Janet Weller - Picture Window Pendant and Earrings2023, Gold & The Vipa Design Award
Repurpose Jewellery 2D Design
Design jewellery as a graduation gift for a music student with a passion for 80's music, using the material reclaimed from family jewels.
The Vipa Designs Award returns this year for the Repurpose Jewellery brief. The re-modelling of heirloom treasures remains an important part of the jewellery industry, with clients seeking to up-cycle their treasured jewels into contemporary, wearable designs.
This year, entrants are invited to design any item of jewellery to be gifted by a couple to their grandchild as a graduation present for successfully completing their music degree. They have a particular passion for the unforgettable and diverse era of 80’s music! Judges will expect to see this communicated in the design in a thoughtful way.
The clients have a budget of £1,250 to make the gift and wish to use materials from their existing jewellery that they would like to upcycle, including:
8 grammes of 18ct gold (any colour or combination)
Twelve 1.5mm round diamonds; and
Six 1.5mm Round sapphires.
The clients have allowed for an additional £500 budget for any extra materials to further complement and enhance the design.
An acknowledgement of the costings for the design and manufacture would be beneficial and should be evident in their conscious use and understanding of materials and labour.
Please note this is a fictional scenario.
An exciting opportunity...
As well as securing the Vipa Designs Award, the prize winner will be invited to visit Vipa Designs to experience a day at their HQ in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire to get an insight into their design and manufacturing operations.
Guidance & Entry Form Requirements
Entries must comply with the 2D design and submission guidelines:
Good standards of visual communication and presentation will be highly regarded;
Description of your design, the concept and material specifications (gemstones, metals etc) must be provided on the design board.
Outline method/s of manufacture where relevant.
Entrants are requested to declare on the entry form if they have had their design rendered by a CAD technician or a digital artist.
Techniques & Technology used: It is important that you explain the techniques you have used to make your piece i.e. gouache, CAD, Illustrator, watercolours, Procreate etc. (Max 50 words)
Presentation
- Designs are to be presented on one side only and mounted on card, foam board or equivalent backing board.
- Paper only entries are not acceptable.
- For all entries: x1 design board per entry.
Maximum presentation dimensions
x1 A3 (297 x 420 mm)
Anonymity
- Do not put your name or identity/logos on the front of the design to ensure anonymity;
- Please ensure your name is on the reverse of your design board;
- Entries that don’t conform to the above requirements may be disqualified.
Following a third year of sponsoring the Repurpose Jewellery brief, Vipa Designs, a long standing and stalwart supporter to the GC&DC return with another exciting design brief that celebrates the creativity and value of upcycling in design! This aspect represents an important part of their business portfolio, and we are delighted to partner with Vipa Designs again, with another creative challenge that will resonate and appeal to many in the jewellery industry.
Founded in 1979 Vipa Designs are casters, manufacturers and designers of high-quality gold, silver, platinum and palladium jewellery, and work with traceable metals of all types; standard, 100% recycled, Fairtrade and Fairmined. They are licensed to import, trade, manufacture and design jewellery by both Fairtrade International (Fairtrade) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (Fairmined) Their wide client base includes private individuals, designers, makers and retailers through to manufacturers and multi-national companies. Vipa Designs strap line ‘design to delivery’ perfectly captures the extensive array of quality services they provide and deliver to the profession, and achieve this by utilising hand making skills and technology to the highest standards.
14 Jan
Deadline for all entry forms (midnight) - CLOSED FOR ENTRIED
16 - 18 Jan
Entry submission days @ the Goldsmiths' Centre, Farringdon.
04 Mar
Awards Ceremony @ The Goldsmiths' Hall
5 - 8 Mar
Awards Exhibition @ The Goldsmiths' Hall
13-14 Mar
Entry return & post back days
