New technologies and jewelry designers: from concept to implementation

In the jewelry industry, including amber, which for centuries relied on manual craftsmanship in the creators' studios, a quiet revolution took place before our eyes. And this is thanks to the use of modern technologies such as 3D printing, CAD software (Computer-Aided Design) and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools not only accelerate the design and production process, but also enable designers to explore new frontiers of creativity and personalization. The only limit seems to be their imagination. Finally, the competition is about what is most important in the art of the object - the idea, the design and the beauty offered to us!

The new generation of customers, from the Millennial generation or the Z-generation immersed in the digital world for years, “does not take prisoners” and expects more and more sublime, interesting designs and objects. Old patterns and the same processing techniques are no longer enough. Many, especially young designers, already know this and use the support of technological tools to meet the expectations of their generation. Reports from many research companies confirm these expectations, and jewelry and design schools around the world are introducing design courses using new methods. The revolution has just begun.

3D printing and CAD

Modern technologies such as 3D printing and advanced imaging software allow for the creation of complex and precise patterns that would often be impossible to do with traditional methods. 3D printing is particularly useful in prototyping and production of custom elements, which of course opens up new possibilities for individualization and experimentation in design.

Not just gold

Jewelry designers are increasingly exploring the use of non-traditional materials such as plastics, glass, titanium, stainless steel and even polymers! In Poland we have several designers who use polymer in their jewelry, such as Olga Podfilipska — Krysińska, Marcin Tymiński, Tomasz Kargul or Emilia Kohut, who with her diploma at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk entitled “Sensual Jewelry” proved that the function of jewelry is also tactile sensations. This jewelry shows that the designer does not shy away from experiments and is not afraid of new aesthetics while combining old techniques with the latest.

These modern materials are often combined with traditional ones, such as gold, silver or amber, resulting in original and unique compositions that attract attention with their uniqueness and modern look. It turns out that customers are increasingly placing more value on the pattern and design than on the value of the bullion, and this has opened the way for designers to many interesting experiments. And let it stay that way!

AI at the service of jewelry designers

Artificial intelligence (AI) opens up completely new perspectives in jewelry design. It provides tools that can significantly speed up and improve the creative process from concept to final product. This is the “golden wand” for a good design environment - you just need to know the right spells and know what you want to use them for. Used in several stages of creating beautiful objects of desire, it gives unprecedented and previously impossible to obtain examples of the art of the object, because it is, in essence, jewelry.

How it happens in practice

AI can automatically generate jewelry designs based on parameters entered by the designer, such as styles, trends, materials or aesthetic preferences of customers and their own ideas. Designers can easily customize these concepts generated from their ideas, creating jewelry that perfectly suits the individual needs of customers. The amount of these concepts depends only on your imagination and the ability to communicate with artificial intelligence. This is a complete reversal of the paradigm, where the creator, the designer himself creates and imposes his vision on the client. Open to opinions, talented and full of creative ideas, designers get their hands on a tool that will complement their competence, but also accelerate their work. Isn't that good news?

Personalization and customization

AI also allows customers themselves to personalize selected projects, tailoring them to individual preferences. Algorithms can analyze past choices and suggestions from customers to recommend matched options that best suit their tastes. It begins to resemble a situation where we (customers) can get a unique made especially for us, without necessarily pawning the house for it. Isn't that exciting? This is just the beginning of the techno revolution.

Optimization of production

Artificial intelligence can also predict potential production problems, allowing them to be eliminated earlier. This is a great relief for manufacturers and manufacturers. It can analyze market data and consumer preferences, helping to create designs that will increase the chances of commercial success. All this means that more and more companies selling long series of products get their hands on new opportunities that will allow them to develop on a large scale. For us, this is good news, because even the best technologies are not worth much until they become widespread on a large scale.

Names that are worth looking at

The world of fashion and design takes a look at the first experimenters. Just as we remember Armstrong's first step on the moon. And although it never turned into a sprint on the silver globe, it has become a symbol of the use of technology to make human dreams come true. It is no different in the area of design. It is they, the bravest, who pave the way and provoke others to discuss or refer to new trends.

One of them is Iris van Herpen - The Dutch fashion designer, known for using 3D printing in her futuristic clothing designs, has also brought these technologies to the world of jewelry. Her works are characterized by extraordinary precision and complexity, which are possible only thanks to advanced technologies. Such objects are sure to start a discussion and cause a creative ferment in the design environment.

Neri Oxman - Professor at the distinguished MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), who combines design with biology, using advanced technologies to create innovative designs and new ecological materials. Her approach to jewelry, which involves the use of artificial intelligence for design, allows for the creation of unique, organic forms that do not actually exist. Her works are an example of how modern technologies, through the creation of new materials, can combine science with nature, creating objects of art. Staged at New York's MoMA, the protagonist of an episode of the Netflix series “Abstract”, author of a groundbreaking book on the ecology of materials. It has revolutionized thinking about breaking down barriers to create a new, more sustainable world.

Shapeways - is one of the first platforms to allow designers and artists to use 3D printing to realize their custom jewelry designs and at the same time make paid jewelry designs available for self-use. Thanks to it, not only amateurs, but also designers can easily turn their digital designs into real products, experimenting with different materials and finishes. It is the emergence of various platforms and applications that is the moment when this trend is really spreading, and from that very close to online clicks and online shopping carts of customers.

The impact of new technologies on the industry. And what will we, as customers, get out of it?

The integration of new technologies such as 3D printing, CAD software and artificial intelligence in jewelry design and manufacturing is transforming the entire industry, offering new opportunities for designers and increasing our satisfaction as customers. Because isn't it exciting that a designer can first show us a dozen designs around one idea and idea, and then only produce it after our decision. Isn't this world of serving us customers closer to the dream situation when our choice is more tailored to our taste and expectations? We feel that completely new opportunities are emerging before our eyes.

These innovations, at the intersection of art, technology and science, point to a bright future for the jewelry industry, where creativity and personalization go hand in hand with technological progress. For new, young customers who are also looking for an interesting use of amber, this is very good news.

‍

List of illustrations:

1. Example of work by Iris Van Herpen, source: irisvanherpen.com

2. Example of work by Neri Oxman, photo by Denis Doorly, source: moma.org

3. “Sensual jewelry”. Emilia Kohut's master's degree, source: Author Design, Publishing House of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, 2016

4. Jewellery created by 3D printing. “Freya Crown” from the collection Kova by Sascha, source: kovabysascha.com

5. Jewelry created with 3D printing. Design by Monika Gordzie.

6. Jewelry created with 3D printing. A project by Tomasz Kargul.

7. Jewelry created with 3D printing. Project by Ireneusz Glaza.

8. Jewelry created with 3D printing. Design by Norbert Kotwicki.

9. Jewelry created with 3D printing. Design by Anna Filimoniuk-Pilecka.

‍