Jewelry Design

The history of jewelry is taken on by examining the historical contexts and the resources that were available in each era in terms of a project’s ideation, expression and creation. The course is structured with detailed studies and interesting facts about single events, with the aim of providing a comprehensive historical summary that includes the current trends within the world of jewelry.

The module is divided into two workshop sessions: Sketching and Rendering and the Laboratory. The general purpose is to create a piece of handmade jewelry and to learn about the various ways of shaping materials: the first session offers the possibility to learn how to represent in a professional way the stylistic idea, while the second one provides the technical competences of construction.

The course starts from the representation of jewelry through sketching, and graphic rendering using gouache and watercolour on various surface materials, and proceeds with the advanced tools for digital rendering. The parametric programmes and plug-ins are essential for developing a professional and detailed design for a piece of jewelry, including the technical details necessary for producing high products.

The course provides a complete knowledge of the proper use of stones in jewelry. It analyses the qualitative aspects and the natural and aesthetic characteristics of precious and semi-precious materials and hard stones. A special focus is also given to the large variety of colours, their clarity, and the various types of cut, without neglecting to examine all the aspects related to cost, availability, and commercial uses.

During this workshop, the most valuable spheres of jewelry making are put into practice, with particular focus on the use of precious stones together with new technologies.

This workshop provides students with an insight into the technical and mechanical features of the parts composing watches, starting with looking at their movement. The course then looks into the different types of watches and their designs, from both an aesthetic and functional point of view, according to each specific product. The structure of the programme allows students to achieve a high level of design expertise.

Students learn to analyse the different creative possibilities offered by the many kinds of transformations and developments that a piece of jewelry can undergo. They design in a variety of contexts, thanks to the use of the most advanced digital techniques of prototypes, masters and moulds 3D designing and modelling and to the necessary research on large-scale product manufacturing.

After carrying out an initial analysis of the market, students examine the marketing approaches used by jewelry brands. They study the difference between historical brands and startups and approach a marketing mix strategy, with the aim of enhancing the definition of a brand’s vision and mission. 

The course explains how to display and sell products: from the analysis of the target till the packaging, display and windows design. 

The course focuses on graphic design in terms of composition, branding, typography, and organising information.

Visits to DOMVS Bulgari in Rome, Galleria Antonella Villanova in Florence, Vicenzaoro in Vicenza. All through the year, students visit some of the most important and inspiring museums in Rome, in order to see the collections of historic pieces of jewelry.

The topic is different every year and typically consists in the creation of an articulated project for a company within the goldsmith industry. It’s an individual project that acts as a synthesis of the course and it represents a key step for progressing on to work within the world of jewelry. Students may also develop a personal research project, and present it together with the project they worked on with a company.