What a Career in Jewelry Design is All About
A jewelry designer must be skilled at creating new designs through the use of sketches and computer design software and be able to transform the ideas into a physical creation through the use of various materials, specialized tools, and equipment.

Some jewelry designers are also skilled at repairing jewelry, setting and polishing gemstones, and appraising jewelry.

Creating actual pieces of jewelry such as rings, bracelets and necklaces involves the use of creativity, aesthetic sense, and manual dexterity. The making of a piece of jewelry, after it is designed, requires very close attention to detail and concentration.

Career Training and Education
In order to become a jewelry designer many have traditionally learned their skills through on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

But with the advent of computer-aided design, prospective jewelry designers get their training through graphic design schools, online distance learning centers, vocational schools, or community colleges.

Jewelry manufactures who hire jewelry designers prefer those who have graduated through a formal program at a college or graphic design college. There is bachelor of fine arts or master of fine arts programs in jewelry design.

Some jewelry designers enroll in gemology courses that can train them in identifying and grading various gemstones.

The Job Outlook for Jewelers and Jewelry Designers
Job openings for jewelers and jewelry designers are expected to grow approximately 5% in the decade of 2008-2018. Job opportunities will be best for graduates who have training with computer assisted design and computer assisted manufacturing.

The mean annual wage for jewelers is $35,360.

The Rings and Things “Your Design Rocks!” contest is for all professionals, students and fans of jewelry design. Rings and Things is announcing an open call for designs in one or more of the following categories of jewelry:

* Glass and Crystal
* Gemstones and Crystal
* Mostly Metal
* Metal Clay
* Found Objects/Miscellaneous

.

Contest Guidelines

The rules of the contest as stated by Rings and Things are:

• Entry must be an original work for which you retain all rights, and which you have the legal right to submit to us.
• Entry must be a newly-made creation (made since March, 2009).
• Piece may not be currently entered in another competition or have won any contest in the past.
• Entry must be primarily made from items purchased or available from Rings & Things, with the exception of found objects and parts you have made (handmade glass or ceramic parts, wood carvings, etc.). See our frequently asked questions if you’re unsure about what materials you can use or which category you should enter.
• 2009 winners may not enter a category in which they won first place during 2009. We do, however, encourage you to move out of your “comfort zone,” expand your creativity and enter a different category in 2010!
• Entrants under 18 years of age must provide a parent or legal guardian co-signature on a print version of their entry form, ensuring that all guidelines have been read and agreed upon.
• Limit three entries per person or design team.
• Incomplete entries and entries that do not follow these guidelines and our image requirements will be disqualified from judging and disqualified from our Early Bird raffle and New Entrant raffle.
• Rings & Things employees are not eligible for “Your Designs Rock!”

.

Judging

Submissions are critiqued on three parameters: originality, craftsmanship, and aesthetics. The panel of judges offers these tips and advice to contestants:

“We’re looking for something different, something eye catching and attention grabbing. Something that hasn’t been seen everywhere.”

“I assume that every detail of your design is something you decided belongs there. In other words, ask yourself: is the piece 100% the way I want it?”

“We love seeing designs that use components in unusual ways. In other words, think outside the bead!”

“A good photo says it all! There are a ton of jewelry images online and in magazines. The jewelry that inevitably catches my eye is what has been well photographed with crisp color and good focus.”

“A major difference between winners and also-rans is how professionally finished the piece is. Are the ends of wires and head pins clean cut and tightly bent into place? Are dents from pliers visible on the wires? If working with a high polish, is it bright and scratch-free?”

Awards and Other Info

Grand Prize: $750 R&T gift certificate
Category First-Place Prizes: $250 R&T gift certificates
Honorable Mentions: $75 R&T gift certificates

The contest is accepting entries starting on January 1, 2010. The deadline for entries is February 28, 2010. Winners will be announced during the first week of June 2010. Winning entries may appear in the 2010 edition of the Rings and Things catalog. For complete details about this contest, click here.