Date: 9/05/2015
Pathway: 3D
Project Title: Customising The Unique
My project brief was to work closely with a person to create a piece of jewellery that represents their personality. This was to replicate designer and client relationship in a bespoke business and how they work with the customer to create something the customer is happy with. I wanted to create an embodiment of the client's personality through different materials, shapes and colours of the jewellery, while trying to keep a balance between what the client wants and my designs.
I began my research by gathering information about different jewellery designers and how they take a different approaches on customising jewellery, by making it from items around the house, to the mass market individual charms that the public can assemble unique bracelet themselves. I then took a close look at how bespoke designers work with their customers to create jewellery, as well as other forms of art that have the same designer and customer relationship. I also looked into the psychology of personality and human anatomy. Throughout the project we had several group critiques and brainstorming sessions. This gave us the chance to share ideas and advice from peers and tutors to improve my research, ideas and project. An important part of my project was to have interviews with my client, getting feedback to improve and fulfill my project brief.
Once I had gathered my research from both primary and secondary sources, I interviewed my client to better understand what she wanted. Due to the research I had completed, I had a more in depth understanding of the design process and what questions I needed to ask; to collaborate my ideas with my client, asking what she wants from a piece of jewellery that symbolises her personality. I questioned her about her tastes, how she sees herself and if she thinks others see her the same way. I drew up designs based on her answers. This process is longer than just designing for myself. That's why it was important to have information from working professionals. I created several ideas using the information my client gave me and then created a design for a locket. My reasons for choosing a locket was because it would be the most effective way to resemble someone's personality, as the world views the outer representation, but few if any, see what truly lies within. Before deciding on a locket I also had to make sure my client was happy with the idea.
I created several different designs and showed them to my client. We discussed what she liked and disliked. She chose a symmetrical design that was developed further whilst I was making the final piece. This design represented much of my clients personality, as well as having symbolic meaning behind each detail that would give insight to who the wearer was. After I finalised the design by making test pieces, I could then make a informed choice about what materials I needed to use to achieve the design my client wanted for the final piece. After many test pieces with resin, acrylic, glass, copper and aluminium, I could show each one to the client and discuss which was her preferred material and techniques needed for the final piece. We decided on glass and copper to create the locket. I could then start the different processes to create the piece, such as glass casting, laser cutting and annealing copper to create an outcome that would be unique.
My design best represented my project brief because of the way it has developed over time. Working closely with the client, I was able to create something that in itself was unique. There was a mixture of raised, flat and cut out areas which symbolised the many different layers of the clients personality. The symmetrical shapes of the art deco style effectively matched her organised personality. To counterbalance this, the copper had a very disorganised textured and pattern. This was caused by the annealing and the borax flux, and it embodies the part of the personality of the client that is less organised. Looking at the texture there is an irregular and less symmetrical design. The copper was very effective for this. In the centre is etched green glass in a diamond shape. A big part of my client's personality is her love for literature and I wanted to incorporate one of her favourite quotes into the jewellery. I placed this in the centre of the locket because in order to know this about the client you'd have get to know her more.
In order to make my finished design, I had to make a lot of changes, both in the design and the making process. I had to ensure that the client was happy with the design before continuing on making the piece, and then updating her if any changes were made. Although the design process was a little longer than it is normally is, it was the techniques and materials that made the big impact on the design. I had to modify the design to allow for the fact that there wasn't the tools I needed to make my original design. I also had to scale up my locket because of the size of the tools that were available were too big to do the small adjustments I needed to do. To improve my project I would have also liked to make some more interchangeable glass pieces that would be different colours as well as various patterns. There could be more quotes so that the wearer could change the locket depending on their mood.
The final design was successful despite the obstacles I encountered. I set out to work closely with a person to create a piece of jewellery that represented their personality. Even though I had some difficulty, and had to compromise on some of the designs, I still managed to create a piece that the client was happy with.
The feedback I got from my client was positive. She said that she now prefers bespoke jewellery and having a designer make something that is unique is a wonderful opportunity. Although the design is a little bigger than she liked, and made out of copper instead of silver, she is still happy with the end result. Mainly because through each change she was consulted before a decision was made. This made her feel that the piece is more a part of her then if she wasn't consulted as much. She also commented on the fact that I managed to have the locket in the Art Deco style, but interpreted the style and shapes to make it unique. Once she put on the locket for the photographs she could then see how the locket looked when she had it on, although she was very careful with the locket at first once she was wearing it she felt that it was conferable to wear and liked the way it looked on.
with the locket finished i could then concentrate on the display for the exhibition, after the group power points and crits I had some idea of what i wanted the display to be. through out the project I have focused on the individual and I thought that I should carry that through to my display. So i thought that I could do a cast of a human body and place the locket on to show the human form and how it would rest on the body. Out of all the possible materiel I chose acrylic, this was because of the ability to allow the light through it, so that the light would shine through the glass and draw the eye to the center. Having the cast made out of clear acrylic also meant the it wouldnt distract attention away from the locket. I then had photographs and test pieces placed around the locket to show the variations that the client could achieve and how they could change and customise the locket. While the show was on I could then get feedback on my piece, i asked people different questions on what they though of my locket most seemed to positive and they poetically like the idea of having the glass inside the locket changeable, one of the main point I could have improved is the depth of the etching, although you could read the writing on the glass it sometimes wasnt clear as it could be.
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