planning for design

On the first Monday of each month some members of EtsyMetal write blog posts around a central theme or question. This month's topic is, "How do you plan and organize for design?" You can see in this pic of my bench, taken an hour ago, that I am not organized. Not at all.


As far as planning my designs, I sketch and brainstorm a lot, I have more sketches than I could realize in a lifetime. I also think about new work when I walk my dogs, getting outside is great inspiration for me. I like to "sleep on" new ideas and often have to get up in the middle of the night to find a sketchbook, as I never remember to leave one by the bed. Oddly enough, I rarely bring my sketches into the studio, my process there is much more organic.

Graduate school taught me to focus on creating cohesive work and to continually critique and resolve problems, refining with each piece. I am obsessive-compulsive by nature so this way of working really resonates with me.

Crown of Thorns, sterling silver and sharpened copper nails

I am currently striving to create two separate bodies of work, one a collection of wearable jewelry that is well-designed and well-crafted, the other a series of conceptual pieces (my dangerous jewelry) to submit for exhibition and publication. These two goals keep me moving forward and constantly planning new work, despite my abhorrent organizational skills.

Please visit these other EtsyMetal members to see pictures of their benches and learn of their different approaches to design.

Victoria Takahashi/Experimetal
Su Trindle/QuercusSilver
Inbar Bareket
Stacey Hansen
Nina Gibson
Danielle Miller
Corliss & John Rose/2Roses
Maria Whetman
Beth Cyr