Category: Interviews

1. An Interview with Clara Jackson

   Posted on 10:09am Friday 17th Apr 2015

   What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

   Most of my family are artists and musicians so I started to explore my  creativity from a young age, but I started to be intrigued by metalwork when studying art and design at college. I loved all the different tools and machinery and how much skill goes into creating one piece of jewellery, I was also interested in the possibility of mixing different materials, therefore decided to go onto university and study Contemporary jewellery and silversmithing.

   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

   I love the 'Orbit Necklace' because of its abstract sculptural shape it looks elegant when worn and the contrast between the oxidized chain and silver looks extra special!

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

   I would LOVE Alexa Chung to wear my jewellery because she has great style and taste in fashion, so I have faith she would wear it with the perfect outfit!  Or I would choose Yukimi Nagano from the band little dragon, because I have always liked her music and she has a very unique look.

   Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?

   I enjoy travelling, photography and teaching,  so if I could travel; teach people how to make jewellery and take photo's that would be a pretty good 2nd choice to jewellery.. but for the moment making jewellery is my main priority!

   What can we expect to see from you in the future?

   I am currently in the process of designing a brand new collection which will be mixing metal and fabric using lots of different techniques such as etching, electro-forming and casting!

   View the full collection.

2. Designer Interview - Susanna Hanl

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 15th May 2014

   What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?   Funnily enough, when I was a kid I was told that jewellery designing would be the best job for me. I tried to get an apprenticeship at a renowned jewellers, but after generations it had to close down as there was no heir to take over the business. My professional life took a completely different direction due to circumstances (my father died out of the blue and I felt I had to get a “proper” job). In 2001 I moved to Britain to start a new life and somehow it all fell into place. I worked and in my spare time I taught myself how to make jewellery – and I haven’t looked back. It’s what I truly love, it allows me to be creative and show all the different sides to me.   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased) There are a few pieces that are very dear to me, but my favourite piece is one of my RIVDA rings set with a green pear shaped sapphire. I fell in love with the stone when I bought it and just had to make a piece of jewellery for myself.

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why? In my dream fabulous women like Emma Thompson, Emeli Sande, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Sofia Helin, Claudia Winkleman and Kate Blanchet would wear my pieces. They have class, individuality and their own sense of style with a touch of quirkiness. Basically all the women like Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet – headstrong, intelligent, strong women with a soft centre. And I would love to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Javier Bardem wear my pieces too!   Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try? I always wanted to be a painter, I would love to have the time to paint again, having had several exhibitions in my native country Austria. I also worked together with theatre companies and made costumes for a few productions, which was a great experience. It would certainly have to be something creative, maybe even writing, but being a jewellery designer/maker is what makes me happy, so I would actually not want to change that.   What can we expect to see from you in the future? My head is constantly buzzing with new ideas, new designs and collections, so there will aways be developments, improvements, changes and additions. I don’t want to stop learning, improving and be inspired.   View the full beautiful handmade and unique jewellery collection....

    

3. An interview with Dovile Bertulyte - Finalist - Graduates in the Spotlight

   Posted on 11:00am Sunday 6th Apr 2014

   What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?   I always had an artistic personality. In Lithuania I graduated from the art school and always knew that I will be involved in some kind of art form in the future. When time had come to choose universities I decided to study Textile Design in my home country, but felt really disappointed with the course. So I started to look for an opportunity to study in England and found Middlesex University offering a Jewellery and Accessories programme with a very contemporary approach and ability to experiment with shapes, materials and textures, which was exactly what I wanted. What I like about jewellery the most is that it is an art form closely related to a wearer. I really get inspired by knowing that what I create will be worn by someone everyday, loved and treasured. What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)   I think one of my favorite pieces of jewellery is a necklace I made from my Graduate Collection (2013). It was inspired by octopus tentacles and made of silicone using my own developed technique during the studies. The material feels very nice on the skin when worn and it also represents the softness and texture of the tentacles just perfectly. The necklace looks very original and stylish, so every time I wear it, I get a lot of compliments.   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why? Bjork and Daphne Guinness, because they both are crazy and I love crazy women.   Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?   If I wasn’t a jeweller, I would probably be an illustrator or painter. I love drawing and painting, and would love to spend more time doing these two activities everyday.   What can we expect to see from you in the future?   Soon I will launch my new silicone collection inspired by squid tentacles and in near future I hope to make more show pieces collaborating with fashion designers.