Product Description

This is a creative guide to designing jewellery, written by experienced jewellery maker, Liz Olver. In this book she gives comprehensive details on the essential stages of the design process - from working out the brief and seeking inspiration to working with technical drawings and developing the idea further as the piece evolves. Case studies, real-life projects and tips provide professional advice and encouragement. The book is written and illustrated in a clear cut and easily accessible style.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #100616 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
an indispensible volume Findings It is an excellent step by step guide to all the processes a designer should go through.

About the Author
Elizabeth Olver is a well-known British jeweller. She has an MA from the Royal College of Art and she has taught jewellery-making and design at Central St Martins College of Art and Design. She has previously written The Jeweller's Directory of Shape and Form for A&C Black.

Customer Reviews

A good reference book!
This book was a little more abstract than I was expecting.
Lots of pictures,which is always good. Good to see inspiration turned into a piece of work and the steps inbetween. Rather humbling to look through as someone who cant draw, but I guess the most important thing this book conveys is the concept of changing inspiration into reality.

Ideal for first year jewellery students
I am a BA (hons) Jewellery student and I bought this book before I applied for the course as I had NO DESIGN BACKGROUND AT ALL!! I had some drawing skills and had been making some jewellery before but design was an alien language at this point! And as a mature student I knew I needed some basic grasp of design before my interview/portfolio.
This book was invaluable at helping me get to grips with jewellery design, from my (very) basic level upwards. I used the book systematically and faithfully going through it all carefully and using all the tips. And by the end of the book, I had enough theoretical knowledge to accompany my fabrications and get me through onto the degree course, without having to do a foundation year first.
Put it this way, I went from having biro-drawn scribbles with no thought behind them, to a clear understanding of the elements of design and the process itself. And by the end of the book I had managed to produce a reasonable sketch book of ideas and designs that showed some understanding of what I was trying to achieve!!!
Not only that but it has helped me during my course, as I refer back to it if I become a bit stuck trying to get my ideas out.
This book is perfect for the beginner to intermediate jewellery designer/maker. It does assume that you have some basic jewellery making skills to begin with (in order to understand some of the terms). If you are a third year student or above, this book will seem a little too elementary I think.
The book is purely about the jewellery design process and elements of design. It is NOT a 'how to make jewellery' book.
There are pictures and examples of designer's own drawings and photos of finished pieces of work.
The book is an easy read and helps you think more laterally. Liz Olver writes really well and her instructions are easy to follow. I feel that this book has really helped me translate the chaotic ideas I had in my mind on to paper and into reality.
A must for all first year jewellery students!

Very detailed and insightful
A well wrote, very detailed and easy to follow book. Contains many interesting examples of how other designers work and inspiring ideas on how to approach the design process.
Contains 4 chapters covering Essential design tools, Stages of the design process, Elements of design and Creative concepts.
As a student studying for a BA (hons) in jewellery I found this book to be invaluable when starting a new brief.