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Jewellery designer

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Jewellery designers use their creative and technical skills to produce original and innovative designs that are then made into jewellery or accessories

You will follow a client's brief, researching ideas and producing designs for the client in the form of sketches, drawings or models. Designs may include precious metals such as silver or gold and gemstones.

Many jewellery designers are self-employed, although it's also possible to work as a house designer for a company.

You can produce designs for mass production, for a smaller market or create bespoke pieces commissioned by a client. If you work for a company, it's likely that other members of staff will make your designs.

Responsibilities

As a self-employed jewellery designer, you'll need to:

  • consult with commissioning clients on designs
  • discuss a client's range of options and formulate original ideas
  • sketch out ideas to scale using a range mediums such as drawing, painting, modelling and computer-aided design (CAD) to help the client visualise the finished design
  • refine your designs in consultation with the client
  • consult with galleries, store buyers and suppliers, and research jewellery and fashion trends
  • promote and develop your business (if self-employed) by attending craft fairs, entering competitions and networking at events and online forums
  • understand and adhere to health and safety requirements around storing, handling and disposing of any materials used in your studio or workshop.

If you also make jewellery, as well as designing it, your activities may also include:

  • mounting - making the framework for the piece of jewellery. This involves handling, forming and drilling metal, and opening out holes in which to place the selected gems
  • model making (casting) - making an object or decorative detail using a mould
  • stamping and presswork
  • chasing - making a raised pattern on the surface of the metal
  • soldering and fabrication
  • polishing - ensuring the finish of the piece.
  • stone setting - making adjustments to the mount to ensure the stones fit perfectly. This can involve very intricate work, such as removing tiny fractions of metal
  • electro-plating - layering a precious metal onto a base metal
  • enamelling - fusing powdered glass to metal in a kiln to create coloured patterns and pictures
  • welding - joining pieces of metal using traditional methods or by laser
  • engraving - carving lettering or patterns into precious metals by hand or by computer-aided manufacture (CAM).

You will perform some of these processes yourself, but you may send pieces of jewellery to companies (outworkers) for some specialist processes.

Salary

  • Apprentices or trainees should be paid at least the National Minimum Wage relevant to their age. Your salary should increase as you gain skills and near completion of your training.
  • Starting salaries for in-house designers after training typically range from £22,000 to £25,000, rising to between £35,000 and £40,000 as you gain more experience.
  • Salaries for creative director roles, with responsibility for supervising more junior designers, can range from £60,000 to £100,000. The highest salaries are for those working for top design houses with specialist skills and an established reputation.
  • Self-employed designers may work on a commission basis and charge a fee per job, per day or per hour. It's also possible to work on a retainer basis for a design company. Rates vary depending on a range of factors, including your experience and the complexity of the design.

Most designers build their careers as freelancers or start their own business. It is possible to earn high salaries, but this can be difficult in the early part of your career and you may need an additional income when starting out.

Factors affecting your salary as a self-employed designer include your skills and experience, reputation, business acumen, and how actively and successfully you promote your jewellery or business.

Additional benefits for employed designers may include a pension and bonuses.

Income data from The Goldsmiths' Centre. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Most designers are self-employed or freelance so work hours that suit them, or on a part-time basis. You may find that your hours will fluctuate to meet demand.

For employed designers, working hours are usually regular and don't involve shifts.

What to expect

  • The work setting ranges from a small studio to a large workshop, which can be noisy and dusty. Self-employed jewellery designers may share a studio with other designers or work from home.
  • As a freelance or self-employed jewellery designer, you can work in any location. Most employed designers are based in towns and cities. Cities with significant numbers of jewellery manufacturing factories and workshops include Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Sheffield.
  • Self-employed designers often work to commissions or sell online, through craft fairs and retail outlets. If you are employed by a company, any designs you produce whilst working for them will usually belong to the company.
  • Travel to exhibitions and trade fairs is an occasional part of the job.
  • In the short term, designers sometimes take stop-gap jobs before getting relevant work. Working part time and keeping your longer-term aim in view, as well as the steps you need to reach it, may be a necessary compromise.

Qualifications

Although you don't need a degree, HND or foundation degree to be a jewellery designer, the following subjects are particularly relevant:

  • jewellery design and production
  • silversmithing
  • 3D design.

Any art and design degree, HND or foundation degree with a craft or making element may give you an advantage, in particular:

  • applied arts
  • fashion design
  • fine art
  • textile design.

It may be possible to enter this type of work with other art and design degrees if you have a suitable portfolio and are prepared to learn the relevant craft-based skills.

A postgraduate qualification is not necessary, although it may be useful for making the transition from other areas of art and design. Search for postgraduate courses in jewellery design.

Entry without a degree is possible. You will usually learn on the job from experienced jewellery designers by taking an apprenticeship, which combines paid work with part-time study. Examples include:

You could take an accredited jewellery design course such as the BAJ Level 3 Diploma in Jewellery Design & Manufacturing. As well gaining essential knowledge of design principles and practical jewellery-making techniques, you will also build a portfolio of your work, which you can use when looking for work or further study.

There is also a range of specialist, short jewellery courses and workshops offered by colleges and private course providers. Research the content of courses carefully to make sure they meet your career aims.

As well as courses and qualifications, you will also need a portfolio of your work (which can be both digital and physical) to show to employers and clients. It's important that you develop your portfolio as you go along to show the range of your designs and your progression as a designer.

Skills

You'll need to have:

  • creative thinking and vision, to produce new ideas
  • drawing and CAD skills to produce designs
  • practical skills to work with tools and materials, such as metals and gemstones
  • dexterity, attention to detail and good hand-eye coordination
  • practical application to produce a piece which is desirable in the marketplace
  • research skills to find out what other designers have created both now and in the past
  • communication and presentation skills to clearly explain your design ideas to clients or other designers
  • organisation and time-management skills and the ability to work to deadlines
  • commercial awareness, business and finance skills
  • the confidence to market yourself and your work
  • customer service skills
  • skills in negotiation and persuasion when dealing with suppliers and buyers
  • a commitment to - and passion for - your work
  • determination and perseverance as it can be challenging getting started in the career.

Work experience

Work experience is valuable and helps you to build a network of industry contacts, as well as providing experience of working in the jewellery industry. It's possible to get experience through an internship or voluntary work, for example. You may find work experience placements through your degree or you could try contacting jewellers to ask if they have any opportunities.

Try to network and make contacts at trade fairs and jewellery and craft exhibitions or through joining online craft and design forums. They may be able to help you find a trainee position or get some work experience.

You could also look for entry-level positions such as jewellery sales assistant, bench assistant or apprentice jeweller as these roles will provide you with a valuable insight into the jewellery business.

Look for opportunities to showcase your portfolio and get your work known. The more exposure you have, the more likely you are to find work. There are now many websites where you can showcase your work to employers and potential clients, including Arts Thread.

Another way to get experience is to apply for competitions. The crafts councils can help to identify awards and competitions, commissions, exhibitions, workshops and studio spaces, which are excellent ways of promoting your work:

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most jewellery designers are either self-employed (establishing their own workshop or studio), or freelance (working with individual makers or fashion and jewellery designers).

You can build up your own business by getting yourself, and your work, known. You'll need a portfolio of your work and/or a website to showcase your designs. Also, make use of social media channels such as Instagram.

You can sell your designs to manufacturing companies or design and make your own jewellery for sale through craft shops, galleries and online retailers.

It's also possible to gain employment in larger design companies as a house designer. Typical employers include factories and workshops that manufacture jewellery. Companies are often small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employing up to 20 people.

Vacancies are rarely advertised, and speculative applications can be effective. Knowing where to look for jobs, how to promote yourself and being willing to network and take advantage of opportunities are crucial. Start by thinking of contacts made through your course, particularly during any work experience placements.

Some graduates are offered work following degree shows, but for many, it's vital to network and take advantage of any opportunities that arise.

Look for job vacancies at:

Professional development

You'll need to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career to develop your skills and keep up to date with new methods and changes in the industry.

Further study at Masters level offers the opportunity to experiment, diversify or produce better work within a specialism. Courses are offered at postgraduate level in:

  • gemmology
  • jewellery
  • jewellery and metal work
  • jewellery and silversmithing.

Short, skilled-based courses are available in specialist areas such as setting, engraving, enamelling, carving, gemmology and CAD design. These are offered by a range of organisations, such as:

Colleges and other independent providers also offer short courses. You can search for courses on websites such as Craft Courses.

If you're employed by a company, they may provide in-house training. This usually involves being taught and supervised by a more experienced craftsperson.

Business skills are important if you're thinking about self-employment. The Goldsmiths' Centre run a free, week-long introduction to business course each year for those who have recently completed an accredited precious metal course, an accredited course in a related craft discipline, or a jewellery or silversmithing industry apprenticeship. Find out more about Getting Started.

It's also worth joining a professional body to help your professional development as this is a good way of connecting with established designers and getting access to training, events and industry news. Some key organisations include:

Career prospects

If you're working for a jewellery design or jewellery-making company, you will usually start in a trainee or entry-level role before moving into a jewellery design role. With the right combination of skills and experience, you can become a lead designer and then master jeweller.

If you're setting up your own jewellery design business, getting your work known is vital for the success of your business. You will need to showcase your work to employers and potential clients at every opportunity and network with other designers through trade shows, arts and crafts fairs, online forums and industry events.

Gaining recognition can be a long process, but the rewards can be great if you're willing to grow your business, keep learning and stay in tune with trends in order to produce desirable and original jewellery.

To enhance your career prospects as a self-employed or freelance jewellery designer, you could look at using new technologies, such as CAD or 3D printing, or focus your designs on new and emerging practices such as sustainability and ethical sourcing.

If you are self-employed, you are likely to have more freedom when creating your designs and can work towards establishing your own personal brand identity. There is also more scope for bespoke designs and creating one-off pieces on commission.

As your career progresses, there are also opportunities to teach on college and university courses and to provide workshops in your specialist area of jewellery design. Consultancy work is another way of developing your career.

Other related areas of work you could move into include working in fashion design, or in retail in either a buying, selling or management capacity. There are also opportunities to work in digital marketing or e-commerce if you have strong business skills, or to work for galleries.

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