The Ask
Design a piece of jewelry that represents your values, mission, personality, and personal brand.
The Process
Step 1: Concept
I began by exploring various symbols through sketching, drawing out symbols that deeply connected with my personality. I then researched on Pinterest to gather inspiration from jewelry pieces that resonated with me, compiling them into a mood board. You can find these initial sketches and mood board under the "Brainstorming" tab below.
As I progressed, my focus shifted towards designing a jewelry piece that embodied my background in ballet. I aimed for a combination of elegance and a spunky flair to reflect my personal style. Finding a subject to focus on took a lot of debate, but eventually, I settled on a concept that felt true to my essence: a swan ring.
Swans have always served as an iconography of beauty, elegance, and simplicity to me. I have grown up learning ballets like Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, and wanted to pay homage to my roots. With that idea in mind, I then began designing my swan ring through the scribble tool on TinkerCAD.
Step 2: Design
Once I finalized the shape of my design, I used the scribble tool to carefully craft the body cutout, valuing precision and detail. Incorporating additional elements was important towards capturing the essence of my personal style. To personalize the piece further, I incorporated a cutout featuring the initial of my first name using the text cut-out tool.
Additionally, I searched through TinkerCAD's database for a feather template in order to integrate dimension into my design. This allowed my ring to have volume and depth, working in 3 dimensions rather than 2 dimensions. To complete the design, I then added a ring base, providing a seamless connection, lastly and grouped all the components into a cohesive silhouette.
The Finished Product
The Outcome
I developed two distinct color-ways inspired by Odette and Odile, the iconic characters from Tchaikovsky’s ballet, "Swan Lake." As a young dancer in the ballet world, I admired these roles, aspiring to one day embody their grace and artistry on stage.
The incorporation of feathers in this ring design not only adds visual depth but also provides a textured foundation for layering and embellishment. This approach allowed me to intricately build upon the design, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and personal significance.
By mixing elements of personalization and authenticity, this piece of jewelry becomes more than just an accessory, it is a reflection of my identity and love for ballet. Through this ring, I confidently express my personality, a connection to the art form that has shaped me as the individual and creative I am today.