Last updated at 16:45, Thursday, 29 April 2010

University of Sunderland student Rachel Wojcik is in her thrid year of a jewellery and silversmith degree. The course is a first for the university and Rachel is only one of around eight students getting to grips with all things bling. The 21-year-old had developed an interest in art and design while at Workington Sixth Form Centre but it wasn't until much later on in her A-levels that she gained a love of jewellery designing and making.

london exhibition: Workington student Rachel Wojcik making her unique jewellery

As part of my art and design A-level at sixth form I had to create a piece of jewellery – this was in the last year and I hadn’t really considered jewellery designing as a career.

But I loved it and I was really pleased with the work I’d produced. It was based on organic forms and was made from wire.

When the time came for me to go to university I chose to study a 3D design and innovation course which involved a host of design topics with some elements of jewellery making to it. Half way through the course we had the option to major in more jewellery-related topics and I decided to go for it. My course title was changed to jewellery and silversmith and I specialised wholly in jewellery design and making.

My course involves mostly working with silver to design my work, I like using the metal. I love the making aspect of it all – getting my hands dirty and bringing my designs to life. The beauty about the course is the fact that it’s so diverse – I’m learning new techniques and processes constantly, we’re even learning how to run our own business. And because there aren’t many of us on the course it’s pretty much one-to-one learning.

The aim of the jewellery I design is to allow the wearer to get a lot of pleasure out of it and they can express themselves by wearing it. My designs are based on organic impressions with flowing lines with kinetic and interactive aspects and geometric shapes. I’ve tried to move the idea of everyday jewellery forward.

My range can be worn every day – it’s not just design jewellery and they each have a different function as well as being decorative.

My favourite item to make is probably rings, I really enjoy making them – they’re the easiest thing I work on.

It can be expensive buying all the equipment such as blades, especially the silver, so I have to make sure I make it go as far as possible.

One piece I’m working on at the minute is a big silver necklace which will look fantastic once it’s finished. It’s probably one of my favourite designs so far.

It can take up a lot of time making different pieces, sometimes a ring will take me half a day to make while a necklace or bracelet could take me weeks. The necklace I’m currently working on will be put into an exhibition in the summer. It’s a pretty prestigious show and it’s where all the new designers go to showcase their work to prospective employers in the jewellery industry.

The New Designers’ exhibition will run from July 1 to July 4 but I will need to be there three days before to get set up. It will be held in the Business Design Centre, Islington. Jewellers Goldsmith’s will sponsor the jewellery section.

It is incredibly exciting to have a stand there and it is also a great way to get your work seen in the industry. It could lead to a job offer or an apprenticeship if your work gets recognised. I’m also hoping there’ll be people wanting to buy some of my pieces. I’ll have between 16 to 20 pieces on display, including brooches, rings, necklaces and bracelets.

I found out about the whole exhibition through Goldsmith’s during a summer school placement with the company last summer. As part of that I spent one week with 19 other students learning everything about the industry.

We got to go round the professional workshops and the Hallmark plant but I was given a grant of £520 to help me pay for accommodation and transport.

There is another placement running next year called Getting Started – I’ll apply for it but there are only 20 places available for students across the whole of the country so competition will be stiff.

With my dissertation now done and out of the way I can focus on what the future will hold for me after I graduate this summer. I have a rough plan of how I want to shape my career.

I’d like to start out gaining experience in the industry by working with a jewellery firm or in a gallery, hopefully the exhibition this summer will bring something, I’d then like to work in Edinburgh for a while because the industry has some fantastic talent up there and I love the city. A lot further down the line I’d then like to start my own business and possibly even do a master degree if my finances allow.

First published at 15:46, Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk