Jewelry design course | What you need to know

Even the simplest of outfits can be made infinitely more stylish if paired with the right jewelry. If you are just as impressed by the art of crafting elegant and glamorous jewelry pieces as the rest of the fashion world, then jewelry designing would be the perfect fit for you. Also, if you have a creative flair, an eye for detail and craftsmanship skills, then it can be a great idea to take up a jewelry design course. So, here is all you need to know about the best jewelry designing course and everything it entails. 

What is jewelry designing?

Jewelry designing refers to the art of curating new and unique pieces of jewellery and accessories. Jewelry designers are not only responsible for developing an accessory into a material piece but also for conceptualising a rough drawing, specifying the accessory’s intricacies and choosing the right material for the final product.

Emerging as a popular discipline in the field of art and design, the study of jewelry designing covers a variety of aspects of manufacturing such as polishing metals, cutting gems, engraving and post-production processes like commercial aspects, promotion and quality control. Choosing a good jewelry designing course will help you master most of these aspects of the field. 

What skills should a jewelry designer have?

Jewellery designing is a multifaceted field, which includes both theoretical and practical aspects. To take up a jewellery designing course and become a successful jewellery designer, you must have certain skills such as –

• Good communication skills
• Eye for detail
• Visual imagination
• Creativity
• Interpersonal skills
• Innovation
• Knowledge of previous and current market trends
• Knowledge of different gems and metals
• Product design
• Market research
• Product development

Subjects included in a jewelry design course

Since the job of a jewellery designer spans multiple areas like design, production and post-production processes, there are numerous interesting and challenging subjects included in a jewelry designing course. The curriculum can vary according to the university and programme you choose.

Following are some of the major subjects incorporated in these courses –

• Design Concepts
• Theme-based Design
• Elements of Design
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Design and Colour Theory
• Setting Gemstones in Jewellery
• Computer Applications for Jewellery Design
• Metal and Stone Rendering Techniques
• Design Foundation for Jewellery
• Drawing Skills- Freehand, Object Drawing and Perspective
• Basic Qualities of a Gem
• Geometry of design
• History of Jewellery
• Philosophy of Colour
• Tools & Equipment
• Gemology
• Physical & Optical Properties of Gems
• Methods Employed in Gem Mining
• Cutting Process, Gripping, Posture, Magnification & Techniques of Marking
• Decorative Engraving
• Finishing Processes
• Mining, Occurrence and Major deposits of the World
• Quality Check

Top universities for jewelry design

When looking to pursue a jewelry designing course, choosing the right university to study at is very important. There are several prestigious colleges and universities across the world that offer great courses in the field, some of them are listed below –

• Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) University
• Birmingham City University
• University of the Arts, London
• University of Hertfordshire
• Robert Gordon University
• The University of the West of England
• Griffith University
• Ulster University
• University for the Creative Arts
• North Island College
• LaSalle College
• Glasgow School of Art
• Sheffield Hallam University
• Istituto Marangoni London
• New Jersey City University
• Raffles Design Institute, Singapore

Before choosing the university to pursue a jewelry design course, go through the program curriculum, infrastructure, and tuition fee. Your choice of university can make a big difference. So, make sure you make the right choice. 

Top courses in jewelry design

When looking to take up a jewelry design course, you can choose from a variety of options at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. So, some of the most popular courses in the field include:

Bachelors

• Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing
• Jewelry and Objects
• Design Crafts (Jewellery)
• Fashion Jewellery
• Jewelry and Silversmithing – Design for Industry
• Three Dimensional Design

Masters

• Design (Jewellery)
• Product Design
• Accessory Design
• 3D Design & Crafts
• International Jewelry Management

Eligibility

In order to pursue a bachelor’s course in jewelry design, there is a set of eligibility criteria you need to meet. 

• Applicants must have completed their 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized education board
• You also need the required English language proficiency scores of valid tests like IELTS and TOEFL
• Statement of purpose
• Letter of recommendation
• Transcripts

Job opportunities in jewelry design

After completing a jewelry design course, there are several amazing career opportunities you can explore across a variety of sectors. Some of the most promising career prospects you can avail of include –

• Jewellery designer
• Exhibition manager
• Jewellery merchandiser
• Production manager
• Assistant manager in exploration
• Lecturer
• Writer and drafter
• Manager in the museum and art gallery
• Embroidery maker and innovator
• Illustrator
• Fashion consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Gem grinder
• Planning and concept manager
• Gemstone appraiser
• Gem polisher
• Gem assorter
• Jewellery setter
• Engraver
• Jewel business owner
• Jewellery historian
• Auction house cataloguer
• Grading consultant

Areas of employment for jewelry designers

In addition to a wide range of incredible career opportunities available in the field, you can also choose amongst a variety of employment areas after completing a jewelry designing course. So, here are the major areas of employment you can go for –

• Gem retailing
• Educational institutions
• Research and development organisations
• Manufacturing industry
• Writing and publishing houses
• Precious stones consultancies
• Laboratories
• Jewellery designing companies

In a nutshell

In today’s time, jewelry designing is counted amongst the most rewarding and creative career options. There are several amazing jewelry designing courses you can choose from. Also, a number of well-established universities and colleges offer great programs in the field. Moreover, there is no shortage of employment opportunities in the field, making it a great career avenue.

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FAQs

Q1. Which are some of the major techniques taught in a jewelry designing course?

Answer – Under jewelry design courses, a plethora of methods like crystallography, CAD, stone cutting, and cleaning and polishing are taught. The approaches can vary based on the academic level and course. 

Q2. What is the best course of action after completing a bachelor’s jewelry design course?

Answer – After completing a bachelor’s course in jewelry designing, you can –

• Pursue a master’s course in jewellery designing at a reputable college or university
• Take up an internship in one of the many roles available in the field
• Get a job in the field and work hard to move up the ladder

Q3. Are there any diploma programs in jewelry design?

Answer – Yes, there are several diploma programs available in jewelry designing at various colleges and universities worldwide.