Jewellery student, Fangjing Hu, got the incredible opportunity to design the City of Birmingham medal that was posthumously awarded to Benjamin Zephaniah. Find out how she got the opportunity through the School of Jewellery at BCU.
How did you get the opportunity to design the City of Birmingham medal?
The opportunity came through my Senior Lecturer, who shared the brief with students via email. In the brief, it was explained that the selected designers would be invited to attend the first award ceremony, receive an artist’s proof of the medal, and that there would be a design prize. These details made me realise it was not just a student project, but a meaningful live commission connected to the city.
The final designs were selected by both the School of Jewellery and Birmingham City Council. There were three selected outcomes in total: myself and Toby Williams (HND Jewellery and Silversmithing) designed the City of Birmingham Medal and the Freedom of the City Medal, while Tamara Reinhardt designed the ribbon.
At the time, I was studying MA Jewellery and Related Products at BCU. Despite a busy academic schedule, I felt this was a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the city, so I decided to take part and develop my own proposal for the medal design.
What was your process and reason behind your design?
The brief required us to incorporate the Birmingham Coat of Arms, which became my starting point. I began by researching its elements and the wider history of Birmingham, a city shaped by industry, craftsmanship and what is often described as the “city of a thousand trades.”
As someone new to Birmingham, I first needed to understand the city before designing for it. After gathering research, I approached the design from a contemporary jewellery perspective, looking for ways to introduce something new while respecting historical references.
I incorporated elements such as the famous bull, inspired by Birmingham’s strong industrial identity, and architectural details from the city’s historic buildings. These were translated into layered, three-dimensional forms to give the medal a sense of depth and craftsmanship.
The final design brings together historical symbols and contemporary interpretation, reflecting Birmingham as a city built by hands, industry and continuous transformation.
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How did the skills you learnt on your Jewellery course help you with this?
One of the most memorable experiences during my course was visiting a cemetery in the Jewellery Quarter at the beginning of the programme. Our tutors encouraged us to observe, photograph and sketch on site.
This taught me that researching a place in person is very different from only reading about it. That experience stayed with me during the medal design process: it reminded me to truly feel and observe the city.
The course also helped me develop key skills such as research, concept development and time management. More importantly, it encouraged me to think about design not only as form or decoration, but as a way of conveying atmosphere, history and emotion.
What opportunities have you had since you designed the medal?
Designing the medal led to a number of meaningful opportunities. I attended the award ceremonies, including the presentation connected to Benjamin Zephaniah, where I was invited to deliver a short speech about my design. It was a special experience to witness an important cultural moment for the city.
I was also interviewed by ITV, where I had the opportunity to share the inspiration behind the medal with a wider audience.
In addition, I visited the manufacturer, Fattorini, and saw the medal being realised. Seeing the design move from concept to a physical object was an important and rewarding part of the process.
Do you have any advice for future School of Jewellery students?
My advice would be to really take those chances when they come, even if you feel busy or unsure. This medal project happened during a very intense time in my studies, but I’m very glad I decided to take part.
The School of Jewellery is a very supportive and inspiring place for jewellery artists to grow. Beyond this medal project, there are many opportunities to get involved in real-world design work. Students were also involved Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games medal design and also the medals awarded to Black Sabbath. Opportunities are coming up all the time, so keep your eye out and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward!
I feel very lucky to have chosen the School of Jewellery as my first step in the UK. It’s a place that helps young designers build confidence, develop their ideas, and take their first steps into the industry.
