MARIA BLACK
SCHOOL PROJECT FOR MARIA BLACK
In this assignment we were told to take inspiration from the jewelry company Maria Black and design a new collection for them. The collection had to be tailored to Maria Black's target audience and their community. We were to develop a concept for the entire collection with four 'drops' for the year 2025. In addition, we had to design and produce finished prototypes for the first 'drop'.
BUSINESS MODELS
We began by taking a closer look at Maria Black as a company — examining their market position, target audience, and customer base. We used the following models to support our analysis.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
Click on the image to view more details.
DESIGN & INSPIRATION
After finding out more about Maria Black as a company, we made a persona, POV and HMW.
Click on the image to see more.
MOODBOARD
DROPS
We created five visual drops for Maria Black's jewelry collection for the year 2025. Out of the five, we developed drop Q01 Glacial, into a real jewelry collection, designing and producing the pieces in 925 sterling silver.
SKETCHES & PROTOTYPES
We created our prototypes using a variety of materials, which gave us valuable insight into how our final designs should look.
We chose to create our final designs in Rhino, as we wanted them to have a sharp and precise look rather than an organic expression.
PACKAGING & MERCHANDISE
We created packaging consisting of a box that we had 3D printed to resemble the icicles featured in the Glacial logo. Additionally, the top of the box includes an imprint of the Glacial logo.
We also designed custom matches with the logo, as well as temporary tattoos featuring our designs and logo.
POSTERS & ADS
Our posters and ads featured images from our photoshoot.
LOOKBOOK
REFLECTIONS
DESIGN
I think our designs were a bit too raw for Maria Black. They were quite different from their original design style. However, we know that the brand isn’t fully connecting with their target audience, so this was an attempt to move closer to their desired target group.
PROTOTYPE
We created a large number of prototypes using many different materials. This helped us visualize our ideas and better understand how the jewelry should take shape.
It was a great idea to experiment with the same design in various material to see if the desired expression could be achieved in different ways.
In addition to prototyping, we also produced a lot of sketches and created our final designs in Rhino. This accelerated the process, as it was easier to make adjustments digitally than by hand.
MATERIALS
We found it very natural to create the piece in 925 sterling silver, as our moodboard and design drivers linked cool-toned elements. Therefore, it was an easy decision for us to choose this material.
PRICE
We didn’t want to stray too far from Maria Black’s existing price range. However, we did raise the prices on some of the statement pieces to make them feel a bit more exclusive.