Award Winning Design With The Clerkenwell Jeweller Sally Costen (podcast episode)
Today I'm joined by Sally Costen aka The Clerkenwell Jeweller. Sally started her career as a graphic designer and retrained as a jeweller at the London Jewellery School. She is an incredible jeweller who regularly enters and wins jewellery design awards. In this episode, I talk to her about her career, why she enters competitions, how you can replicate this success for your business and the value behind it.
014: Award Winning Design With The Clerkenwell Jeweller Sally Costen
Today I'm joined by Sally Costen aka The Clerkenwell Jeweller. Sally started her career as a graphic designer and retrained as a jeweller at the London Jewellery School. She is an incredible jeweller who regularly enters and wins jewellery design awards. In this episode, I talk to her about her career, why she enters competitions, how you can replicate this success for your business and the value behind it
EPISODE RECAP
Welcome to Sally Costen (3:13)
To get us started, tell us a little about your business now and how you got involved in jewellery making (3:57)
What was the first jewellery class you did? And at that point, did you know it was going to turn into something more? (5:01)
One of the things I really love about your story is that you just go for it! (7:17)
So you did the course and then what happened? You went on to apply for and win some amazing awards. Take us on the journey (8:21)
Even the process of applying for these awards and competitions helps you to work on your design and your business (14:59)Perhaps the biggest thing it does is boost your confidence (15:58)
You also make valuable contacts in the industry (17:05)
I want to talk a little about design now, because I know it’s something you’re really passionate about. How important is design to you in your work? (17:30)
Sometimes the pressure to design in a way that is unique is counterproductive, isn’t it? (19:07)Where do you start with your designs? (19:34)
How do you take sketches to reality? What’s your process? (20:07)
Do you have a different process if you’re making a collection versus an individual piece? (23:05)
Do you write down what you’re doing at each stage? Do you have a process for that? (25:19)
What would you say to jewellers out there who are struggling with design? (28:11)
One other topic I wanted to ask you about is being part of the Jewellers Academy mastermind. Can you tell people listening what it is and why you got involved? (30:32)
Thank you for sharing a bit of your experience. How can people connect with you? (33:58)
ABOUT SALLY
Sally has been an design agency owner, creative director and creator of award-winning graphics work. This background can be seen in her jewellery designs which reflect a love of graphics, architecture and fashion, sprinkled with humour. Having trained at the London Jewellery School she launched The Clerkenwell Jeweller, where her intricate and stylish jewellery found a home.
She has evolved and refined her collections to reflect her history, loves and values and has won awards along the way including multiple Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards (the ‘Jewellery Oscars’) and the F.Hinds High Street by Design competition.
The earrings photographed are from the Map of This Life collection by Sally Costen, The Clerkenwell Jeweller
RESOURCES
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Thank you so much,
With love
Jess x
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