Principles of designing jewelry (Part 2)

What visual message is your jewelry sending? The answer to this can be found in design theory, more specifically the principles of design as applied to jewelry creations. The design principles include balance, proportion, contrast, unity, harmony, movement and emphasis. These principles of design are used to arrange the elements (beads, components, etc.) in jewelry art, guiding the visual message of the piece.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's an illustrative exploration of seven different principles of jewelry design, including design ideas to help identify and/or integrate these principles into your own work.

7 Principles of Design for Jewelry-Making Inspiration:

1. Balance - A Balancing Act
2. Emphasis - Point of Emphasis
3. Movement - The Magic of Movement
4. Proportion - Power of Proportion
5. Contrast - Contrast Consideration
6. Unity - Understanding Unity
7. Harmony - Happiness of Harmony

Point of Emphasis ...

Emphasis refers to the focal point of the jewelry design that catches the viewer's attention and is also referred to as dominance. A jewelry artist can make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas in size, shape, color or texture. Designers can also isolate the focal element, as an object placed away from a group of other objects will draw the eye, or place it in the center of the design to bring the most attention. This is good to keep in mind if there is an element or object in your piece that you would like to bring attention to, such as a handmade bead, focal piece or other special element. The jewelry piece will appear more harmonious if there is one clear point of emphasis. Here are some examples of defining a focal point and bringing emphasis to a particular part of a jewelry design.