Jewellery Design

Content

The BA (Honours) Jewellery course is highly distinctive in that it promotes understanding of a wide variety of approaches and contexts that contemporary jewellers can operate in. The course provides a stimulating learning environment in which innovation, originality and excellence are encouraged and developed.

The course has excellent links with industry, and students take part in live projects where students' work is seen by leading figures in the jewellery field. This is not only beneficial as a learning activity, but also is extremely valuable for the professional contacts that can be made. The course promotes active learning through a series of units, as a means of initiating, developing and realising ideas. These provide a broad, yet intensive introduction to observational, analytical, critical and communication skills. A programme of lectures by high profile designers and practitioners in the jewellery field allow students contact with professional practice and opportunity for discussion and debate. As well as the many resources, museums, galleries and shops, available to students in central London, we organise international study trips to see galleries, exhibitions and trade fairs in Years One & Two.

Emphasis is placed on visual awareness, observational skills and experimentation as tools for research and drawing as a means of both investigating and communicating ideas. Information and computer technologies (ICT) are progressively being integrated into the curriculum and increasingly students are able to use computer aided design (CAD) techniques in their work. Students gain knowledge and experience of professional practice, which is rehearsed in in-house and live projects throughout the course.

Running alongside is a programme of Cultural Studies that gives opportunities to view students' activities in a wider cultural context.

Structure

The course runs for 90 weeks full time over 3 years, and is divided into three levels. Each level equates to one year's study, and is divided into three terms of 10 weeks each.

Stage 1

A comprehensive grounding in visual, technical and material research together with design and making skills provides a sound basis from which to explore ideas. Initially students are introduced to a variety of basic workshop skills and techniques. Projects offer different ways of generating and developing ideas, and emphasis is placed on creative use of resources, originality, risk taking, technical competence and material expression. How a piece of jewellery relates to the body and its movements is seen as important. Later in Stage One, project briefs require students to design specifically for fashion or gallery contexts.

Stage 2

Stage Two places design in relation to different contexts and examines the possibilities and responsibilities of the jeweller. Each project helps students assess and develop abilities and skills in relation to the nature of the outcome required. Emphasis is on professional criteria and students are introduced to imaginative ways of exploring ideas within the opportunities of commission, client and production constraints. Students are encouraged to develop an individual identity and a personal perspective in their designs.

Stage 3

At this stage, work is self-directed as students have the chance to concentrate on producing a final body of work. This is based on an area of individual concern that is thoroughly researched and developed. It is identified through a written statement, contextual, material and technical research and prototypes. As with all years, students get advice and help through individual and group tutorials, reviews and critiques. The collections are displayed in a public exhibition at the end of the year. There is a series of personal and professional development (PPD) sessions, which include how to approach shops, galleries and make press contacts, how to price and present their work and other aspects of practicing professionally after graduation. At Stage Three the Cultural Studies element culminates a dissertation where students research and develop a theme of individual interest, usually in connection with the final collection.