On the plane back, working on a new post for SpaceUnseen, I started counting the number of studio visits I’ve made. One year and 3 months since the beginning of this blog and I’ve visited 25 jewelry studios in different cities around the world. I feel grateful and always surprised when designers answer yes to my request. (How weird must it be to get an email from someone asking to come snoop around your studio space?) Still, I’ve been having a blast and I’ve had the chance to meet extremely talented and interesting people that have a very special gift.
And the more studios I visit the more I realize that everybody is different. Studios are big and small, clean and messy, in one corner of the house or just a full space completely renovated by the designer. All spaces are unique, charming and special. Why?
I think the jewelry designer makes the space. It’s their tastes, their organization and inspiration that make the studio. The way they work also makes the space (which is reflected in the tools they have). And who they work with: some work alone, some share their space with other designers and some have their own big operation with a team working with them. And all of these differences have proved extremely interesting.
On one hand, designers who work alone seem to have a more conceptual, contemporary approach to design ( I would include the design duos in here). Designers who share their space with other designers (same field or not) like their individuality but love the fact that they can talk business, technique and cheer each other up. And designers who have teams, usually have them because they have considerable volume production, and the whole team usually feels like a big family.
I know there are pros and cons for each side, but I would love to hear your side of the story.
So what do you think or what have your experience been?
From top to bottom, from right to left:
Ana Sales and Mafalda Maya (M + M jewellery) in Lisbon, Beth Gilmour in London, Clarice Price Thomas in London, Claudia Endler in LA, Corinne Simon in Santa Monica, Dede Marconato in Hong Kong, Daphna Simon in NYC, Janis Kerman in Montreal, Malin Ohlsson in Hong Kong, Martha Keith in Charlottesville, Michele Mercaldo in Boston, Noemi Klein in London, Michelle Oh and Rachel Boston in London, Nomera in Hong Kong, the Obellery team in Hong Kong(Hugo, Bel and Kody), the OrriFinn team in Reykjavik (Helga and Orri), Sebastiao Lobo in Lisbon, Sophie Breitmeyer in London, Sophie Hughes in Boston, the Rebecca Overmann team in San Francisco, Katherine (Rosedale Jewelry) in Los Angeles, Khobe (studio DeLucca) in Long Beach and Tyson (T Morgan made) in Los Angeles.