Hi all, seems like ages since we had anything new in this board, and I've just found a really interesting article about design principles that has given me a lot of food for thought:

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Check it out! I think they are absolutely right, but would be interested to see whether anybody else agrees.

They also have a useful page about pricing your work for retail, wholesale and sale or return ('consignment') which I've found very helpful as I am not good at the numbers bit

Happy reading folks

Ah! Theory rears it's ugly head! How to stifle creativity in 10 (I wasn't counting) easy steps. Actually I quite liked the "ugly" necklace (it had more personality) than the goody-goody "classic" one (which in my opinion looked all wrong- the focal was too small for the piece).

I don't know, show me a set of rules (in creative projects) and I want to go against them straight away. But what do I know, I am not a jewellery "designer", just a stringer and I like to work with my gut feeling!

Thanks for this link though nemeton, it could lead to a very interesting debate!

Coming from someone who has only ever made jewellery because it was fun and i enjoyed it, i really enjoyed reading that. Okay a little word heavy but still i was intreged as to the "why & hows".

How many times have we taken something apart because for some reason it didnt look right, even if we couldnt put our fingers on it.

Also the way people see things, and this circle of balance business, almost 3rd eye. Im wondering if it might be worth looking at some of my jewellery that hasnt sold is comitting one of the faux pas.

Im very symetrical in my jewellery designs but after getting my mitts on a set of lampwork that was a mix of lentils and flat squares i decided to think outside the box and made a necklace that is lentils one side, and squares the other. Its a beautiful necklace but has never sold, i often get asked "is it supposed to be like that" i think i might give it a make over and alternate between the two and see what happens ! So much for "ART" lol !

Thanks for the link Nemeton !

It was quite interesting but I found myself getting a bit bored towards the end. I would have preferred to have different examples in each section rather than the same three necklaces. I thought the first necklace was nice but a bit plain colourwise, The second didn't seem to hang right and the colours clashed, and I quite liked the third 'ugly' one.
Which just goes to prove that no-one can make something that everyone will like.
I tend to just go for a design that looks and feels right for me and hopefully some-one else will like it as well.

Yay for individuality I say.

Melanie

I must admit I only scanned it, I found it a bit too boring (sorry)

But there are always certain principle we all follow (consciously or unconsciously) such as balance, shape, length, placement, also contrast etc.

Sometimes a piece that just doesn't sit right when finished can take some looking at to actually work out what it is about the piece you feel isn't working.

Stop...stop it ..stoooop!!!
I have a brooch and its not balanced correctly, the designs all wrong, just reading this is making it worse!!!!
Ive already had it photographed so I cant really change it now, I knew it was wrong before it was photographed, I didnt know how to improve it...Im sorry sooooo sorry.

It really is bugging me actually, wish Id sorted it pre photo.

Why don't you show it to us and we can have a brainstorming session.

I read a bit! Think I might print a bit out and stick it on my board in front of my desk!!

It was really helpful! but I reckon people should bead with their gut instincts, and if the design turns out TERRIBLE, then you could always start it again!! I'm always seeing faults in my jewellery, but other people think they are terrific! Someone once told me that an Artist is their own worst Critic! Somehow I think it's true...

well blimey, and there was me hoping my stuff just looked nice!lol
i expect if it was 1/4 of the length, the article would be less dry, but it had some good points( ok i skipped a lot!) but part of me wanted to shout "this is pants!"

i tend to look for what i call "congruency" something has to be the same in all the beads for me- be it size,colour, texture ,shape, style- whatever! this is why is rarely use bicones- they are too sharp for me- i am more organic!!

I dont think you can teach creativity...if you had ever met my hubby you would know that to be true( with supportive comments of my efforts including "its blue!" , "hmm sparkly" etc!)

If you can get past the repeated misuse of it's instead of its , various grammatical errors and generally poor English expression most of what they said (and unfortunately they did have a lot to say) was common sense.
However, I'm not sure their illustrations reflected their theories and I would not like to put my name to any of their designs so I think I'll just muddle through and continue to let the beads do the talking.