DAVID BOWIE
GEMSTONES - READY, SET, GO!
We were going to create a jewelry collection consisting of three different pieces. The collection was to be based on David Bowie. All the pieces were supposed to include at least three different types of stone settings.
INSPIRATION
I found it interesting to focus on the distorted shapes that occur when he bends in the suit. I really wanted to try to capture these lines that breaks the form, the sensation of them breaking out of the picture. It creates some interesting shadows that add an interesting depth.
DESIGN DRIVERS
Simple
Slim
Raw
Depth
Unique
Statement
Handmade
MOODBOARD
SENSES
Smooth
Hard
Soft
Texture
Depth
Bright
Cold
2D SKETCHES
Some of my 50 sketches in 10 minutes.
PROCESS
I chose to create my 3D models in tin foil and then after in wax. I wanted to display the outline of the shape of David Bowie's suit in an abstract manner. I made the models flat but with many organic lines, bending and folding differently, to symbolize the distorted expression the suit gets when he bends.
GUIDIANCE
After the guidance with my teacher, she provided me with very constructive criticism. She suggested that I made the models a bit more 3D to achieve the "pop" effect that I want to show from the picture of David Bowie.
I decided to make a new ring because the one I had made in wax was too flat in its expression. I wanted to create statement pieces, which this ring wasn't.
IN THE MAKING
I casted the pieces flat as it was in the wax. Afterwards I bended each line to get the popping effect.
The new ring I made suited the two other pieces much more. And I also think it looked more like a statement piece.
STONE SETTINGS
The three settings I chose to use in my jewelry was:
The ring: set in wax and then casted
The earpiece with a cuff: bezel setting
The earpiece hanging: flush setting
I chose to set all my stones myself, because I want to be able to do it myself.
PRICES
The ring: 4500 DKK
The earpiece with a cuff: 5800 DKK
The earpiece hanging: 5600 DKK
DISPLAY
I wanted to demonstrate how the jewelry should be worn, but still wanted the focus to be on the jewelry pieces. With all its details, it could easily look cluttered.
I made plaster molds of my ears and spray painted them black to remove the focus from them. Then I mounted the plastered ears on some thick wires, shaped them in an organic form - a bit similar to the forms of the jewelry.
To showcase the ring, I created a form in the wire, to show how the ring sits on a finger.
In the end I attached the pieces to a wood board to a some stability. I really like that you still see the lines in the wood through the black spray paint. I think it connect the pieces all together.
I believe my display worked really well as it truly illustrates how the jewelry is meant to be worn.
REFLECTIONS
DESIGN
I chose not to use Rhino in this assignment. With hindsight I think it would have been a better choice to make them in Rhino. I used a lot of time making the wax models. The wax I used was really soft - which I thought was a good idea when making it. But because of the shape and its thin lines, it nearly melted because of the hot temperatures in the casting room.
Some of the shaped lines were also cracked when it was casted. It took a lot of time holding and fixing it.
PROTOTYPE
I definitely should have made more prototypes in different types of wax. If I had done that, I think I would have noticed that it was too fragile in the pink wax to be casted.
MATERIALS
I had always intended for the jewelry to be made in silver because of the suit worn by David Bowie. The suit is black and white, which I think matches the coldness in the silver look.
PRICE
Given that these are statement pieces and are intended to be sold to David Bowie as handmade, statement and one-of-a-kind jewelry, the price would naturally be high.
I found it challenging to set the prices when selling to celebrities.