FASHION JEWELRY DESIGNER

Kick off your journey with a full view of what’s ahead. Meet your instructor, explore how each week builds toward your final capsule collection, and get ready to design like a pro.

• Meet your instructor
• Course objectives & flow
• Final Project/Assignments Overview

What exactly is fashion jewelry and what makes it stand out? In this class, you'll explore how fashion jewelry brands define trends, who’s leading the market, and what’s expected of designers in this fast-moving industry.

• Fashion jewelry vs. fine jewelry
• Case study #1: Market trends and consumer preferences
• Fashion jewelry brands and designers
• Industry expectations 

It’s more than just gold vs. brass. Learn how material choices, pricing, and production methods shape design strategies, and train your eye to spot the differences through hands-on analysis.

• Key material differences
• Cost, pricing, & accessibility factors
• Production techniques
• Workshop #1: Analyzing existing jewelry brands for category differences

Trends drive the fashion jewelry world. You’ll learn to decode them through forecasting platforms, then translate them into mood boards that set the tone for your collection.

• Trend forecasting
• Demo #1: Creating an inspiration board using Canva
• Workshop #2: Developing a trend-based jewelry mood board in Canva 

Assignment #1: Mood Board
Using Canva or a similar tool, create a mood board representing ideas for a jewelry collection (4–6 pieces) you’d like to create.

Good design starts with strong sketches. You’ll explore techniques to develop cohesive silhouettes and refine your design language: by hand or digitally.

• Hand vs. digital sketching
• Types of jewelry silhouettes
• Intro to creating a cohesive jewelry collection
• Workshop #3: Sketching exercise to develop unique concepts

Assignment #2: Jewelry Sketches
Submit 4–6 jewelry concept sketches inspired by your mood board (necklace, earrings, bracelet, ring).

Take your designs digital. This session introduces you to Adobe Illustrator, focusing on clean, accurate shapes that align with industry standards.

• Adobe Illustrator’s interface
• Drawing standard jewelry forms
• Grids, guides & symmetry tools

Learn to draw gemstone forms and apply realistic effects in Illustrator and Photoshop, giving your renderings the polish they need to impress clients or manufacturers.

• Vector tool: Basic gemstone shapes
• Basic fashion jewelry materials
• Gemstone effects 

Assignment #3: Basic Jewelry Forms in Adobe Illustrator
Create clean, precise digital drawings of 4-6 basic jewelry shapes for your collection using Adobe Illustrator.

Elevate your digital designs by mastering mixed materials: think tortoise shell, raffia, sequins, and metallic finishes that bring your pieces to life.

• Creating mixed materials
• Metallic effects
• Mockups: Layer masks & smart objects
• Workshop #4: Create a gemstone and apply chain brushes in Adobe Illustrator

Time to refine. Learn how to complete jewelry visuals with findings, stones, and finishes so your design is ready for presentation or production.

• Adding stones and materials
• Drawing jewelry findings

Assignment #4: Digital Jewelry Renderings
Apply gemstone and metallic effects to your previous jewelry shapes and finalize 2–3 detailed renderings.

Translate creativity into manufacturable specs. Learn how to create clear, professional drawings and documentation that factories understand.

• Detailed technical drawings
• Measurements, materials, & annotations
• Professional spec sheet formatting
• Workshop #5: Developing a production-ready spec sheet

Understand what happens once your design leaves the page. This session dives into real-world materials, surface treatments, and production workflows.

• Common materials
• Plating, enameling, & surface treatments
• Mass production vs. handmade techniques
• Case Study #2: Reviewing a fashion jewelry production process

Assignment #5: Technical Drawing & Spec Sheet
Produce a detailed technical drawing of at least one jewelry design. Develop a professional spec sheet for this design.

Time to bring it all together. Learn how to craft a refined, cohesive collection that’s both design-driven and scalable.

• Capsule collection design
• Design cohesion and scalability
• Workshop #6: Refining and finalizing collection concepts 

Assignment #6: Capstone Project: Jewelry Capsule Collection
Capstone Project: Present a 4–6 piece jewelry collection including mood board, sketches, renderings, spec sheets, and concept statement.

Learn how to source partners, manage minimums, and build relationships that move your design from screen to shelf.

• Sourcing manufacturers
• Minimum order quantities & production costs
• Communicating with suppliers
• Workshop #7: Analyzing a real manufacturer’s spec sheet 

Design is an evolution. Discover how to edit your work to fit real-world production needs without compromising your aesthetic.

• Identifying simplifiable elements
• Reducing detailing
• Cost/benefit analysis
• Labor-intensive stone setting types
• Switching materials 

Explore the realities of working in-house vs. freelancing or vendor-side. You'll compare creative freedom, workflow structures, and career paths.

• Multiple brands vs. in-house
• Fast-paced pitching vs. brand planning
• Factories & buyers vs. internal teams
• Creative freedom vs. brand guidelines
• Freelance vs. structured career 

Your portfolio is your passport. Learn how to structure it, what to include, and how to present your skills with impact.

• Compelling portfolio building
• Digital vs. physical portfolio presentation
• Case Study #3: Evaluating strong vs. weak portfolio examples

Assignment #7: Professional Portfolio
Submit a PDF or digital portfolio with your best work from the course, including sketches, renderings, and spec sheets.

From networking to interviews, this final class gives you the practical tools to launch or level up your jewelry design career.

• Networking, internships, & industry events
• Protecting IP & design rights
• Resume & interview tips