Introduction to Creative Jewellery Design and Manufacture Holiday School

The course consists of a total of 30 hours spread over 5 days. Students are expected to attend all 5 days of the course, as well as attend all the group demonstrations in order to qualify for a certificate. Students are encouraged to bring a sketchbook and do some preliminary drawing/designing for each piece of jewellery to be made. The following techniques will be taught:
Precision marking, punching, piercing, filing and drilling of metal.
Working off metal surfaces to a final polish, as well as an introduction to other surface textures and patterns.
Casting sterling silver into ingot molds, rolling plate and drawing wire.
Basic metal manipulation.
Cuttlefish casting method.
The soldering process.
In this short course presented by the Creative Jewellery and Metal Design Division of the Visual Arts Department, Stellenbosch University, the focus lies on learning basic jewellery-making and design techniques and then applying these techniques to make wearable pieces of jewellery. No previous jewellery-making experience is required. An introduction to good design principles will be taught throughout the course by means of ongoing discussions between the lecturer and the students with an aim to highlight manufacturing problems arising from design shortcomings, and to point out strong design and good craftsmanship. Examples of applications of the various techniques will be shown (actual pieces or from books). Course participants will be introduced to the concept of contemporary jewellery-making and jewellery making within the bigger context of art.