Jewelry Design Course Outline- Sheffield School

Unit One:

• Examining the world with a “Designer’s Eye”.
• Looking at jewelry in a new way.
• Overview of the history of beading.
• Different places to obtain materials and the advantages of each.
• Common jewelry making tools and supplies.
• The different components from which jewelry is made.

Unit Two:

• Basic color theory as it relates to jewelry design.
• Common styles of jewelry.
• The roles of Bead Societies.
• Basics of photographing jewelry with a digital camera.
• Pricing your jewelry.
• Common stringing materials and wire-working tools.
• Attaching findings, opening and closing jump rings.
• Creating basic loops and wire wraps.

Unit Three:

• More advanced wire-working and stringing techniques.
• Developing your own unique style.
• Copyrighting and protecting your work.
• Creating simple knotted necklaces.
• Finishing necklaces with French wire.
• Working with heavy gauge wire.
• Creating spirals and decorative elements with heavy gauge wire.

Unit Four:

• Keeping track of color trends and why this may or may not be important to your work.
• Creating your own findings: clasps, headpins, earwires
• Basic forging techniques.
• Photographing jewelry for online sales.
• Creating a brand: What are the different elements that make up a brand?

Unit Five:

• What is a jewelry line?
• Putting together a collection of jewelry.
• The basics of opening a small business; what to consider.
• Creating a business plan.
• How to get your items produced in quantity.
• Staying inspired as you tackle larger creative projects.

Unit Six:

• Creating a jewelry display for a craft fair or trunk show.
• Etsy and other online marketplaces.
• Creating your own website to promote and sell your work.
• The basics of online marketing.
• How to sell your jewelry online.
• How to host a trunk show.
• How to participate in a craft fair.
• Overview of some jewelry making techniques that are not covered in this program.
• Suggestions for places to receive further training in techniques that require a supervised laboratory environment.

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