Updated at: 03-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

Both undergraduate and graduate levels of Jewelry Design education necessitate a strong Fine Arts curriculum.

The right equipment and space are crucial, as is a teaching staff that can impart both technical know-how and a realistic picture of the professional art world.

All ten of these courses come with top-notch resources and highly qualified instructors. This collection includes some of the finest Fine Arts schools in the country.

Each of our Jewelry Departments, however, has its own vibe and approach.

Where can one find student-created conceptual pieces, such as wearable art suitable for a gallery exhibition? The next gem-cutting supervisor in line for Harry Winston training today can be found at. Where could one find instruction in blacksmithing?

Colleges and universities offering jewelry design programs can be found all over the country, from the Northwest to the Southwest.

Locations can be found in urban cores, suburbs, and even college towns. Each outstanding institution has its own unique features, such as environmentally conscious campuses, robust mentorship programs, and collaborative student groups.

Students should keep in mind that the application process for undergraduate and graduate programs in the Fine Arts is not always the same as it is for other fields.

Even though SAT scores are becoming less mandatory, transcripts and recommendations still matter. A high grade point average will still be necessary for admission to these selective institutions.

Most schools have portfolio requirements, and during the application season, students are encouraged to attend National Portfolio Days conferences to have their work reviewed by experts.

Participating in one of these conferences can provide a great opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for the school firsthand from its representatives.

In either case, a student designer can find the ideal training and environment to develop the skills and confidence necessary to pursue a career as a jewelry designer at one of these institutions.

Top Jewelry Design Classes Program

Top jewelry design classes program

Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University

Like their on-campus counterparts, the Academy of Art University’s online jewelry design and metal arts degree programs are geared toward getting you ready for the workforce. To guarantee that all students of the Academy, regardless of where they may be located, receive the excellent education they deserve, you will be mentored and educated by the same industry professionals as those learning on campus.

As you train for a career in one of today’s most exciting and inventive fields, you’ll have the opportunity to work with advisors who will encourage you to find and develop your own distinctive creative voice. Experts in the field will teach you everything from basic jewelry making skills to state-of-the-art applications of laser technology, kinetics, mixed media, electronics, and 3D modeling.

Your final portfolio will showcase your innovative designs, technical proficiency, and business acumen, setting you up for success in the competitive job market for graduates of the School of Jewelry and Metal Arts.

New York Institute of Art and Design

If you’re interested in making a living designing and selling jewelry, you might want to look into attending a school that focuses on this field. A certificate in jewelry design from the New York Institute of Art and Design can take you from hobbyist to successful entrepreneur.

The New York State Education Department recognizes the institute as an accredited online learning institution, and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission has also validated the institute’s legitimacy. Content for this program is developed by industry experts who also act as instructors and role models.

In order to determine if the school’s jewelry design program is a good fit for them, the school provides prospective students with a free course catalog. Course topics include working with beads and wire, marketing your jewelry business online, and selling your wares for a profit.

There is a 14-day money-back guarantee on the program. You can start and stop the course whenever you like during the 18-month enrollment period. Keep in mind that rather than a traditional diploma, the New York Institute of Art and Design will award you with a certificate in Jewelry Design once your coursework is complete.

Sign up for the Jewelry Design Certificate program at NYIAD and start stoking the fires of your creativity and love for jewelry design.

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester (RIT) NY, USA

Both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metals & Jewelry Design and a Master of Fine Arts in American Crafts can be earned through RIT’s School for American Crafts. The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest design universities, and it strives to equip its students with the knowledge and expertise they’ll need to succeed in the professional world and among the many influential creatives with whom it has established strong ties. Experts and specialists in fields like design, professional practice, and technical and aesthetic issues are invited to speak as guest speakers. In their final year of school, students typically hold a senior exhibition to showcase their work. Students will have a portfolio and resume ready for creative opportunities and job applications by the time they graduate.

Istituto Lorenzo De Medici – The LdM School of Design, Florence, Italy

Overseas students flock to the LdM School of Design to study jewelry design at a top-tier university. Students learn from seasoned designers how to clean and set precious and semiprecious stones into finished pieces of jewelry using a variety of techniques. Students at LdM are guided through the entire process of making jewelry, from conceptualization to completion, enabling them to design and craft unique and aesthetically pleasing pieces from a wide variety of materials.

Estonian Academy of Art

Estonian Academy of Art

The jewelry and blacksmithing programs at the Estonian Academy of the Arts also incorporate an artists’s project, the goal of which is to foster the growth of original thought in its students. The school provides the opportunity for students to develop their skills further under the guidance of eminent faculty. The Design program encourages students to broaden their expertise in jewelry design. But the study of jewelry design requires students to be creative and knowledgeable about the materials they use.

Penn Foster

Penn Foster’s online jewelry courses provide students with a foundational understanding of the trade, including the necessary tools, standard repair procedures, markets, design principles, gemstones, and diamonds. You can complete the assignments at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. Books, courses, and other educational resources are included in the package.

At Penn Foster, you can choose from seven different modules that together make up the Jewelry Design and Repair Career Diploma program. There are many sets of lessons that feature both supplementary materials and gradable assignments. Examples include the magazine Wood, the book Contemporary Enameling: Art and Techniques, and the journal Metalsmith.

An associate’s degree in jewelry design and repair will be within your reach after completing Penn Foster’s Jewelry Design and Repair Career Diploma program. If you enroll in a two-year associate’s degree program in jewelry design, you might be able to gain knowledge in areas such as stone setting, jewelry production, lost wax casting and repair, and design in a digital setting. It is possible to sit for the national certification exam administered by Jewelers of America, Inc. after completing certain associate degree programs.

Penn Foster’s Jewelry Design and Repair Career Diploma program could be a good fit if you’re interested in learning about the field.

SUNY New Paltz (New Paltz, NY)

Students enrolled in the Metal concentration of the Fine Arts program at the State University of New York at New Paltz have access to state-of-the-art equipment, world-famous artists who also teach at the university, and numerous internship and job opportunities.

As one of the best values in the country for MFA programs, the graduate program is highly regarded.

Undergrads interested in the Visual Arts at SUNY-New Paltz can earn a B.S., B.A., or BFA by pursuing a variety of specialized studio tracks or a more generalized liberal arts education.

Metalworking, graphic design, and ceramics all have state-of-the-art facilities on campus.

The metal program has over 10,000 square feet of studio space, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country.

Assistantships and internships with working artists and galleries are readily available to SUNY-New Paltz students due to the school’s close proximity to New York City.

Students can gain valuable work experience through summer teaching internships at craft programs across the country (Penland, the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Arrowmont).

In the realm of modern jewelry design, few names are as well-known as those of SUNY-New Paltz’s Metal program’s illustrious alums, faculty, and current students.

In addition to developing their craft and technical skills, students in this program are exposed to new ways of thinking about jewelry design in the context of a creative studio. There is an emphasis on the creative and critical thinking skills necessary to produce work that is as at home in galleries as it is on the streets.

University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design (Denton, TX)

Studio Art at the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) is where you can study with an emphasis in metalsmithing and jewelry.

The department has a long history of hosting notable visiting artists, all to the benefit of the students. The permanent faculty are all active artists; many hold leadership positions in local art scenes and host regular workshops and lectures to keep the student body engaged.

CVAD is the place to go if you want to learn how to use a Blacksmithing forge, in addition to being trained on and given access to state-of-the-art digital fabrication equipment like printers and laser cutters. There is an emphasis on both time-honored techniques and cutting-edge computer-aided design practices.

Students at CVAD have the opportunity to view and critique the work of their peers through rotating student exhibitions in the gallery spaces. Metalsmithing and jewelry design are taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, NY)

Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, NY)

For those interested in commercial fashion design, merchandising, or marketing, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City is an excellent place to get the training you need to succeed.

Students at FIT have the opportunity to launch their careers in the fashion industry thanks to the school’s extensive resources and the neighborhood’s central location in Chelsea.

Its Jewelry Design Program reflects the school’s emphasis on the real world, its rigorous pace, and its commitment to tangible outcomes. Students leave the program with an 80-piece portfolio of finished jewelry, professional contacts, and the self-assurance to pursue employment in the field.

Although internships are not mandated, the Career and Internship Center provides guidance to students in their search for relevant work experience.

Those who have graduated from the FIT Jewelry Design Program have found employment with companies as diverse as crystal giant Swarovski and renowned jewelry icon Judith Ripka.

The program prepares students for the commercial market by providing them with the skills they need to enter it, including rapid prototyping and hand-rendered and digital modelmaking.

A club at FIT called Jewelry Design Connection facilitates international communication and cooperation amongst FIT’s jewelry design students. Students from FIT participate in international competitions and exhibitions hosted by various industries.

Even though the primary focus is on career preparation in the fashion industry, FIT students can look forward to a fulfilling college experience.

Classes in philosophy, literature, and culture, such as Religious Dissent in American History and Introduction to Western Philosophy, are also available as electives, demonstrating the breadth of the curriculum.

Both public and school-run museums and galleries can be found in close proximity to FIT. Green rooftops at the award-winning sustainable campus of the school cut down on carbon emissions, soaked up wastewater, decreased the need for heating and cooling, and provided a visually pleasing and relaxing atmosphere for the students.

Applicants should be aware that the undergraduate school has an acceptance rate of just over 50%, but that the program is 2 2, requiring students to reapply for graduate school after completing the first two years of an Associate in Applied Science Degree. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in the Jewelry Program is meant to equip graduates with the skills necessary to find gainful employment.

FAQs

What does a Jewelry Designer do?

Designers of fine jewelry often work with precious metals and stones in their creations and repairs. They are skilled in working with precious metals such as sterling silver, gold, stainless steel, and platinum. In addition, they use a wide variety of diamonds and gemstones in their creations.

As part of their education, many designers of fine jewelry also learn to determine the worth of stones. Jewelers polish jewelry, adjust ring sizes, and fix broken pieces by soldering, replacing stones, and fixing clasps.

Most modern jewelry designers use CAD programs to create one-of-a-kind pieces at the request of customers or manufacturers.

Are jewelry design jobs available?

Between 2020 and 2030, the BLS predicts a blip in employment growth. Although new job opportunities may be scarce, the need to replace retirees and people who have made career shifts will create an average of 3,800 annual openings in the next decade.

What’s the Jewelry Design course syllabus?

Courses in Jewelry Design will all follow uniform curricula that include detailed explanations of how to design and craft fine jewelry from a variety of materials, including diamonds, gold, gemstones, and other metals and stones. Candidate training also includes instruction in the finer points of quality assurance and other Jewelry Design necessities. The above-listed Jewelry Design Courses feature in-depth syllabi.

What are other techniques of jewelry making?

Computer-aided design (CAD), crystallography, the “four C’s,” and cleaning and polishing are just some of the many processes involved in creating jewelry. If you need more details, please review the course outline provided above.

Conclusion

You might have a lot of experience with jewelry making already. Some of the best software for jewelry design classes may help you streamline your processes or open up exciting new avenues for exploration. Even marketing strategies and the art of photographing tiny products like jewelry are the subject of courses.

No matter how you slice it, the internet is rife with excellent jewelry-making courses for anyone with a passion for the craft.