research and material experimentation, with the aim of reinterpreting the codes of traditional luxury in a contemporary way.

Alongside product development, the project includes the creation of a brand identity, defining naming, visual imagery, and communication guidelines. The student also developed concepts for presentation and activation, translating the project into potential exhibition and retail contexts aligned with its positioning.