Introduction
What is Jewellery and Silversmithing in 2012 and beyond? As the next generation of designer makers what will your legacy be?
If you have a desire to the push the boundaries of jewellery and silversmithing, challenge traditional conventions, and create objects that have never been seen before then this is the course for you.
This is a design-based course which gives you the opportunity to be creative and experimental within the design process enabling you to design and make highly innovative, contemporary and thought provoking work/object/products.
Our course has grown and developed to be one of the most highly respected in the country. Its diverse approach to the subject encourages students to develop their own personal philosophy and final collections span the breadth of the discipline often relating to broader art and design disciplines such as fashion, accessories, theatre, product design and fine art.
Your learning experience
Primarily you will learn through a practical 'hands on' learning experience called 'Experiential Learning'. This means you will be learning by 'doing' and designing via making. A great emphasis is placed on experimenting with a variety of materials, processes and techniques which enables you to actively engage with and solve three dimensional problems.
A questioning attitude to concepts and outcomes is encouraged. Being open minded will help you to embrace the course philosophy and aims. As studies are intended to stretch and challenge your perception of the subject area, enabling you to develop practical skills alongside intellectual engagement.
The course is design led and aims to balance your design, thinking and making skills. We believe the development and refinement of your craft skills are actively developed in tandem with your design skills. Therefore we introduce you to a number of techniques during your first year, in which you are then encouraged to translate and utilise these in your own way, in response to a variety of design briefs. This approach means you decide on what techniques, materials and process you wish to explore and therefore you become a specialist in the area of work you wish to pursue. This ultimately means when you graduate you have your own personal methods and ways of working which are different to everybody else.
Alongside this you will develop your two-dimensional design skills to help you to clearly think through your ideas and to effectively communicate these to a wider audience. This practical approached is strongly underpinned by theory and research into the field and its related disciplines. Our contextual studies modules enable you to gain awareness and knowledge of the field, alongside helping you to develop your intellectual thinking and academic skills.
A variety of different learning and teaching methods are employed on your course, such as Workshop activities, Demonstration and Practice, Lectures, Seminars, Critiques, Team Work, Presentations, Module Briefings, Tutorials with Staff and Artist in residence, Online Learning, Self Directed Study, Study Visits, and One Day Projects.
Emphasis is placed on self-discovery; for that reason, self-directed study plays a significant role and a motivating attitude and enquiring mind is necessary to be successful. Furthermore, your individuality is encouraged through the development of your own personal philosophy and direction.
Throughout the course there is a strong emphasis on the development of transferable and employability skills. These include skills such as problem solving, clearly communicating and presenting your ideas, working as part of a team, managing your time effectively, developing your personal opinions, critically evaluating your work, plus many more. There are many opportunities to practice these during the course as we feel they are important life skills to utilise upon graduation.
Your future employability and forthcoming careers are important to us, we make sure that this is embedded into your course and that there are many opportunities for you to consider this during your studies. Each level has a key module which addresses aspects of professional practice and potential employability. We aim to help you to understand the breadth of the field and related possibilities to help you determine the direction you wish to take upon graduation.
The course is aimed at students who wish to follow a career as designer makers. This is summed up as:
“The term ‘studio jeweller’ means jewellery produced by individual’s, working in their own studio, usually alone, at most with one or two assistants, who deliberately control every aspect of producing a piece of jewellery from original idea to finish piece” Amanda Game, Elizabeth Goring Jewellery Moves.
However, this is not the sole career path, and if you look at our graduates' success you will see that their careers span the breadth of the discipline. Our graduates are able to utilise their design skills across many aspects of the field, and related art and design practices. Some work as designers, others as makers, others as designer makers, some work in retail, some in the trade, some progress to further studies, some to MA courses, some to train as teachers, and some apply to other business start-up programmes such as Design Space and Bishoplands.
If you wish to focus your studies on learning particular traditional skills and techniques for a more commercial market then we suggest you visit our HND course.
Our Learning Environment
The course is delivered exclusively at the School of Jewellery which is a specialist subject specific facility which provides students with an outstanding learning environment. It is Europe’s largest institution for training and education across the specialisation.
For further information visit Our Building.
Key Facts
- One of the most respected creative courses in the country – no ’house style’, no rigid templates, just pursuit of innovation.
- As far as the jewellery industry is concerned, you could hardly be better placed to examine every facet.
- A unique and prestigious learning environment - founded in 1890, the internationally-renowned School of Jewellery is the largest school of its kind in Europe.
- Based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter where an estimated 40% of jewellery is made in Britain today - premium exposure to industry practice.
- Near to the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC) – outstandingly equipped, with an international reputation for its ‘concept-to-prototype’ approach to new product development.
- Strong and well-established links with national industry, including companies such as Cartier, London; and Georg Jensen, Denmark.
- Plan your own final year project to design, develop and launch a new product range, either with a company or as an emerging designer/maker.
The course approaches design in a way that allows your work to be completely unique. You’re encouraged to be a problem solver, an attribute which can be applied in designing and beyond. The independence in thought and skill allows for innovative and exciting products at the end of each academic year.
Abby Wainman