Jewellery Design Centre now up and
running. Been really busy over past couple of months putting together the
Design Centre, it’s on the first floor of the gallery (Art of Gold in Horsforth).
We had a desk made for us and some Arne Jacobson style chairs and although
we’ve put some very selective paintings up there it isn’t organised like a
gallery because it’s a design room! Its right besides my workshop so everything
I need is there (well almost). We bought 2 computer programmes, Matrix and
Countersketch and between them, we’ll have all the technology covered to do any
design for someone, though I’ll probably still do it all in my head and on
paper first, it just gives customers the chance to properly preview what they
want. Below are 2 images, one is a Matrix produced one and the other is one
taken with a digital camera, the Matrix one is slicker but I still prefer the
real life one.
The programmes have their uses though, Countersketch lets people have a go at designing themselves, using the program they select what type/colour of gold, band shape, band width, choose gemstones, size , shape colour and quality, a setting, surface textures engraving etc.. They see their finished design on screen and after sourcing the gemstones they are given an approximate costing. It gives them much more involvement in the process and they get something unique to them. On Matrix I can pull a design together and show the client what the end result will be like. I really believe it will alter the way customers engage with buying jewellery because it gives them more involvement and control over design and budget, sometimes clients want a specially designed ring but don’t know how to describe what they want; these programs give them the prompts to describe it. It is craftsmanship with a contemporary personal twist. It also means that we don’t keep a large amount of stock in as would a high street jeweller and this helps keep costs down and insurance.
