Image credit: ARTSTHREAD member Hyly Wang, graduate 2020 Jewelry BFA from Pratt Institute, at work in her studio

Interested in a career in jewellery? ARTS THREAD’s career education specialist and digital editor Jacqui Rudd has lots of advice and tips on how to become a professional jeweller as part of ARTSTHREAD’s Creative Career Guides Series.

A jeweller designs and creates pieces of jewellery to be made individually or produced as a collection by themselves or by other craft workers. Jewellers will use multiple different metals to make jewellery, such as silver, gold or palladium, and other materials such as polymer clays, resins, wood or glass. This is a diverse craft that produces jewellery pieces in line with fashion trends and also crosses creative boundaries as wearable artwork and installations.

For an insider perspective on a career as a jeweller check out our interviews with ARTS THREAD Members: Global Design Graduate Show shortlisted 2021 Zhenru Yan, plus Hyly Wang, Chloe Valorso, Alaitz Marinez and Qianwen Lu.

Career Options in Jewellery Design

Jewellery Designer/Artist
The majority of professional jewellers run their own design business and work in studios to design and create their work. They sell independently through their own store, online shop and pop-up events and through galleries and retailers.

Studio Assistant / manager
You could support a more established jewellery designer with their business, by working as their studio assistant or manager and helping with the production of their work. This is a great way to develop your skills and understanding of how to start and run a jewellery business.

Jewellery Teacher / Technician
Teaching is another possible career path for jewellers. Schools, colleges and universities often hire jewellery professionals to teach classes, or as technicians, and some jewellers may be able to give private lessons. Additionally, some museums and galleries hire jewellery artists for workshops and demonstrations.

What you need to become a Jewellery Designer

Although qualifications aren’t essential to starting a career in jewellery, and some jewellers are able to learn their skills on their own, formal education or training can be enormously helpful. Many ceramicists will study degrees in areas such as applied arts, jewellery design, jewellery metal design, or 3D design.

Studying jewellery at an undergraduate or postgraduate level might help you to hone practical skills, gain career support, network within the industry and overall develop your practice. However, further education institutes also provide a variety of suitable courses to develop jewellery skills.

Many forms of creative education, including jewellery, can be achieved alongside part-time work as you develop towards your dream career.

Building a specialist portfolio in Jewellery Design

Creating a portfolio is all about showcasing your best work, your skills, the techniques you use and what you can offer potential clients, customers, employers and collaborators. While training and developing your skills you will also create your own style as a jeweller, what techniques you like to utilise and a collection of work will evolve. When you’re putting together a portfolio of your work, consider the context and purpose first.

Portfolio for Applications – for residencies or postgraduate study
Through your pieces and portfolio, tell a story of how you developed your collection, your influences and where your work will go next.

Online Portfolio – to sell pieces of work or attract commissions
Highlight pieces that showcase your best work, skills you are developing and what you can offer to customers and clients. This can be displayed on your own website or through an ARTSTHREAD member free profile.

Build a portfolio of work from:

• Projects you complete over your training and qualifications


• Experimenting in the studio and creating work for sale at markets and shops


• Participating in contests, awards and competitions


• Get pictures of your work on exhibition at galleries and trade fairs


• Taking on commissions from clients

Here are some brilliant example jewellery ARTSTHREAD members portfolios: Global Design Graduate Show in collaboration with Gucci 2021 Winner Jewellery Alma Lion, plus Hanakin Henriksson, Iris Barnov and Niamh Duddy.

For postgraduate applications check out our other guide Preparing Your Portfolio For Postgraduate Application.

Tips for starting a Jewellery Design Business

• Start small: Do not wait until you have a massive collection to start your business, start small and launch with minimal investment to allow your business to build a following and better understanding of what sells and what doesn’t.


• Be Online: Have an online space to sell your work and showcase your products on social media and include video into your content.


• Set Goals: Your career and development is in your hands, gain clarity on what direction you want to take and set yourself goals and days for reflection on your progress.


• Customer research: Know your target customer, connect with them digitally and understand how your products meet their needs and desires.


• Network: This is a skill you have to master and use regularly in any fashion role, uplevel your LinkedIn profile, visit events regularly and join groups within your target career path.


• Research competitor and collaborators: By understanding your competition you’ll learn how to distinguish yourselves from them and sell your uniqueness. And finding collaborators can really help with accountability, motivation and networking in the industry.


• Apply for awards and competitions: Winning or being shortlisted for relevant awards can really support building your brand and is great PR.


• Keep up with the industry: You need to keep your knowledge of the sector high which means visiting events, reading, upskilling and keeping your eyes open for changes in your industry, this will help inspire new ideas for pitches.


• Experiment: Allow yourself time to experiment with new techniques and materials and stay creative.

For an insider perspective on a career as a jeweller check out our interviews with ARTS THREAD Members: Global Design Graduate Show in collaboration with Gucci 2021 shortlisted Zhenru Yan plus Global Design Graduate Show 2020 shortlisted Alaitz Marinez, Hyly Wang and Qianwen Lu, Chloe Valorso.